Which place is cheaper, Islamabad or Warsaw?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Warsaw or Islamabad?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Warsaw and Islamabad 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: Warsaw or Islamabad?
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital city of Poland. It has a population of 1.7 million, making it the country's largest city. Located on the Vistula River, it is a popular tourist destination for its interesting architecture and culture. The right bank of the river was the first area to become populated in the 9th or 10 century. Today, however, the city's central district is on the left bank of the river. The Old Town, where you will find many sights and attractions, is fully contained within the city center.
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Sightseeing Tours in Poland, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Krakow, The Best Adventure Tours to Pakistan, and The Best Cultural Tours in Pakistan.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayWarsaw $94Islamabad $42
The average daily cost (per person) in Warsaw is $94, while the average daily cost in Islamabad is $42. 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 Warsaw and Islamabad in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personWarsaw $52Islamabad $20
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomWarsaw $104Islamabad $40
Compare Hotels in Warsaw and Islamabad
Looking for a hotel in Warsaw or Islamabad? 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: Warsaw Hotel Prices and Islamabad Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Warsaw $4.68Islamabad $7.67
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Warsaw
Also for Warsaw, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- from Warsaw to Krakow private transfer: $498
- Private Transfer to/from Krakow: $448
- Private Full-Day Tour of Warsaw with Tickets and Transfers: $294
- Private Transfer from Warsaw to Vienna, Hotel-to-hotel, English-speaking driver: $289
- Private Transfer from Warsaw to Wroclaw with 2h of Sightseeing: $262
- Private Transfer from Warsaw to Krakow, Private driver service: $251
- Chopin Airport One–Way Limousine Transfer: $249
- Warsaw City/Airport Okecie: Private Transfer from/to Krakow: $249
- Private Transfer from Warsaw to Krakow with 2h of Sightseeing: $247
- Wilanow Palace and Gardens with Guide, Tickets and Transfers: $212
- Modlin-Warsaw WMI Airport Round-Trip Transfer: $197
- Private transfer from Warszawa to Krakow: $191
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Islamabad
Also for Islamabad, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Premium Services: Islamabad Day Trip & Round Trip Airport Transfers.: $170
- Transit Trip: Islamabad City Exploration Day Tour & Round Trip Airport Transfer: $110
- Islamabad Round Trip Airport Transfer & Customizable Day Trip: $95
- Private Transfer from Islamabad Airport to Pakistan: $61
- Islamabad International Airport Arrival Pick up Transfer: $55
- Islamabad International Airport Departure Drop off Transfer : $55
- Premium Services: Islamabad International Airport Transfer - Departures: $55
- Premium Services: Islamabad International Airport Transfer - Arrival: $55
- Private Chauffeur: Arrival Transfer Airport Pick up (Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore): $50
- Islamabad International Airport Transfer - ARRIVAL: $40
- Islamabad International Airport Transfer: $35
Is it cheaper to fly into Warsaw or Islamabad?
Prices for flights to both Islamabad and Warsaw 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 dayWarsaw $27Islamabad $15
Typical Food Prices in Warsaw
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Warsaw:
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Dinner for Two$13
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Lunch for Two$10
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Warsaw
For Warsaw, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Lunch or Dinner at Hard Rock Cafe with Skip-the-Line: $19
- Breakfast Market Food Tour in Warsaw: $56
- Warsaw's No 1 cooking class-Polish dumplings with liqueur tasting: $61
- Polish Dumplings Cooking Class: $62
- Traditional Polish Cooking Class in Warsaw: $79
- Traditional Polish Cooking Class with liquor tasting in Warsaw: $89
- Polish Food Tour: $93
- Taste of Poland - Old Town food tour and guided walk in one: $95
- 4-Hour Polish Food Tour: $110
- The 10 Tastings of Warsaw With Locals: Private Food Tour : $117
- EVERYDAY Warsaw Traditional Food Tour with Old Town Sightseeing: $156
- Traditional Food Tour with Old Town Sightseeing: $156
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Warsaw $7.02Islamabad $9.48
Tours and Activities in Warsaw
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Warsaw.
- 1-day tour from Warsaw to Kazimierz Dolny : $229
- 2 Hour Super Segway City Tour of Warsaw: $67
- 2-Hour Breakfast Experience in a Home from Warsaw: $49
- 3 Hour VIP Warsaw Guided City Tour: $207
- 3-Hour Guided Cycling Tour of Warsaw: $38
- 5-Hour Private Walking Night Tour in Warsaw: $63
- 6 Hour Private Car Tour to Treblinka With Hotel Pickup: $307
- Architecture Walking Tour in Warsaw: $76
- Best of Warsaw Full-Day Private Tour with Private Transport: $154
- Best of Warsaw Full-Day Private Tour with Private Transport: $154
- Chopin's Warsaw - guided tour in a minivan with evening piano concert: $67
- Chopin’s Warsaw - City tour in the footsteps of Frédéric Chopin: $69
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
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayWarsaw $10Islamabad $2.88
Sample the Local Flavors in Warsaw
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Warsaw:
- The Original Pub Crawl: $16
- #1 Pub Crawl Warsaw with Premium Open Bar: $20
- Pub Crawl with 1-Hour Open Bar: $20
- Warsaw Wine Tasting Private Tour with Wine Expert: $177
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Warsaw and Islamabad, we can see that Warsaw is more expensive. And not only is Islamabad much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Warsaw is in Europe 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 Warsaw would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Warsaw 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 Warsaw Expensive? and Is Islamabad Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Warsaw or Islamabad?
Warsaw has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Islamabad. When comparing the sizes of Warsaw and Islamabad, 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 Warsaw or Islamabad?
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 Warsaw or Islamabad in the Summer?
Both Islamabad and Warsaw are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The summer months attract visitors to Warsaw because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.
The heat can be very extreme in Islamabad. Warsaw is much colder than Islamabad in the summer. The daily temperature in Warsaw averages around 19°C (65°F) in July, and Islamabad fluctuates around 32°C (90°F).
It's quite sunny in Islamabad. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Warsaw. Warsaw usually receives more sunshine than Islamabad during summer. Warsaw gets 353 hours of sunny skies, while Islamabad receives 247 hours of full sun in the summer.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Islamabad. In July, Warsaw usually receives less rain than Islamabad. Warsaw gets 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Islamabad receives 237 mm (9.3 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyWarsaw 19°C (65°F)Islamabad 32°C (90°F)
Should I visit Warsaw or Islamabad in the Autumn?
Both Islamabad and Warsaw during the autumn are popular places to visit. The city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Warsaw this time of year.
In the autumn, Warsaw is much colder than Islamabad. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Warsaw in October average around 9°C (49°F), and Islamabad averages at about 26°C (80°F).
In Islamabad, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the autumn, Warsaw often gets less sunshine than Islamabad. Warsaw gets 135 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Islamabad receives 287 hours of full sun.
Warsaw usually gets more rain in October than Islamabad. Warsaw gets 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Islamabad receives 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberWarsaw 9°C (49°F)Islamabad 26°C (80°F)
Should I visit Warsaw or Islamabad in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Warsaw and Islamabad. Many travelers come to Warsaw for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Warsaw. In January, Warsaw is generally much colder than Islamabad. Daily temperatures in Warsaw average around -3°C (27°F), and Islamabad fluctuates around 14°C (57°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Islamabad this time of the year. Warsaw usually receives less sunshine than Islamabad during winter. Warsaw gets 35 hours of sunny skies, while Islamabad receives 213 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Warsaw usually receives less rain than Islamabad. Warsaw gets 22 mm (0.9 in) of rain, while Islamabad receives 34 mm (1.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryWarsaw -3°C (27°F)Islamabad 14°C (57°F)
Should I visit Warsaw or Islamabad in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Warsaw as well as Islamabad. Many visitors come to Warsaw in the spring for the activities around the city and the natural beauty.
Warsaw is much colder than Islamabad in the spring. The daily temperature in Warsaw averages around 9°C (47°F) in April, and Islamabad fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Islamabad. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Warsaw this time of the year. In the spring, Warsaw often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Islamabad. Warsaw gets 247 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Islamabad receives 258 hours of full sun.
Warsaw usually gets less rain in April than Islamabad. Warsaw gets 32 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while Islamabad receives 37 mm (1.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilWarsaw 9°C (47°F)Islamabad 27°C (80°F)
Typical Weather for Islamabad and Warsaw
| Warsaw | Islamabad | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -3°C (27°F) | 22 mm (0.9 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) |
| Feb | -1°C (30°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Mar | 3°C (37°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Apr | 9°C (47°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 37 mm (1.4 in) |
| May | 14°C (57°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) | 32°C (89°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) |
| Jun | 17°C (63°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) | 35°C (94°F) | 52 mm (2 in) |
| Jul | 19°C (65°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) | 32°C (90°F) | 237 mm (9.3 in) |
| Aug | 18°C (65°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 31°C (89°F) | 221 mm (8.7 in) |
| Sep | 14°C (58°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) | 31°C (87°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) |
| Oct | 9°C (49°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) | 26°C (80°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) |
| Nov | 4°C (39°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Dec | -0°C (31°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
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.