Is Suriname expensive? What things really cost in 2026
Short answer
Suriname is moderately priced: everyday food and city transport are cheap, but tours to the interior, which almost everyone needs, are expensive. A budget traveller can manage on about SRD 1,700 per person a day sharing a room, mid-range about SRD 4,500 and comfort about SRD 9,200. Prices in Surinamese dollars change with inflation and the exchange rate, so check current figures before you go.
Daily budget: backpacker, mid-range, luxury
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing) | SRD700 | SRD2,000 | SRD4,000 |
| Food & drink | SRD500 | SRD1,000 | SRD2,000 |
| Sights & tickets | SRD300 | SRD1,000 | SRD2,000 |
| Local transport | SRD200 | SRD500 | SRD1,200 |
| Per person, per day | SRD1,700 | SRD4,500 | SRD9,200 |
Approximate 2026 prices, two people sharing a room. From our Suriname day-cost table.
What things cost
| Item | Typical price* |
|---|---|
| Bami, saoto soup or roti at the Waterkant stalls | SRD 150-300 |
| Taxi within Paramaribo | about SRD 150-400 |
| Fort Zeelandia with the Suriname Museum | about SRD 200-350 |
| Bike rental in Commewijne | about SRD 200-400 |
| Fort Nieuw Amsterdam open-air museum | about SRD 150-250 |
| Dolphin and sunset boat tour | about SRD 1,000-1,500 |
| Brownsberg Nature Park entry | about SRD 300-600 |
| Upper Suriname River lodge package, 3 nights | about SRD 10,000-18,000 per person |
| Guesthouse double in Paramaribo | SRD 1,200-2,000 a night |
* Approximate prices, October 2026. They change with season and exchange rates.
Where the money goes
Interior trips are the main expense: packages to the Upper Suriname River include boats, lodging and meals and cost SRD 10,000-18,000 per person for three nights, and day tours to Brownsberg or the plantations add more. Accommodation in Paramaribo is reasonably priced. Food at warungs and the Waterkant stalls is cheap, while restaurants in riverside hotels charge much more.
When it is cheaper
Prices change little with the season. July and August (Dutch school holidays) and December are the busiest times, when lodges and flights from Amsterdam cost more and fill quickly.
How to spend less
- Eat at Javanese warungs in Lelydorp or Blauwgrond and the Waterkant stalls.
- Explore Commewijne by bike rather than on a guided tour.
- Book interior packages directly with lodges, which often include all transport and meals.
- Use minibuses on fixed routes for longer trips around Paramaribo.
- Join a guided walk from the tourist office to understand the UNESCO wooden city cheaply.
- Carry cash in SRD for markets; check the official exchange rate before changing money.
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Common questions
Is Suriname expensive?
City life is affordable, about SRD 1,700 a day on a budget, but interior tours are expensive.
How much does an interior trip cost?
About SRD 10,000-18,000 per person for three nights on the Upper Suriname River, including transport, lodging and meals.
Which currency should I use in Suriname?
The Surinamese dollar (SRD); euros and US dollars are widely exchanged. Prices change with inflation.