Best places to buy Sri Lankan Rupees in New Zealand in 2024
If you have an overseas trip or vacation coming up, planning your travel money in advance can save you time and money. This guide walks through the best available options to buy Sri Lankan Rupees in New Zealand, whether you want cash in your wallet before you leave, or prefer to spend with a card.
We’ll look at how to pick the right method for you, what it might cost, and how to get the best available Sri Lankan Rupee exchange rate.
Find the cheapest ways to get Sri Lankan Rupee
Order your Wise card for 14 NZD*, have it delivered to your door in just 7 - 10 business days. Enjoy mid-market rates and low transparent fees for spending in 150+ countries worldwide.
Buy a broad range of currencies online, collect at a local branch or at the airport.
You may be able to order your travel money through the bank you hold an everyday account with. Generally you need to order your foreign currency in advance and collect it at a branch later - it can take over a week to get some currencies prepared, so plan ahead
We do not compare all available providers in the market. Our results are sorted by default from the lowest NZD cost to you to the highest NZD cost to you and you may choose to sort results according to other criteria. We may receive a referral fee if you choose one of these providers, but that won’t affect the ranking of the provider, the exchange rates or any fees you are charged.
**Please see Terms of Use for your region or visit Wise fees & pricing for most up to date information.
**Average margin versus the mid-market exchange rate of 129 individual quotes from 9 travel money providers, collected on 30/05/2024.
Best ways to buy Sri Lankan Rupees
- Wise
Spend and withdraw cash in 150+ countries with the mid-market exchange rate and low fees - Travelex NZ
Order your travel money online up to 21 days in advance, collect at a local branch or at the airport - Banks & Currency Exchanges
Some banks offer currency exchange for their customers in a broad range of currencies, but might need to order in advance
Where to exchange NZD to LKR
You’ve got a few different options if you need to buy LKR in New Zealand. Depending on what’s most convenient for you, you may choose to order online for delivery, or to pick-up in person at a branch. You may be able to buy your travel money from a bank, or from a currency exchange office or at the airport. For convenient travel without needing to carry a lot of cash with you, you could also get your LKR travel card before you leave, to spend and withdraw when you’re away.
Get a Sri Lankan Rupee travel money card
Buy a travel money card from a provider like Wise, top up in New Zealand Dollars, spend and make withdrawals conveniently on your trip. Your Wise card has a one time 14 NZD fee, and can be used with mid-market rates and low, transparent fees, in 150+ countries.
- Secure way to manage your money abroad
- Use ATMs to get cash little and often
- Top up and manage your account and card with just your phone
Order Sri Lankan Rupees online for collection
Order your travel money online with a service like Travelex and collect it from a local branch or as you pass through the airport. Order as much as 21 days in advance of when you need your money so you’ve got everything organised. Currency conversion fees apply.
- Get your foreign cash and collect at your preferred location
- Online orders have preferential rates
- Have Sri Lankan Rupees in your pocket before your trip
Buy Sri Lankan Rupees to collect in person
Get your travel money by ordering in advance for collection in person at a bank like Westpac. It can take up to 10 days before you can pick up your travel cash - with Westpac you must also hold an everyday account which you transact with, to access this service.
- Some banks allow account holders to buy foreign currency
- Major banks can order most currencies in, although it may take time
- Avoid delivery fees
How to get Sri Lankan Rupees in New Zealand
You’ve got lots of choices if you need to buy Sri Lankan Rupees before leaving New Zealand. Shopping around can mean you get the very best available deal for your specific needs and preferences - this guide is here to help.
Use our comparison table to find the best solution to get LKR in New Zealand:
- Enter the amount you need into the comparison tool
- Review the available rates and fees
- Decide between getting a travel card, ordering online, or buying in person
- Choose a provider based on the available options and deals
Safe and convenient way to spend and withdraw money abroad
Get a Sri Lankan Rupee travel money card
You can order a travel money card like Wise in New Zealand, add money in NZD and use your balance to purchase Sri Lankan Rupees within your multi-currency account.
You’ll then be free to spend your Sri Lankan Rupees when you have enough balance with no extra fees once you arrive at your destination - you can also make ATM withdrawals whenever you need some cash. If you have travel money left after your vacation you can convert back to NZD instantly for use at home - or just leave your balance ready for your next trip.
- Secure, cheap, and easy to use
- Exchange instantly or let your card do it when you pay
- Use a digital card even before your physical card arrives
Travel money cards like the Wise card offer great rates, cheap fees, and flexibility to manage your money with your phone.
| Provider | Fees for spending | ATM cash withdrawals | Exchange rates | Delivery | Learn more |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Wise card | No fee to spend a currency you hold enough balance | 2 withdrawals to 350 NZD/month free, then 1.5 NZD + 1.75% | Mid-market rate Currency conversion from 0.35% | 7 - 10 days Virtual card available instantly |
How to buy Sri Lankan Rupees with a travel money card
- Register an account with a provider like Wise
- Get verified and order your card
- Your physical card will be delivered by mail in 7-10 business days
- Top up your card online, for free
- Buy LKR in your account or let your card auto-convert with the mid-market rate
Order foreign currency cash and pick-up in person
Order Sri Lankan Rupees online for collection
Some providers allow you to order Sri Lankan Rupees online and collect it at a local branch or the airport. This can be a convenient service as long as there’s a pick up location that suits your travel plans. It also removes the risk that you show up at an exchange office only to discover that the currency you need isn’t available. Providers offer a broad range of currencies for collection, with varying fees and exchange rates.
- Providers stock a broad range of currencies
- Some services can get your money to you in just a day or two
| Provider | Fees | Exchange rates | Collection | Learn more |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Travelex | Varied fees - costs may be better online compared to on the spot | Exchange rates may include a markup | Order up to 21 days before you need to collect |
How to order Sri Lankan Rupees online for collection
1. Open the website and select the option to buy for collection
2. Enter the amount or value of Sri Lankan Rupees you want to buy
3. Pay using a card or select and alternative like bank transfer
4. Choose where you want to pick up your money
5. You’ll be given a quote showing when your cash is ready for collection
Order Sri Lankan Rupees ahead and collect in branch
Buy Sri Lankan Rupees at the bank
Some banks allow you to exchange money in a branch location. The processes and eligibility rules here do vary quite a lot. In some cases you’ll need to already hold an account with the bank you pick, for example. Plus you’ll usually need to order your travel money in advance as banks don’t tend to hold a high level of stock of foreign currencies. Some banks support buy back services so you can sell your unused travel money back - but you might get a different exchange rate for this, which means you could get back less than you spent in the first place.
- Where banks offer travel money services they cover most global currencies
- You’ll often be able to order online for branch collection
- Buy back services may be available for leftover travel money
| Provider | Fees | Exchange rates | Locations | Learn more |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Varying fees depending on the service required | Exchange rates may include a markup | Major branches of Westpac - call ahead to check availability |
How to buy Sri Lankan Rupees in bank
- Call your bank, or pop into a branch in person
- Tell them the amount of foreign currency you need to buy
- Pay from your bank account or using a card
- You’ll be told when your money can be collected
- Go to your preferred branch to collect your Sri Lankan Rupees in person
Pay in cash and collect your Sri Lankan Rupees instantly
Foreign currency exchange offices
Another option is to buy your Sri Lankan Rupees in person at an exchange office. To do this all you’ll need to do is pick the exchange office that’s most convenient to you, and head in with some cash in New Zealand Dollars. Some exchange offices also accept card payments. Currency exchange offices set their own exchange rates and fees, so shopping around is essential - but this method does have the advantage that it’s usually instant to get the travel money you need.
- Exchange rates are likely to include a markup - a fee
- Not all currencies are stocked by all exchange services
- You may lose out when you sell back unused travel money
Purchase Sri Lankan Rupees on arrival, higher fees might apply
Buy Sri Lankan Rupees at the airport
If you’ve left your planning a little late you still have the option to buy Sri Lankan Rupees at the airport in many cases. Most major airports have one or more currency exchange desks catering to travelers - bear in mind though that you won’t have a huge range of choice here which can mean that the fees are higher than in a city center location.
- Exchange rates usually include a markup - which can be high
- Not all airports have currency exchange services available
- Little competition can mean the prices overall are pretty steep
How to buy Sri Lankan Rupees at the airport
Go to the airport exchange desk on arrival
Confirm how much you want to exchange
Pay with your preferred method - usually card or cash
Get your travel money instantly
How to get the best NZD to LKR exchange rate
There’s no single best provider when it comes to exchange rates. Different services set their own rates which may vary based on the currency, the amount you want to exchange, how you want to pay, and whether you’re exchanging money in a digital account or for physical cash.
To compare your options it helps to understand a bit about the mid-market exchange rate. That’s the rate you’ll see for NZD to LKR exchange if you use an online currency converter tool or a Google search. The mid-market rate is commonly used as a benchmark as it’s the one quoted on wholesale markets. However, banks and exchange services don’t usually pass this rate on directly. Instead they add an extra fee to the rate offered to retail customers - known as a markup.
This means that looking for a service which has transparent exchange rates which are the same as - or close to - the mid-market exchange rates is a good idea. You can compare a few live exchange rates for popular providers using the Exiap tools, to find the best Sri Lankan Rupee exchange rate based on the specific transaction you want to make.
Here’s what to do to find the best NZD to LKR exchange rate:
- Enter the amount you need into the comparison tool
- Review the options available, looking at the exchange rate for New Zealand Dollars to Sri Lankan Rupees in particular
- Decide between getting a travel card, ordering online, or in person
- Choose a provider based on the available options and deals
| Provider | Exchange rate | Learn more |
|---|---|---|
| Wise | 170.8300 Mid-market rate %0 | Go to site |
| Travelex NZ | 147.2538 🔻 - 13.79% | Go to site |
Where can you use Sri Lankan Rupees?
You’ll only be able to use your Sri Lankan Rupees for spending in Sri Lanka. Normally, Sri Lankan Rupees won’t be accepted elsewhere, so if you have any left after your trip you might want to convert them back to New Zealand Dollars to spend at home.
How much money do I need for Sri Lanka?
Your budget for a trip to Sri Lanka can vary enormously depending on what you’re planning to do, where you’ll stay and how long you’re going to be there. It’s worth setting yourself a budget in Sri Lankan Rupees well in advance so you can plan around that. The most expensive costs of any trip are usually accommodation and activities, but do remember to also take into account costs of currency exchange, food and transport, as well as incidentals like tipping.
Average hotel costs in Sri Lanka do vary a lot but can start from around $85. On top of that you’ll need to budget for food, at around $27 per meal. If you’re looking for an easy life you could also choose to take an organized tour which means there’s no need to plan all your activities individually. Or, set your budget to cover about $14 per day to make sure you can get the most from your trip.
| Spending | Costs in Sri Lanka | Amount in New Zealand Dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | රු14,539 | $85 |
| Transportation | රු1,480 | $9 |
| Meals | රු4,652 | $27 |
| Entertainment | රු2,457 | $14 |
Country costs provided by BudgetYourTrip. Correct as of 25 April 2024.
When is the best time to buy Sri Lankan Rupees?
There’s no single best time to buy Sri Lankan Rupees. Exchange rates change all the time, so keeping an eye on rates using a reputable currency converter tool or a site like ours can help you get a feel for the trends.
The exchange rate today is 170.845. Over the last week, the average exchange rate has been 171.46071.
Ultimately the best time to buy Sri Lankan Rupees depends on a huge range of factors, including changes in the global markets, which can be difficult, or impossible, to predict. If you buy a currency when the rate is on a downward trend it may make sense to see if it falls further before you buy. If rates are going up you might want to buy now before any potential future increases.
Nothing is certain, though. With a travel money card you have the flexibility to either lock in an exchange rate when you spot a good one, or just leave your money in New Zealand Dollars and switch over to Sri Lankan Rupees using the live rate when you pay or withdraw. This gives you options and while there’s no guarantee you can save, it could give you the best of both worlds, depending on how you think rates are trending.
Buy Sri Lankan Rupees FAQs
Is it better to get Sri Lankan Rupees in New Zealand or Sri Lanka?
You can buy Sri Lankan Rupees before you travel, or on arrival if you’d prefer. Which works best will come down to the fees and exchange rates you can find both locally and when you get to your destination. One disadvantage of buying Sri Lankan Rupees when you arrive is that you’ll waste time looking for exchange offices - while taking all your cash with you isn’t necessarily a smart choice for safety. As an alternative, getting a travel money card from a service like Wise could be a good bet for flexibility, security and cost.
Can I get Sri Lankan Rupees at a bank?
Whether or not you can get Sri Lankan Rupees from your bank will depend on several factors - including who you bank with. Some banks do allow account holders to purchase Sri Lankan Rupees in person but you might need to order Sri Lankan Rupees online in advance and wait for your order to be prepared before you can collect.
Because Sri Lankan Rupees are not a very commonly traded currency you might find your bank doesn’t have any in stock, even if they offer travel money services. Call in advance to ask if they have Sri Lankan Rupees on hand to avoid a wasted trip.
Can I get Sri Lankan Rupees at the airport?
Many major airports have currency exchange desks which stock major currencies for instant conversion. You may also be able to order money in advance for collection. However, it’s useful to know that a lack of local competition can mean that prices are high at the airport, with exchange rate markups adding to the overall cost significantly.
As Sri Lankan Rupees aren’t the most commonly requested currency, you may find that airport exchange services don’t hold them in stock. Check in advance to make sure you don’t end up stuck without travel money.
How long does it take to get Sri Lankan Rupees?
How long it takes to sort out your travel money can depend a lot on the method you choose - here’s a quick summary:
- Travel cards can take 7 - 10 days to be delivered, but you may be able to start using a virtual card instantly for mobile payments
- Buying currency online for collection can be done in advance - don’t leave it too late as it may take a day or two to prepare less common currencies or large amounts of money
- Bank currency exchange can involve placing an order in advance and waiting up to 10 days before you can collect it, particularly for uncommon currencies
- Foreign currency exchange offices in cities and at the airport can offer instant conversion if they have the currency you need in stock
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