How much does it cost to travel to Islamabad?
You should plan to spend around $41 (P₨11,529) per day on your vacation in Islamabad. This is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors.
Past travelers have spent, on average for one day:
- $15 (P₨4,129) on meals
- $7.66 (P₨2,129) on local transportation
- $41 (P₨11,357) on hotels
A one week trip to Islamabad for two people costs, on average, $581 (P₨161,404). This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.
All of these average travel prices have been collected from other travelers to help you plan your own travel budget.
Independent Travel
Traveling Independently to Islamabad has many benefits including affordabilty, freedom, flexibility, and the opportunity to control your own experiences.
All of the travel costs below are based on the experiences of other independent travelers.
Is Islamabad expensive to visit?
Islamabad is a very affordable place to visit. Located in Pakistan, which is a reasonably affordable country, visitors will appreciate the lower prices of this destination. It falls in the average range in the country for its prices. Budget travelers enjoy spending long periods of time exploring Islamabad in depth.
Within Asia, Islamabad is a reasonably affordable destination compared to other places. It is in the top 25% of cities in Asia for its affordability. You can find more affordable cities such as Luang Prabang, but there are also more expensive cities, such as Taipei.
For more details, and to find out if it's within your travel budget, see Is Islamabad Expensive?
How much money do I need for a trip to Islamabad?
The average Islamabad trip cost is broken down by category here for independent travelers. All of these Islamabad travel prices are calculated from the budgets of real travelers.
Category
|
Cost
|
Accommodation 1
(Double Occupancy)
|
P₨11,357
($41)
|
Local Transportation 1
|
P₨2,129
($8)
|
Food 2
|
P₨4,129
($15)
|
Entertainment 1
|
P₨2,629
($9)
|
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Alcohol 2
|
P₨400 -
1,200
($1 - 4)
|
Accommodation Budget in Islamabad
Calculated from travelers like you
The average price paid for one person for accommodation in Islamabad is $20 (P₨5,679). For two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room, the average price paid for a hotel room in Islamabad is $41 (P₨11,357). This cost is from the reported spending of actual travelers.
Looking for a hotel in Islamabad? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options.
Transportation Budget in Islamabad
Calculated from travelers like you
-
The cost of a taxi ride in Islamabad is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $7.66 (P₨2,129) per person, per day, on local transportation in Islamabad.
-
Transportation1
Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
$7.66
P₨2,129
How much does it cost to go to Islamabad? Naturally, it depends on the dates. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all airlines.
The price of renting a car in Islamabad will depends on dates, the type of car, the location, and your age. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all car rental companies.
Food Budget in Islamabad
Calculated from travelers like you
-
While meal prices in Islamabad can vary, the average cost of food in Islamabad is $15 (P₨4,129) per day. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out an average meal in Islamabad should cost around $5.94 (P₨1,651) per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Islamabad is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
-
Food2
Meals for one day
$15
P₨4,129
Entertainment Budget in Islamabad
Calculated from travelers like you
-
Entertainment and activities in Islamabad typically cost an average of $9.46 (P₨2,629) per person, per day based on the spending of previous travelers. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
-
Entertainment1
Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
$9.46
P₨2,629
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Alcohol Budget in Islamabad
Calculated from travelers like you
-
The average person spends about $2.88 (P₨800) on alcoholic beverages in Islamabad per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
-
Alcohol2
Drinks for one day
$2.88
P₨800
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Islamabad On a Budget
Islamabad, Pakistan
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.
Sights
The best of Islamabad is to be had looking out to the beautiful scenery and green spaces that are abundant in and around the city. Serving as the backdrop to the north, for example, are the Margalla Hills within Margalla Hills National Park. Foothills to the Himalayas, these tree-covered mountains provide access to waterfalls, hiking trails, and plenty of wildlife. Also in these hills is Daman-e-Koh, a viewing point and hilltop garden with sweeping views of the city, Faisal Mosque, and Rawal Lake.
The Mosque is an iconic landmark of the city, featuring a contemporary design inspired by a Bedouin tent, built in 1987. The lake is another opportunity to experience Islamabad's plentiful green space, supplying water to Islamabad and neighboring Rawalpindi, while also providing a scenic location for picnics, boating, fishing, wildlife viewing.
At the very center of the city, Shakarparian National Park offers additional respite. Not only is it a lush green hill, but it is also site to the National Star and Crescent Monument, representing Pakistan's flag. Nearby, visitors can also see the Lok Virsa Museum, which preserves the folk and traditional cultural legacies of Pakistan with displays of embroidered costumes, jewelry, musical instruments, woodwork, utensils and many more artifacts of folkloric significance.
Neighborhoods
Greater Islamabad is generally divided into eight zones: Administrative Zone, Commercial District, Educational Sector, Industrial Sector, Diplomatic Enclave, Residential Areas, Rural Areas, and Green Area. The city itself, however, consists of five zones all named by number. Zones I and II are both residential sectors - I is developed, and II is under-developed. Zone III encompasses the Margalla Hills and Margalla Hills National Park, as well as Rawal Lake. Zones IV and V consist of Islamabad Park and rural areas of the city, with Zone V being the largest of the sectors. The hub of activity is concentrated largely in Zone I, radiating outwards into Zone III. To the south of Islamabad is the sister city of Rawalpindi, which operates independently. Islamabad is the center of all governmental activities, while Rawalpindi is the hub for industrial, commercial, and military activities.
Activities
Islamabad's many green spaces and unique scenery make it a great location to enjoy the outdoors. The wide range of activities includes things like hiking, rock climbing, cycling, horseback riding, fishing, boating, paragliding, and much more. Visitors can also stop at the Islamabad Zoo, which houses more than 300 animals. There are many parks and overlooks worth exploring, as well as mosques, shrines, and monuments to admire throughout the city.
While the Lok Virsa Museum is the most popular museum as far as local history goes, other popular museums of Islamabad include Golra Pakistan Railways Heritage Museum, the Pakistan Museum of Natural History, National Art Museum, and many additional privately owned galleries.
Food and Dining
Cuisine of Pakistan largely revolves around kebabs served with rice or flatbreads. Kebabs are cooked meat dishes that can vary with different kinds of beef, lamb, and chicken all seasoned with herbs and spices. There are also a variety of flatbreads, usually referred to as naan, which are commonly used to pick up and eat liquid foods as utensils are not commonly used with meals in Pakistan. Other popular Pakistani specialties include a whole roasted chicken called charga, a seasoned chicken and rice dish called biryani, a spicy barbequed chicken called chicken tikka, a thick stew-like mix of meat, lentils, and wheat grains called haleem, and a thick gravy made from local spices and either chicken or beef called nihari. A vegetarian soup called daal is also common as are black and green teas. Flavored with cardamom and a lot of sugar, tea is referred to as chai in Pakistan. As a metropolitan city, Islamabad will have a full range of these traditional dishes as well as a variety of American, European, and British restaurants.
Transportation
Islamabad International Airport is the main international airport of the Islamabad-Rawalpindi metropolitan area and suburbs, and the largest airport in Pakistan by passenger capacity. It is served by many airlines including Pakistan International Airlines, Qatar Airways, British Airways, Airblue, Emirates, and many others.
The city is also served by two major railway stations: Islamabad Railway Station (also called Margala) and Rawalpindi Railway Station in the neighboring city of Rawalpindi.
We've been gathering travel costs from tens of thousands of actual travelers since 2010, and we use the data to calculate average daily travel costs for destinations around the world. We also systematically analyze the prices of hotels, hostels, and tours from travel providers such as Kayak, HostelWorld, TourRadar, Viator, and others. This combination of expenses from actual travelers, combined with pricing data from major travel companies, gives us a uniqe insight into the overall cost of travel for thousands of cities in countries around the world. You can see more here: How it Works.