Which place is cheaper, Philadelphia or Islamabad?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Islamabad or Philadelphia?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Islamabad and Philadelphia can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Islamabad or Philadelphia?
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.
Philadelphia
Philadelphia is the fourth largest urban area, and the fifth largest city in the United States. It's located in southeastern Pennsylvania and has a rich history, having once been the capital of the United States. The city has very impressive architecture, museums, universities, and entertainment venues. It's a cultural and artistic center for the country and it continues to climb as a top travel destination.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Pakistan, The Best Cultural Tours in Pakistan, The Best 2-Week Tours from Anchorage, and The Best 2-Week Tours from San Francisco.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayIslamabad $42Philadelphia $188
The average daily cost (per person) in Islamabad is $42, while the average daily cost in Philadelphia is $188. 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 destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Islamabad and Philadelphia in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personIslamabad $20Philadelphia $119
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomIslamabad $40Philadelphia $238
Compare Hotels in Islamabad and Philadelphia
Looking for a hotel in Islamabad or Philadelphia? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Islamabad Hotel Prices and Philadelphia Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Islamabad $7.67Philadelphia $28
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Islamabad
Also for Islamabad, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transit Trip: Islamabad City Exploration Day Tour & Round Trip Airport Transfer: $110
- Private Transfer from Islamabad Airport to Pakistan: $61
- Private Chauffeur: Arrival Transfer Airport Pick up (Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore): $50
- Premium Services: Islamabad International Airport Transfer - Departures: $55
- Premium Services: Islamabad International Airport Transfer - Arrival: $55
- Premium Services: Islamabad Day Trip & Round Trip Airport Transfers.: $170
- Islamabad Round Trip Airport Transfer & Customizable Day Trip: $95
- Islamabad International Airport Transfer - ARRIVAL: $40
- Islamabad International Airport Transfer: $35
- Islamabad International Airport Departure Drop off Transfer : $55
- Islamabad International Airport Arrival Pick up Transfer: $55
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Philadelphia
Also for Philadelphia, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Philadelphia Airport (PHL): Private Transfer to Philadelphia: $355
- Philadelphia City to Washington City - Private Car Transfer: $135
- Philadelphia Airport (PHL) to Philadelphia - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $131
- Private Transfer: Philadelphia Airport PHL to Philadelphia in Business Car: $95
- Philadelphia to Philadelphia Airport (PHL) - Departure Private Transfer: $66
Is it cheaper to fly into Islamabad or Philadelphia?
Prices for flights to both Philadelphia and Islamabad 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.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayIslamabad $15Philadelphia $49
Typical Food Prices in Philadelphia
For Philadelphia, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Casual Lunch (for 3)$27
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Philadelphia
For Philadelphia, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Locals' Favorites Food Tour: $52
- Best of Philly Food Tour: $55
- Best of Philadelphia Food Tour-Small Group Walking Tour: $59
- 9th Street Italian Market Walking Food Tour: $61
- Bites and Booze: Walking Food Tour in Philadelphia : $65
- Flavors of Philly Food Tour: $65
- Philadelphia's Delicious Donut Adventure & Walking Food Tour: $65
- Buffet Brunch, Lunch, or Dinner Cruise: $66
- Secret Food Tour: $84
- Highlights of East Passyunk Food Tour: $85
- Chef-Led Taste of the Italian Market Food Tour: $90
- Spirit of Philadelphia Signature Dinner Cruise with Buffet: $95
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Islamabad $9.48Philadelphia $28
Tours and Activities in Islamabad
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Islamabad.
- Best of Islamabad Half Day Tour With Meal At Monal Restaurant (Morn & Eve Slots): $100
- From 15 Day Trekking Tour of Thalay and Nangma: $3,070
- From 9-Day Colors of Hunza Valley Cultural Tour: $2,065
- From Full Day Guided Taxila Ruins Exploration Tour: $150
- From Full Day Historical Peshawar Guided City Tour: $160
- From Skardu and Baltistan Cultural Tour with Food: $2,339
- Full Day Private City Tour Of Islamabad: $99
- Full-Day Sightseeing Tour Of Islamabad: $80
- Full-day Essential Islamabad Tour: $150
- Islamabad In & Around Full Day Customized City Tour: $80
- Islamabad Instagram Tour: Most Famous Spots (Private & All-Inclusive): $95
- City Tour with Faisal Mosque and Lake View Park: $95
Typical Entertainment Prices in Philadelphia
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Philadelphia's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Big Bus Tour (family of 3)$99
Tours and Activities in Philadelphia
For Philadelphia, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 2 Hours Ben Franklin Yacht Brunch Cruise with Buffet: $65
- A Magical Christmas Tour in Philadelphia: $558
- Amazing Philadelphia Scavenger Hunt Adventure: $44
- Art and Controversy: An audio tour of Philadelphia's most infamous art scandals: $5.40
- BYOB Historically Hilarious Trolley Tour of Philadelphia: $49
- Best of Philadelphia Small Group Walking Tour: $104
- City Sightseeing Walking Tour – Founding Fathers and Mothers: $32
- Classic Philadelphia City Bike Tour: $75
- Cocktail Caravan: Philly Walking Bar Tour: $35
- Dark Philly Adult Night Tour: $38
- Discovering Colonial Philadelphia Private Walking Tour: $250
- Double Decker Hop-On Hop-Off City Sightseeing Philadelphia (1, 2, or 3-Day): $36
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayIslamabad $2.88Philadelphia $21
Sample the Local Flavors in Philadelphia
Also in Philadelphia, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Liberty History Tour Pub Crawl: $45
- Guided Tour with Pub Crawl: $45
- Half-Day Philadelphia's Brewery Bike Tour with Tastings: $100
- Philly Signature Guided Brewery Tour: $105
- Guided Craft Brewery Tours with a Snack: $120
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Islamabad and Philadelphia, we can see that Philadelphia is more expensive. And not only is Islamabad much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Islamabad is in Asia and Philadelphia is in North America, 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 Philadelphia would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Philadelphia than you might in Islamabad.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Islamabad Expensive? and Is Philadelphia Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Islamabad or Philadelphia?
Philadelphia has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Islamabad. When comparing the sizes of Islamabad and Philadelphia, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
When is the best time to visit Islamabad or Philadelphia?
Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Islamabad or Philadelphia in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Islamabad and Philadelphia. Furthermore, the summer months attract visitors to Philadelphia because of the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.
The heat can be very extreme in Islamabad. In the summer, Islamabad is a little warmer than Philadelphia. Typically, the summer temperatures in Islamabad in July average around 32°C (90°F), and Philadelphia averages at about 77°F (25°C).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Philadelphia this time of the year. In Islamabad, it's very sunny this time of the year. Islamabad usually receives less sunshine than Philadelphia during summer. Islamabad gets 247 hours of sunny skies, while Philadelphia receives 273 hours of full sun in the summer.
Philadelphia receives a lot of rain in the summer. Islamabad gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Islamabad usually receives more rain than Philadelphia. Islamabad gets 237 mm (9.3 in) of rain, while Philadelphia receives 3.9 inches (100 mm) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyIslamabad 32°C (90°F)Philadelphia 77°F (25°C)
Should I visit Islamabad or Philadelphia in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Islamabad as well as Philadelphia. Additionally, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Philadelphia this time of year.
In October, Islamabad is generally much warmer than Philadelphia. Daily temperatures in Islamabad average around 26°C (80°F), and Philadelphia fluctuates around 56°F (14°C).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Philadelphia. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Islamabad this time of the year. In the autumn, Islamabad often gets more sunshine than Philadelphia. Islamabad gets 287 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Philadelphia receives 202 hours of full sun.
Islamabad usually gets less rain in October than Philadelphia. Islamabad gets 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain, while Philadelphia receives 1.9 inches (48 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberIslamabad 26°C (80°F)Philadelphia 56°F (14°C)
Should I visit Islamabad or Philadelphia in the Winter?
Both Philadelphia and Islamabad are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Also, many travelers come to Philadelphia for the museums, the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Philadelphia. Islamabad is much warmer than Philadelphia in the winter. The daily temperature in Islamabad averages around 14°C (57°F) in January, and Philadelphia fluctuates around 30°F (-1°C).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Islamabad. Islamabad usually receives more sunshine than Philadelphia during winter. Islamabad gets 213 hours of sunny skies, while Philadelphia receives 152 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Islamabad usually receives less rain than Philadelphia. Islamabad gets 34 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while Philadelphia receives 2.3 inches (58 mm) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryIslamabad 14°C (57°F)Philadelphia 30°F (-1°C)
Should I visit Islamabad or Philadelphia in the Spring?
Both Philadelphia and Islamabad during the spring are popular places to visit. Also, many visitors come to Philadelphia in the spring for the activities around the city and the natural beauty.
In the spring, Islamabad is much warmer than Philadelphia. Typically, the spring temperatures in Islamabad in April average around 27°C (80°F), and Philadelphia averages at about 52°F (11°C).
In Philadelphia, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Islamabad. In the spring, Islamabad often gets more sunshine than Philadelphia. Islamabad gets 258 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Philadelphia receives 216 hours of full sun.
Islamabad usually gets less rain in April than Philadelphia. Islamabad gets 37 mm (1.4 in) of rain, while Philadelphia receives 2.8 inches (70 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilIslamabad 27°C (80°F)Philadelphia 52°F (11°C)
Typical Weather for Philadelphia and Islamabad
| Islamabad | Philadelphia | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 14°C (57°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) | 30°F (-1°C) | 2.3 inches (58 mm) |
| Feb | 16°C (61°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 33°F (1°C) | 2.1 inches (54 mm) |
| Mar | 21°C (70°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 42°F (6°C) | 2.7 inches (68 mm) |
| Apr | 27°C (80°F) | 37 mm (1.4 in) | 52°F (11°C) | 2.8 inches (70 mm) |
| May | 32°C (89°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) | 63°F (17°C) | 2.8 inches (70 mm) |
| Jun | 35°C (94°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 72°F (22°C) | 3 inches (76 mm) |
| Jul | 32°C (90°F) | 237 mm (9.3 in) | 77°F (25°C) | 3.9 inches (100 mm) |
| Aug | 31°C (89°F) | 221 mm (8.7 in) | 76°F (24°C) | 3 inches (75 mm) |
| Sep | 31°C (87°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) | 68°F (20°C) | 2.8 inches (71 mm) |
| Oct | 26°C (80°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) | 56°F (14°C) | 1.9 inches (48 mm) |
| Nov | 20°C (68°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 46°F (8°C) | 2.5 inches (64 mm) |
| Dec | 15°C (59°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 36°F (2°C) | 2.7 inches (69 mm) |
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.