'How much does Umrah cost?' is the first question almost every pilgrim asks, and the honest answer is that it depends on where you fly from, when you travel and how close you stay to the two holy mosques. This guide breaks the budget into flights, visa, hotels, ground transport, food and extras, so you can plan with real numbers, including exact taxi prices between Jeddah, Makkah and Madinah.
What makes up the cost of Umrah?
Every Umrah budget is built from the same six parts. Knowing them helps you compare packages fairly and see where you can save.
- Flights: usually the biggest single cost for pilgrims travelling a long way.
- Umrah visa: a small cost compared with flights and hotels.
- Hotels in Makkah and Madinah: the second biggest cost, driven by star rating, distance from the mosque and season.
- Ground transport: airport transfers, the Makkah to Madinah journey and ziyarat days.
- Food and daily spending: the most controllable part of the budget.
- Extras: Zamzam, gifts, a local SIM card, tips and emergency money.
What is the typical total cost of Umrah per person?
Published guides give very different figures, and prices change with the season, so treat any single number with caution. Several guides put a basic 10 to 14 day trip at roughly US$700 to US$1,200 per person from Pakistan and India, £600 to £1,500 on package deals from the UK, and around US$2,000 to US$2,800 at the budget end from the USA. Mid-range and luxury trips cost considerably more, and Ramadan and school holidays push prices up.
The safest approach is to ask for written quotes, check exactly what each one includes, and add up the parts yourself using the sections below.
How much do flights to Saudi Arabia cost?
Flights are normally the largest expense when you travel from far away. Direct flights to Jeddah or Madinah are the most convenient but often cost more than connecting flights. Booking early, avoiding Ramadan and school holidays, and being flexible by a few days can lower the fare noticeably. Flying into Jeddah and out of Madinah, or the other way round, avoids an extra transfer back to the start point. Our Jeddah airport to Makkah and Madinah hotel to Jeddah airport pages show the transfer costs for both ends.
How much does the Umrah visa cost?
The visa is small next to the other costs. Travel guides report a government fee in the region of SAR 300 to 400 for an Umrah e-visa, plus any fee your agent charges. Rules and fees change, so confirm the current amount and requirements through the official Saudi channels, such as the Nusuk platform, or a licensed Umrah operator.
How much do hotels cost in Makkah and Madinah?
Hotel prices vary more than anything else on the trip. A room close to Masjid al-Haram or Masjid an-Nabawi costs far more than one a short drive away, and prices jump in Ramadan and the school holidays. Staying slightly further out and using a car can save money, but weigh the saving against the extra time and effort of reaching every prayer, especially for older family members.
How much does a taxi cost in Saudi Arabia for Umrah?
Ground transport is the part we can price exactly. BestWay Transport charges a fixed price per vehicle, not per person, and you pay when you reach your destination with no prepayment. Here is a typical Umrah route: airport to Makkah, Makkah to Madinah, then Madinah hotel to Madinah airport.
| Journey | Sedan (up to 3) | Staria (up to 7) | Hiace (up to 10) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jeddah airport to Makkah hotel | SAR 200 | SAR 230 | SAR 300 |
| Makkah hotel to Madinah hotel | SAR 380 | SAR 400 | SAR 500 |
| Madinah hotel to Madinah airport | SAR 100 | SAR 150 | SAR 170 |
| Total for the whole trip | SAR 680 | SAR 780 | SAR 970 |
What does that cost per person?
Because the price is per vehicle, sharing brings the cost per person down quickly:
- Three people in a sedan: about SAR 227 each for the whole route.
- Seven people in a Hyundai Staria: about SAR 111 each.
- Ten people in a Toyota Hiace: about SAR 97 each.
Food, daily spending and extras
Food is usually the most flexible part of the budget. Hotel breakfast, local restaurants and simple meals keep costs down, while eating in hotel restaurants near the mosques costs more. Add a small amount for Zamzam, gifts, a local SIM and tips. If you want a ziyarat day, our Makkah and Madinah ziyarat tours start from SAR 180 per vehicle.
How can I make Umrah cheaper?
These steps save the most for most pilgrims:
- Travel outside Ramadan and school holidays. See our guide to the best time to perform Umrah.
- Share vehicles. A group in one Staria or Hiace costs far less per head than several sedans.
- Book flights and hotels early, and compare a package with booking each part yourself.
- Choose a hotel you can reach comfortably rather than the closest one at any price.
- Use a fixed-price transfer so you know the cost before you land. You can see every price on our routes page and convert it with our currency converter.