Pakistan Travel Budget: How Much Does Pakistan Actually Cost?
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Pakistan is one of the world’s best value destinations. Prices are significantly lower than neighbouring India, and the combination of extraordinary hospitality (locals regularly invite travellers for meals and tea) with genuine affordability makes it exceptional value.
Quick Summary
| Style | Daily Budget (per person) |
|---|---|
| Budget backpacker | €15–30/day |
| Mid-range traveller | €40–70/day |
| Comfortable traveller | €80–140/day |
Accommodation
Budget guesthouses: €8–18/night for a basic room. Available in all cities and tourist areas.
Mid-range hotels: €25–60/night. Very good quality — clean, air-conditioned, often with breakfast. Pakistani mid-range hotels offer great value.
Lahore and Islamabad: Pearl Continental, Avari, and Serena Hotels (5-star equivalents): €90–180/night. Significantly cheaper than equivalents in India or the Gulf.
Mountain guesthouses (Hunza, Fairy Meadows): €15–40/night for clean mountain accommodation. Simple but charming, often family-run, with home-cooked food included.
Fairy Meadows camping: €8–12/night for basic camping and tent accommodation near the meadows.
Food
Pakistani food is outstanding and extraordinarily cheap.
Street food: €0.30–1.50 per item. Samosas, gol gappay (pani puri), bun kebab, chapli kebab, and chai from street vendors.
Dhaba (roadside restaurant): €2–5 for a full meal of dal, roti, rice, and a meat dish. This is how most Pakistanis eat.
Lahore food streets (sit-down): €4–10/person for a full meal at a proper Lahori restaurant. For the price of a coffee in London, you can eat extraordinary nihari or karahi.
Mid-range restaurant: €8–18/person. Very good quality food.
Chai (tea): PKR 30–80 (€0.10–0.30) for a cup from a chai stall. Consumed constantly and offered to visitors free of charge in most social interactions.
Transport
Flights: PIA, AirSial, and Airblue fly domestically. Islamabad–Gilgit: €30–70 one-way. Lahore–Islamabad: €30–50.
NATCO bus (Lahore to Gilgit or KKH): PKR 2,500–4,000 (€8–13) — long (12–18 hours) but cheap and cultural.
Local transport:
- Careem/Uber: Available in Lahore, Islamabad, and Karachi. Excellent rates.
- Rickshaws: PKR 100–300 (€0.30–1) for short hops in cities
- Private car hire with driver: €40–70/day — very good value for KKH and mountain areas
Petrol: Very cheap — approximately €0.90–1.10/litre.
Attractions
| Attraction | Price |
|---|---|
| Lahore Fort | PKR 500 (€1.60) for foreigners |
| Badshahi Mosque | Free |
| Wazir Khan Mosque | PKR 200 (€0.65) |
| Shalimar Gardens | PKR 300 (€1) |
| Lahore Museum | PKR 500 (€1.60) |
| Taxila Museum | PKR 500 (€1.60) |
| Baltit Fort (Hunza) | PKR 600 (€2) |
| Pakistan Monument | Free |
| Margalla Hills hikes | Free |
| Faisal Mosque | Free |
Sample 7-Day Budget (Lahore + North)
| Category | Budget | Mid-Range | Comfortable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | €84 | €210 | €420 |
| Food | €56 | €140 | €245 |
| Transport (domestic flights + local) | €100 | €140 | €180 |
| Attractions | €15 | €25 | €35 |
| Extras | €35 | €70 | €120 |
| Total (per person) | €290 | €585 | €1,000 |
Money-Saving Tips
- Pakistani hospitality is free: Locals regularly offer tea, meals, and assistance to foreign visitors. Accept graciously — it’s a fundamental aspect of the culture.
- Dhabas over tourist restaurants: The roadside dhaba culture offers extraordinary food at €2–4/person
- Overnight bus over flights: The NATCO overnight bus on the KKH route saves accommodation costs and is a cultural experience in itself
- Bargaining: Normal in bazaars and for non-metered transport. The first price is never the real price.
- ATMs: Carry sufficient PKR cash when heading to the north — ATMs are unreliable above Gilgit
- Exchange rate: The official bank rate is better than money changers. Major bank branches in Lahore and Islamabad offer good rates.
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