A foreign visitor to Pakistan can expect to spend roughly $20 to $35 a day on a tight backpacker budget, $50 to $80 a day travelling mid-range, and $100 or more a day on a private, driver-led tour, as a rough 2026 guide. Pakistan remains one of the cheaper countries in the region to travel in, but the north, where most first-time visitors head, costs more than the cities because of fuel, jeep hire and limited competition between hotels in small towns.
| Style | Rough daily cost (2026) | What it typically includes |
|---|---|---|
| Backpacker | $20–35 | Dorm beds or basic guesthouses, local transport, street food and dhabas |
| Mid-range | $50–80 | Private rooms, a mix of local and hired transport, sit-down restaurants |
| Private tour | $100+ | A driver or guide, a private vehicle, better hotels, planned itinerary |
These figures are rough and change with the season, the route and the exchange rate; treat them as a planning guide, not a quote. At the time of writing (September 2026), roughly PKR 277 buys one US dollar, and that rate moves, so convert again closer to your trip.
What drives the cost up or down
- Where you go. Lahore, Islamabad and Karachi are noticeably cheaper day to day than Hunza, Skardu or the Neelum valley, where fuel, jeep hire and imported goods push prices up.
- How you move. Public buses and shared vans (Coasters and Hiaces) are cheap; a private car with driver for the northern areas is the single biggest cost on most itineraries.
- The season. Peak summer (June to August) and Eid periods see hotel rates rise in the north as demand outstrips the limited number of rooms. Shoulder seasons are noticeably cheaper.
- Group size. A private vehicle and driver cost roughly the same whether one person or four are travelling, so costs per person fall sharply in a small group.
Backpacker budget: $20–35 a day
This covers dorm beds or the cheapest double rooms, local buses and shared jeeps, and eating at dhabas and street stalls rather than restaurants aimed at tourists. It's realistic in cities and on well-travelled routes; it gets harder in remote valleys where public transport is infrequent and a jeep has to be shared or hired outright to reach a trailhead or viewpoint.
Mid-range budget: $50–80 a day
This is the range most first-time foreign visitors land in without trying particularly hard to save or spend. It typically covers a private room in a decent guesthouse or mid-range hotel, a mix of hired transport for longer legs and public transport for short ones, and meals at proper restaurants rather than street stalls. It comfortably covers entry fees, the odd activity and a reasonable buffer for the north's less predictable costs, like a closed road forcing an extra night somewhere.
Private tour: $100+ a day
Booking a private, driver-led itinerary through a tour operator removes most of the planning and the uncertainty around transport, at a cost. Our own 7-day Skardu and Deosai trip starts from PKR 90,000 per person, our 9-day Gilgit, Hunza and Khunjerab trip from PKR 90,000, and our 5-day Neelum Valley Escape from PKR 70,000, each worked out per person for a group travelling together; check current pricing and what's included, since tour costs and inclusions change. Spread across the trip length, a package roughly in that range works out to somewhere between PKR 10,000 and 18,000 a day per person, before flights.
What isn't included in these figures
None of the daily figures above include international flights to Pakistan, your Pakistan e-visa fee, travel insurance, or specialist costs like trekking permits, porters or mountaineering fees. Add those separately when budgeting a full trip. Our guide to planning a trip to Pakistan covers the wider costs of putting an itinerary together, including flights and permits.
A few ways to save without cutting corners on safety
- Travel in a small group to split the cost of a private vehicle, which is usually the most efficient way to cut cost per person in the north without resorting to unreliable transport.
- Travel in shoulder season (spring or autumn, depending on the region) for lower hotel rates and thinner crowds, if your dates are flexible.
- Book directly with guesthouses in smaller towns rather than through a chain of intermediaries, where prices are often lower and more transparent.
- Carry more cash than you think you'll need. Card acceptance and working ATMs are unreliable outside major cities, and running short on cash in a remote valley is a genuine inconvenience, not just an annoyance.
Frequently asked questions
How much should I budget per day for Pakistan?
As a rough 2026 guide, $20 to $35 a day covers a backpacker budget, $50 to $80 a day a comfortable mid-range trip, and $100 or more a day a private, driver-led tour. Costs are higher in the northern areas than in the cities.
Is Pakistan cheap for foreign tourists?
Generally yes, compared with most neighbouring countries and with Western Europe or North America, particularly for food, local transport and budget accommodation. The main cost that surprises visitors is private vehicle hire for the north.
What's the biggest daily expense in Pakistan?
For most itineraries in the northern areas, it's transport: hiring a private vehicle and driver, or a jeep for rougher tracks, costs more per day than food or accommodation combined.
Do prices in Pakistan change a lot with the season?
Yes, particularly hotel rates in the north during peak summer and around Eid, when demand is highest and rooms are limited. Booking ahead or travelling in shoulder season keeps costs down.
Should I carry cash or rely on cards in Pakistan?
Carry more cash than you expect to need, in Pakistani rupees. Card acceptance is reasonably common in city hotels and larger shops, but unreliable in smaller towns and much of the north.
