Should you visit Doha or Islamabad?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel cost comparison between Doha and Islamabad can help. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Doha
Doha is the capital city of Qatar, modern and rapidly developing with much construction underway. It is home to Doha International Airport, the main point of entry for Qatar, as well as many of the country's best museums and examples of cultural heritage.
Islamabad
Islamabad is the capital of Pakistan, specially built in the 1960's to replace the former capital, Karachi. Most of the city's population are employees of the government, though many people come from all over Pakistan to enjoy the city's peaceful atmosphere and green spaces, museums, and monuments.
Which city is cheaper, Islamabad or Doha?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Doha is $160, while the average daily cost in Islamabad is $52. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Doha and Islamabad in more detail.
Accommodation
The average price for accommodation for two people in Doha is $190. This is for two people sharing a typical double occupancy hotel room.
Travelers usually pay around $52 for a double occupancy room in Islamabad If you want to be in a premiere location or have high end amenities, you can expect to pay a bit more.
Food
On average, meal and food prices in Doha cost around $49 per person, per day. While this price can vary widely by location, the type of restaurant, and the amount of food ordered, a typical meal often costs around $20.
On average, meal and food prices in Islamabad cost around $19 per person, per day. While this price can vary widely by location, the type of restaurant, and the amount of food ordered, a typical meal often costs around $7.60.
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Food
Meals for one day
Doha $49
Islamabad $19
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Doha
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Doha.
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Full Day Desert Safari with Lunch or Dinner:
$112
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Full Day Desert Safari with Buffet Dinner,Sand Boarding & Camel Ride:
$195
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Overnight Desert Safari || BBQ Dinner || Sand boarding || inland sea Visit:
$270
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Overnight Desert Safari with BBQ Dinner:
$295
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Dune Bashing and Romantic Desert Dinner in Mesaieed from Doha:
$864
Local Transportation
While taxis and private drivers typically cost much more than public transportation, people usually spend around $19 per day to get around in Doha.
To get around in Islamabad, the average visitor spends $9.67 per day, per person. This includes the costs of taxi rides and private drivers as well as public transportation, which tends to be much more affordable.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Doha
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Doha:
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Airport/Hotel transfer (Group 7-15 Passengers):
$267
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Round Trip Private Transfer Doha Airport DOH to Doha City by Luxury Van:
$176
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Departure Private Transfers from Doha City to Doha Airport DOH in Luxury Van:
$124
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Arrival Private Transfers from Doha Airport DOH to Doha City in Luxury Van:
$124
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Doha Airport Transfers : Doha Airport DOH to Doha City in Luxury Van:
$118
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Doha Airport Transfers : Doha City to Doha Airport DOH in Luxury Van:
$118
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Transfer to Villaggio Mall or City Centre Mall:
$110
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Doha Airport Transfers : Doha City to Doha Airport DOH in Luxury Car:
$107
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Doha Airport Transfers : Doha Airport DOH to Doha City in Luxury Car:
$107
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Doha Airport Transfers : Doha City to Doha Airport DOH in Business Car:
$82
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Departure Private Transfers from Doha City to Doha Airport DOH in Business Car:
$82
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Arrival Private Transfers from Doha Airport DOH to Doha City in Business Car:
$82
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Islamabad
Also for Islamabad, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Airport Transfers Faisalabad:
$53
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Airport Transfers Islamabad:
$53
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Airport Transfers Karachi:
$53
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Airport Transfers Multan:
$53
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Airport Transfers Peshawar:
$53
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Airport Transfers Quetta:
$53
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Chauffeur: Islamabad Airport Round Trip Private Transfers:
$40
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Islamabad Airport Transfer:
$55
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Islamabad Airport Transfer:
$62
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Islamabad Airport Transfer:
$40
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Islamabad International Airport Arrival Pick up Transfer:
$45
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Islamabad International Airport Departure Drop off Transfer:
$45
Is it cheaper to fly into Doha or Islamabad?
Prices for flights to both Islamabad and Doha change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Entertainment
Activities, things to do, and other forms of entertainment usually cost around $15 per person, per day in Doha. This cost includes the price of admission tickets to attractions and museums as well as daily tours.
In Islamabad, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average $12 per person, per day.
Tours and Activities in Doha
Here are a few actual costs in Doha for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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(Create Your Own Itinerary) Private Doha City Day Tour:
$100
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(Private Combo Tour)Desert safari, Camel ride, Quad Bike and Dune Bashing:
$130
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(Private Tour) Doha City Tour:
$97
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(Private Tour) Doha city tour and Dhow boat cruise:
$110
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(Private Tour) Night Desert Safari, Camel Ride, Dune Bashing.:
$110
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(Private Tour) Sheikh Faisal Museum And Camel Race Track:
$115
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(Private Tour)Sunrise Desert Safari Dune Bashing, Camel Ride, Sand Boarding .:
$108
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(Private) Combo Doha City And Half Day Desert Safari Tour (No Hidden cost):
$198
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(Private) Doha Night City Tours:
$105
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4 Days Tour In Doha:
$399
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4 Hour Qatar Museum Tour:
$105
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4-Hour Cultural Doha Private Day Tour:
$77
Tours and Activities in Islamabad
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Islamabad.
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Islamabad City Tour:
$50
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Islamabad City Tour: Covid-19 safe & PRIVATE tour:
$55
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Hiking Adventure through Margalla Hills, north of Islamabad.:
$56
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Islamabad City Tour With Lunch at Monal:
$61
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Shopping Tour: Half Day Islamabad Markets Exploration Tour:
$75
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Half Day Private Instagram Guided City Tour:
$80
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Islamabad In & Around Full Day Customized City Tour:
$80
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Private Tour: Half Day Islamabad Saidpur Village Exploration Tour:
$80
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Shopping Tour: Full Day Islamabad Markets Exploration Tour:
$85
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Private Tour: Islamabad Full Day Customized Exploration Tour:
$90
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Private Tour: Hidden Gems of Islamabad Exploration Tour:
$90
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Best of Islamabad City Landmarks Exploration Tour (Private & Guided).:
$95
Alcohol
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Doha may vary from person to person, on average a person spends $12 per day on alcoholic beverages.
Alcoholic beverages can often be a significant portion of a traveler's budget, and the costs can vary greatly from person to person. In Islamabad, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is $3.63.
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Doha and Islamabad, we can see that Doha is more expensive. And not only is Islamabad much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Doha is in Middle East and Islamabad is in Asia, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Islamabad would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Islamabad and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Doha would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Doha than you might in Islamabad.
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