--- title: "Backpack Lanka vs MercuryFM 103 Budget: which hotel is better?" description: "Pick Backpack Lanka. It leads in 1 of 4 categories. Backpack Lanka or MercuryFM 103 Budget in Colombo? Compare guest ratings, location, amenities, rooms and…" url: https://stayversus.com/en/compare/backpack-lanka-colombo-vs-mercuryfm-103-budget-colombo/ language: en source: StayVersus (https://stayversus.com) retrieved: 2026-10-18 --- # Backpack Lanka vs MercuryFM 103 Budget Both are in Colombo, 150 m apart. Here is where each one is stronger. Guesthouse · ★ · Slave Island ## [Backpack Lanka](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/backpack-lanka-colombo/) - **Guest rating:** 7.5 · Good - **Location score:** 6.6 - **Score by category:** 1 of 4 [Check rates](https://stayversus.com/go/1178402/agoda/?lang=en) Hotel · ★★ · Slave Island ## [MercuryFM 103 Budget](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/mercuryfm-103-budget-colombo/) - **Guest rating:** 7.1 · Good - **Location score:** 6.8 - **Score by category:** 0 of 4 [Check rates](https://stayversus.com/go/1839668/agoda/?lang=en) The short answer ## Pick Backpack Lanka It leads in 1 of 4 categories. 150 m apart. ### Choose MercuryFM 103 Budget if you want - the more consistently praised stay (7.1 / 7.5) ### Why is Backpack Lanka better than MercuryFM 103 Budget? 1. Higher guest rating (7.5 vs 7.1) (+0.4) 2. More guest reviews (253 vs 18), so the rating is more reliable (×14) ### Why is MercuryFM 103 Budget better than Backpack Lanka? 1. Higher star rating (2★ vs 1★) (+1★) ## All compared facts Every category is scored from 0 to 10 with the same formula for every hotel. | | Backpack Lanka | MercuryFM 103 Budget | | --- | --- | --- | | Score by category | | Guest rating | 7.5 (+0.4) | 7.1 | | Location | 6.6 | 6.8 | | Beach access | 6.1 | 5.8 | | Public transport | 9.2 | 8.9 | | Ratings & reviews | | StayVersus score | 7.6 | 7.7 (+0.2) | | Guest rating | 7.5 (+0.4) | 7.1 | | Number of reviews | 253 (+235) | 18 | | Rank in Colombo | top 85% | top 77% (+8%) | | Location | | Location score | 6.6 | 6.8 (+0.2) | | Distance to Slave Island centre | 1.5 km | 1.5 km | | To the beach | 1.2 km (−90 m) | 1.3 km | | To public transport | 300 m | 360 m | | To the airport | 11 km | 11 km | | Restaurants within 500 m | 65 | 71 (+6) | | Sights within 1 km | 2 | 3 | | Rooms & building | | Star rating | ★ | ★★ (+1★) | | Rooms | 10 | – | | Floors | 4 | – | | Newest building or renovation | 2014 | – | | Listed amenities | 9 | – | | Policies | | Check-in from | 14:00 | 14:00 | | Check-out until | 11:00 | 11:00 | | Amenities | | Free Wi-Fi | ✓ | – | | Airport transfer | ✓ | – | | Shuttle | ✓ | – | | Car hire | ✓ | – | | Laundry | ✓ | – | | Luggage storage | ✓ | – | | Air conditioning | ✓ | – | | Kitchen | ✓ | – | | Which hotel suits you | | Business trips | ✓ | – | ## Location 150 m apart Backpack Lanka: city centre: 2.8 km, nearest station Expo Rail: 300 m, Colombo Ratmalana International Airport (RML): 11 km, beach: 1.2 km, 65 places to eat within 500 m, 2 sights within 1 km. MercuryFM 103 Budget: city centre: 2.7 km, nearest station Expo Rail: 360 m, Colombo Ratmalana International Airport (RML): 11 km, beach: 1.3 km, 71 places to eat within 500 m, 3 sights within 1 km. ## Weather in Colombo [Colombo weather: 15-day forecast](https://atlasofseasons.com/en/sri-lanka/western-province/colombo/weather) ## Backpack Lanka or MercuryFM 103 Budget: common questions ### Which is better, Backpack Lanka or MercuryFM 103 Budget? Backpack Lanka leads in 1 of 4 categories, including guest rating. ### Which is cheaper, Backpack Lanka or MercuryFM 103 Budget? Prices change by date. Pick your dates above to see both nightly prices side by side. ### Which hotel is closer to the beach? Backpack Lanka is 1.2 km from the nearest beach; MercuryFM 103 Budget is 1.3 km. ### How far apart are Backpack Lanka and MercuryFM 103 Budget? The two hotels are 150 m apart in a straight line. ## More match-ups - [MercuryFM 103 Budget vs Morven Hotel Colombo](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/mercuryfm-103-budget-colombo-vs-morven-hotel-colombo-colombo/) - [MercuryFM 103 Budget vs Juliana Colombo](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/juliana-colombo-colombo-vs-mercuryfm-103-budget-colombo/) - [MercuryFM 103 Budget vs Sofia Colombo City Hotel](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/mercuryfm-103-budget-colombo-vs-sofia-colombo-city-hotel-colombo/) - [MercuryFM 103 Budget vs Eolie Loft](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/eolie-loft-colombo-vs-mercuryfm-103-budget-colombo/) ## Compare now Updated 6 Oct 2026. Data: Agoda, Overture Maps, OpenStreetMap, OurAirports and hotels' own websites. We may earn a commission from partner links; it never changes the comparison. [How we score](https://stayversus.com/en/about/) --- Source: https://stayversus.com/en/compare/backpack-lanka-colombo-vs-mercuryfm-103-budget-colombo/. Facts are compiled by StayVersus from partner data (Agoda), Overture Maps, OpenStreetMap, OurAirports, public Google Maps listings and hotels' own websites. Scores use one formula for every hotel. Methodology: https://stayversus.com/en/about/