Kabul is the capital of Afghanistan, a mountain-ringed city of roughly 4.6 million at 1,790 m. This guide records its historic sites, markets and food while stating plainly that every government advises against travel there.
Local currency: Afghan afghani (AFN).
Daily budget by traveller style
Typical per-person daily spend in Kabul.
- Mid-range
- 10,500 AFN ($150) per day
- Luxury
- 25,000+ AFN ($360+) per day
Cost breakdown
Typical price ranges across major spending categories.
Accommodation
- Hostel
- 1,400-2,100 AFN ($20-30)
- Budget
- 1,400-3,500 AFN ($20-50)
- Midrange
- 4,200-7,000 AFN ($60-100)
- Luxury
- 8,500-21,000 AFN ($120-300)
Food
- Street
- 100-250 AFN ($1.50-3.50)
- Local
- 250-450 AFN ($3.50-6.50)
- Midrange
- 600-1,200 AFN ($9-17)
- Fine
- 1,500-2,500 AFN ($21-36)
Transport
- Bus
- 15-30 AFN ($0.20-0.45)
- Taxi
- 100-400 AFN ($1.50-6) per cross-town ride
- Airport
- 700-1,500 AFN ($10-21)
- Daytrip
- 2,500-5,000 AFN ($35-70) private car with driver
Activities
- Museum
- 100-300 AFN ($1.50-4.50)
- Sites
- Free-300 AFN ($0-4.50)
- Tour
- Private driver-guide 3,000-5,000 AFN ($45-70) per day
- Excursion
- 2,500-5,000 AFN ($35-70)
Trip budgets by length
What a typical trip to Kabul costs end-to-end.
Weekend traveller
14,000 AFN ($200) for two days excluding flights
Week traveller
35,000-70,000 AFN ($500-1,000) for seven days excluding flights
Money-saving tips
Practical ways to stretch your budget further.
Eat at pulao houses and bakeries rather than hotel restaurants.
Share taxis with other guests and agree the fare before getting in.
Stay at a budget hotel such as Hotel Mustafa and use its restaurant for set meals.
Visit museums and gardens on weekdays when entry is cheapest.
Free things to do
Memorable experiences that cost nothing.
Walk Chicken Street and the Old City bazaars
Climb Tapa-e Asmai for the city panorama
View Darul Aman Palace from the road
Visit mosques outside prayer times