Fair price guide
Do you know what a taxi from the airport to Colombo should cost?
You land after midnight, the air is warm and everyone in the arrivals hall has a car for you. This is the first price of the trip. Get it right and the rest feels easier.
The fair price
LKR 3,000–4,500
by car on PickMe or Uber, about US$9–14
Bandaranaike International Airport is about an hour north of Colombo and much closer to Negombo. You land tired and the first price you hear in the arrivals hall is rarely the fair one.
What you should pay
| What | Fair price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Airport to Colombo, app car | LKR 3,000–4,500 | PickMe or Uber |
| Airport area to Negombo, tuk-tuk | LKR 500–800 | On PickMe |
| Same tuk-tuk ride at surge times | LKR 1,500–2,000 | Late night and rush hour |
How to pay the fair price
- Install PickMe before you fly and get a SIM or eSIM working before you leave the terminal.
- Check the app price even if you plan to take a counter taxi. It gives you a number to compare against.
- If you are starting a multi-day trip with a driver, have them collect you. Ask whether the airport pickup carries a surcharge.
Red flags
- Touts who approach you inside the terminal.
- A quote in dollars for a ride priced in rupees.
- A driver who says the app is not allowed at the airport and offers a private price.
Rather have the price settled before you land?
Tell us where you want to go. We reply with one all-inclusive figure for car and driver, with no shopping stops along the way.