A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Islamabad vs. Gili Trawangan for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Islamabad or Gili Trawangan?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Islamabad and Gili Trawangan can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Where Should I go: Islamabad or Gili Trawangan?

Islamabad

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.

Gili Trawangan

Gili Trawangan, known as Gili T, is the most visited of the three Gili Islands, located on the northeast side of Lombok. These islands are known for world-class diving and snorkeling spots. It's not hard to see why, considering that any direction you step off the shoreline, there's a beautiful underwater world to explore.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Pakistan, The Best Cultural Tours in Pakistan, The Best Tours for Seniors to Indonesia, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Indonesia.


Which place is cheaper, Gili Trawangan or Islamabad?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Islamabad is $51, while the average daily cost in Gili Trawangan is $40. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Islamabad and Gili Trawangan in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Islamabad $20
    Gili Trawangan $23
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Islamabad $40
    Gili Trawangan $46
Compare Hotels in Islamabad and Gili Trawangan

Looking for a hotel in Islamabad or Gili Trawangan? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.

Hotels in Islamabad


Hotels in Gili Trawangan


Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.


Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Islamabad Hotel Prices and Gili Trawangan Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Islamabad $7.49
    Gili Trawangan $2.65

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Islamabad

Also for Islamabad, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Transit Trip: Islamabad City Exploration Day Tour & Round Trip Airport Transfer: $110
  • Private Transfer from Islamabad Airport to Pakistan: $61
  • Private Chauffeur: Arrival Transfer Airport Pick up (Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore): $50
  • Premium Services: Islamabad International Airport Transfer - Departures: $55
  • Premium Services: Islamabad International Airport Transfer - Arrival: $55
  • Karachi Airport Transfer, Airport Pick and Drop, Rent a Car KHI: $60
  • Islamabad Round Trip Airport Transfer & Customizable Day Trip: $95
  • Islamabad International Airport Transfer - ARRIVAL: $40
  • Islamabad International Airport Transfer: $35
  • Islamabad International Airport Departure Drop off Transfer : $55
  • Islamabad International Airport Arrival Pick up Transfer: $55
  • Islamabad Airport Transfers : $54

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Gili Trawangan

Also for Gili Trawangan, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Gili Trawangan Luxury Speedboat Transfer to Bali: $24
  • Private Speedboat transfer Between Lombok and Gili Islands: $15

Is it cheaper to fly into Islamabad or Gili Trawangan?

Prices for flights to both Gili Trawangan and Islamabad change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.





Food
  • Food Meals for one day
    Islamabad $25
    Gili Trawangan $12

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Gili Trawangan

For Gili Trawangan, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Indonesian Food Cooking Class of Gili Air: $33
  • Learn to cook authentic Indonesian food at Gili Cooking Classes: $33
  • Gili Trawangan Sunset BBQ Dinner Cruise with snorkeling: $91

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Islamabad $9.25
    Gili Trawangan $3.82

Tours and Activities in Islamabad

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Islamabad.

  • Best of Islamabad City Landmarks Exploration Tour (Private & Guided).: $95
  • Best of Islamabad Half Day Tour (Morn & Eve Slots): $100
  • Best of One-Day Sightseeing Tour: $95
  • Discover Peshawar Full Day Guided Tour from Islamabad: $120
  • Exclusive Luxury Private Tour: Discover the Gems of Islamabad: $80
  • Explore Takht I Bahi and Peshawar Full Day Tour from Islamabad: $145
  • From Full Day Guided Taxila Ruins Exploration Tour: $150
  • From Full Day Historical Peshawar Guided City Tour: $160
  • Full Day Islamabad & Taxila Tour: $78
  • Full Day Islamabad Guided City Tour: $100
  • Full Day Private Guided Tour of Taxila Gandahara Civilization : $110
  • Islamabad City Tour : $72

Tours and Activities in Gili Trawangan

For Gili Trawangan, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • 4-in-1 • Gili Islands Half-day Snorkel & Lunch Catamaran Tour: $104
  • 4-in-1 • Gili Islands Snorkel & Sunset Half-day Catamaran Cruise: $104
  • From Gili Islands Snorkeling Boat Tour: $15
  • From Lombok Beaches and Culture Tour: $84
  • Gili Air 1 Hour Horseback Beach Adventure: $46
  • Gili Hai 3 Islands BBQ Cruise: $83
  • Gili Hai 3 Islands BBQ Sunset Cruise: $83
  • Gili Islands Day Tour and Snorkeling at Turtle Points: $76
  • Gili Islands Snorkel Tour - Explore an Underwater Paradise: $16
  • Gili Islands: 4-in-1 Catamaran Snorkeling Experience: $106
  • Gili Meno Horse Riding Adventure on the Beach for 1 Hour: $42
  • Gili Trawangan 3 Island Half day Cruise with BBQ Lunch and Snorkeling : $91

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Islamabad $2.82
    Gili Trawangan $3.53


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Islamabad and Gili Trawangan, we can see that Islamabad is more expensive. And not only is Gili Trawangan much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Gili Trawangan would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Gili Trawangan and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Islamabad would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Islamabad than you might in Gili Trawangan.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Islamabad Expensive? and Is Gili Trawangan Expensive?.


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