The all-inclusive price
The cost of residential treatment at a quality clinic in Sri Lanka starts from $9,900 USD per month. That number can feel surprising to people coming from the UK, Australia or the UAE, where comparable private residential rehab typically costs two to four times as much. The natural question is: what is the catch? The honest answer is that there is not one. The lower price reflects Sri Lanka's cost of living, not a lower standard of care.
It is worth being specific about what that price actually covers, because the way rehab is priced matters as much as the headline figure. Many clinics in Western markets quote a base rate and then bill separately for individual therapy sessions, medical assessments, medications, and additional activities. By the time you add those line items, the final invoice can be substantially higher than the advertised figure. In Sri Lanka, the programmes we work with operate on a genuine all-inclusive basis.
What is included in the monthly fee
When we say all-inclusive, we mean it. The monthly programme fee covers your private en-suite accommodation for the full duration of your stay. All meals, prepared daily by kitchen staff who will accommodate dietary requirements and preferences, are included. Individual therapy sessions with a qualified counsellor or psychotherapist are scheduled throughout your programme. Group therapy, which is a central part of any evidence-based treatment approach, is included as standard. Holistic and complementary activities, including yoga, meditation, mindfulness sessions, and physical exercise, form part of the daily schedule and are not charged separately.
The fee also covers your initial medical assessment on arrival, which is essential for safe detoxification planning. Airport transfer to and from the clinic is arranged as part of your admission. And importantly, your aftercare plan, which is prepared in the final week of treatment, is part of the programme rather than an add-on service.
What is not included
Transparency works in both directions, so it is worth being equally clear about what the monthly fee does not cover. Your flights are your own responsibility, as is comprehensive travel insurance, which we strongly recommend for any stay of 28 days or longer. Personal spending money for items such as toiletries beyond the basics, additional excursions, or personal clothing is not included. Certain prescription medications may carry an additional cost depending on your individual needs, and this will be discussed clearly at the assessment stage before you commit to a programme.
How Sri Lanka compares
To put the pricing in context: a private residential rehab programme in the UK at a reputable clinic typically costs between £10,000 and £18,000 per month. The lower end of that range tends to reflect a more limited environment, shared rooms, or fewer individual therapy hours. The upper end represents some of the better-known clinics in the country. In Australia, the equivalent range is roughly AUD 15,000 to AUD 25,000 per month. In the UAE, private residential treatment commonly runs from AED 30,000 to AED 60,000 per month.
Against those figures, Sri Lanka at from $9,900 USD per month offers a genuinely compelling proposition, particularly when you consider that the Sri Lanka price includes everything, whereas many Western clinic prices are the starting point for a more itemised billing process.
Why Sri Lanka costs less, not why it is cheaper
The distinction between "costing less" and "being cheaper" is important. Sri Lanka has a significantly lower cost of living than the UK, Australia or the UAE. Qualified clinical staff, high-quality food, and well-maintained facilities cost considerably less to provide there than they would in London or Sydney. The clinical expertise has not been discounted. Many of the therapists and counsellors working in Sri Lanka's private rehab sector have trained internationally and have years of experience treating international clients. What has changed is the overhead, not the quality.
Think of it in the same way you might think about other healthcare decisions made abroad. Medical tourism to countries with lower cost bases is well established precisely because the quality of care does not automatically correlate with the local price level.
Budgeting for a full programme
If you are working out the total cost of attending a programme, a practical budget for a 28-day stay might look like this: programme fee from $9,900 USD, return flights from the UK approximately £600 to £900, travel insurance for a 28-day trip roughly £150 to £300, and personal spending money of perhaps £200 to £400 depending on your habits. The total out-of-pocket cost for a 28-day programme from the UK is therefore broadly in the range of $11,500 to $12,500 USD equivalent, all-in. That compares very favourably with the UK domestic equivalent of £10,000 to £18,000 for the programme alone, before any travel costs.
For a 60-day or 90-day programme, the per-day cost remains consistent, and longer stays are generally viewed as offering better clinical outcomes. You can read more about how to choose the right programme length at our how long is rehab page.
Payment options
Payment is typically made in full prior to admission, or in some cases as a deposit on booking with the balance settled before arrival. We can discuss instalment arrangements in certain circumstances, and we are happy to have a candid conversation about what is financially workable for your situation. The priority is getting the right person into the right programme, and we will work with you to make that as straightforward as possible.