Pakistan on a budget: how to do it well
Short answer
Yes, Pakistan is excellent for budget travellers. Allow about Rs 9,000 a day per person for a guesthouse, local food, sights and a share of transport.
A realistic daily budget
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing) | Rs3,000 | Rs8,000 | Rs20,000 |
| Food & drink | Rs2,000 | Rs4,000 | Rs8,000 |
| Sights & tickets | Rs1,000 | Rs2,000 | Rs4,000 |
| Local transport | Rs3,000 | Rs7,000 | Rs14,000 |
| Per person, per day | Rs9,000 | Rs21,000 | Rs46,000 |
Approximate 2026 prices, two people sharing a room. From our Pakistan day-cost table.
Free things to do
- Faisal Mosque in Islamabad (outside prayer times)
- Daman-e-Koh viewpoint in the Margalla Hills
- The Wagah border flag-lowering ceremony near Lahore
- Walking the old city of Lahore and its bazaars
- Badshahi Mosque in Lahore
- Hiking around Karimabad and the Hunza Valley
Cheap eats
- Chai at a roadside stall: about Rs 50–150
- Daal and roti at a dhaba: about Rs 300–500
- Chicken karahi to share: about Rs 1,500–3,000
- Biryani plate: about Rs 300–700
- Apricot cake and walnut bread in Hunza: about Rs 200–500
Where to sleep for less
Budget travellers stay in guesthouses in Hunza and Skardu (roughly Rs 3,000–6,000 a room) and in budget hotels in Lahore and Islamabad.
Getting around cheaply
Daewoo Express and other coach companies link Islamabad and Lahore cheaply. For the north, shared jeeps and minibuses are cheapest; a hired car is more comfortable. Domestic flights are cheap but unreliable.
A sample budget day
- Morning: Lahore Fort (about Rs 1,000–1,500) and Badshahi Mosque (free)
- Lunch: biryani, about Rs 500
- Afternoon: walk the old city and the bazaars (free)
- Evening: karahi dinner on Food Street, about Rs 1,500
- Total: about Rs 9,000 including a guesthouse room and rides
More ways to save
- Carry cash, as ATMs are limited outside big cities.
- Ask guesthouses in Hunza about shared transport with other guests.
- Book flights to Gilgit and Skardu with flexible dates.
- Eat what locals eat at dhabas and food streets.
- Bargain politely in bazaars.
- Avoid travel during Eid holidays, when transport and rooms fill.
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Common questions
How much do I need per day?
About Rs 9,000 per person: Rs 3,000 for a room, Rs 2,000 for food, Rs 1,000 for sights and Rs 3,000 for transport.
Can I use cards in Pakistan?
In big cities, at hotels and malls. Elsewhere, carry cash in rupees.
What is free in Pakistan?
Faisal Mosque, Badshahi Mosque, the Wagah border ceremony, the old city of Lahore and hiking in Hunza.