Retire Soon and arrive in Sri Lanka for an ‘Easy Living’

Sri Lanka is named as the most affordable country to live in in 2026, after you retire, according to Travel + Leisure Magazine.

Citing an expat living in Sri Lanka, namely Roland Dalton, the report breaks down Sri Lanka’s living cost.

Dalton, with a USD 2,200 budget per month, lives luxuriously in Sri Lanka.

He and his wife live in a villa by the beach, travel across the island, dine out most of the time, and go in for traditional massages.

The couple also attends sports events, enjoys spa treatments, and also socializes with friends.

During December 2025, International Living, while revealing its list of ‘The Cheapest Places to Retire in 2026,’ cited the Sri Lanka story.

According to Dalton, their villa, which includes a garden and a plunge pool, costs $385 a month, and they pay $50 in utilities for dining out.

On dining out, they pay around $50 for a two-person, three-course meal with drinks.

“One of our favorite beachside seafood feasts—lobster, crab, prawns, fish, and oysters for two—costs just $35,” Dalton adds in.

While www.howsrilanka.com can bring in more into this story with a price list.

A loaf of bread is around half a dollar in Sri Lanka.

While a full sandwich bread, adequate for 3 to 4 people, will cost around US$ 1.5.

A good brand of margarine, which is around 250 grams, will cost you just around US$ 3 dollars.

A liter of fresh milk will cost around US$ 1.5, and a packet of 100 grams of tea Leaves will cost you US$ 1 or just a little less than that.

A kilogram of sugar bananas will only cost around US$ 1 in Sri Lanka, and big bananas will cost just US$ 2 per kilogram.

While a 750 ml beer can will cost you just US$ 2 dollars, minimum, and slightly vary based on the ‘brand’ that you seek.

A kilogram of chicken can be purchased for US$ 4, while 10 eggs in Sri Lanka only needs just US$ 3 or a little above to ‘Buy.’

A little bottle of cola will be around just above US$ 2.

If you’re dining out, a decent roadside boutique will sell you a ‘lunch’ for around US$ 1, while for dinner too the same pricing applies, unless you order more and different.

Health

Health services are both public and private, and if you go into the public health sector, you will get a ‘free service’ and ‘free medicine.’

All in all, Sri Lanka is the ‘Best Place For You to Retire’ and ‘Spend Your Retirement Life.’

A big bonus: Sri Lanka has one of the easiest and cheapest retirement visa requirements in Asia.”