How Much Does Islamabad Cost per Day
A full breakdown of Islamabad prices: daily budgets by tier, every itemised cost from the guide, and where the money actually goes.
The short answer
Budget travellers in Islamabad spend around PKR 6,000 a day. Mid-range travel runs closer to PKR 15,000, and a splurge day lands around PKR 35,000. Per person per day in PKR, roughly USD 21 / 54 / 125 at an approximate rate of PKR 280 per USD. This rate is an approximation, not independently verified, and PKR/USD has moved significantly in recent years, so check a current rate before budgeting.
Daily cost breakdown
- Stay
- Food
- Transport
- Activities
| Tier | Stay | Food | Transport | Activities | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | PKR 2,500 | PKR 1,500 | PKR 1,000 | PKR 1,000 | PKR 6,000 |
| Mid-range | PKR 8,000 | PKR 3,500 | PKR 2,000 | PKR 1,500 | PKR 15,000 |
| Splurge | PKR 22,000 | PKR 8,000 | PKR 4,000 | PKR 1,000 | PKR 35,000 |
A mid-range day: guesthouse or 3-star hotel room around PKR 8,000, Careem rides to Faisal Mosque and Margalla Hills viewpoints around PKR 2,000 total, a sit-down lunch in F-7 for PKR 1,500, snacks and tea from a Margalla Hills viewpoint stall for PKR 500, and dinner in Rawalpindi's food street for PKR 2,000. Comes to roughly PKR 14,000-15,000.
Every priced item in this guide
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Faisal Mosque | free |
| Margalla Hills National Park (Trail 3 and Trail 5) | free |
| Daman-e-Koh viewpoint | free (parking may be charged) |
| Saidpur Village | free to walk the village |
| Rawal Lake | free to walk the shoreline; boating and private club activities charge separately, price not confirmed here |
| Rawalpindi's Raja Bazaar and Saddar food streets | free to walk; food and shopping priced individually |
| Chapli kebab | PKR 150-400 per piece |
| Karahi (chicken or mutton) | PKR 1,200-2,600 per kg |
| BBQ and seekh kebabs | PKR 200-500 per skewer |
| Nihari | PKR 400-800 |
| Falooda and kulfi | PKR 200-450 |
| Margalla Hills roadside chai and snacks | PKR 100-300 |
How to spend less
- Faisal Mosque, Margalla Hills trails, Daman-e-Koh, and most of Rawal Lake's shoreline are free
- Rawalpindi's Raja Bazaar and food streets cost a fraction of Islamabad's restaurant prices for the same or better food
- Metrobus between Islamabad and Rawalpindi is far cheaper than a taxi for the same route if you're not in a hurry
- Split a car-with-driver for a day among a small group to cover Margalla viewpoints, Saidpur, and Rawal Lake in one loop rather than paying for separate one-way rides