Everest Base Camp Trek Cost: How to Plan Your Budget (2026)

Everest Base Camp Cost Per Day

On average, I spent Rs. 3,500 (USD 24) per day in villages in lower altitude on the trek (Phakding, Namche, Tengboche, Dingboche). It includes costs for accommodation, 3 meals per day, wifi and snacks.

In higher altitude on the trek (Lobuche, Gorakshep), I spent Rs. 6,000 (USD 40) per day as prices are generally higher. Plus, I also bought wifi cards, charged my phone and power bank, and also had to restock on tissues and toilet paper.

I suggest that you bring more cash than what you budget, just to make sure that you’ll have enough cash for the trek and you can afford anything you wish to have. I saw many lots of ATMs in Namche, sometimes they can be out of order, so it’s better to withdraw all the cash while still in Kathmandu.

On other treks in Nepal (Annapurna Base Camp, Mardi Himal, Langtang), I could generally keep the costs lower (Rs. 3,000/USD 22 per day), but on the Everest Base Camp I spent a bit more as it was more expensive in higher altitude.

Everest Base Camp Trek Cost: Breakdown

Permit Cost

• Total cost of EBC trek permits: Rs. 6,000 (USD 42)

You have to get two permits for the Everest Base Camp trek: the Sagarmatha National Park permit and the Khumbu Pasanglhamu Rural Municipality permit. Each permit costs Rs. 3,000 (USD 22).

If you book a trek as part of a trek package with a trekking agency then the package generally includes these two permits. In this case, you don’t have to buy the permits.

In case you are planning to trek solo or only hiring a guide for the trek, then you have to get the permits for your trek. You can buy the permits at the Tourism Board in Kathmandu or also while you are on the trek.

There is a checkpoint near Monjo on the trek (past Lukla and Phakding) where you can buy both permits. I bought my permits here as it was more convenient than to go to the permit office in Kathmandu. It can get busy at the checkpoint in Monjo but it only took 5-10 minutes for me to get the permits.

Trekking Guide & Porter Costs

• Trekking guide cost: USD 30 per day
• Porter cost: USD 20 per day

It is not mandatory having a trekking guide for the Everest Base Camp trek (you can still trek solo) but I recommend hiring a guide if you are not familiar with trekking in Nepal.

I also hired a guide the first time I went trekking in Nepal. Then later, I started trekking with friends. I trekked Everest Base Camp solo, but only because I had previous experience trekking in Nepal solo.

Having a guide is pretty good as they can help you learn more about the Nepali culture, and plan the itinerary (though it’s flexible and can be adjusted based on your preferences).

Generally, the trekking guides charge USD 30 per day. If you trek in a group then the cost is split between the group members.

Many guides who live in the Everest Region will just meet you in Lukla (not in Kathmandu). Most people complete EBC in 11 days to and from Lukla, so then you’d spend around USD 330 in total for the trekking guide.

As for porters, they charge around USD 20 per day. They can carry the items for 2 people only, so the total cost for the porter can be split only up to 2 people. I carried my own backpack for EBC, however, if I went again, I think I’d hire a porter as it makes it much easier if you just have to carry a daypack.

Insurance Cost

It’s important to get travel insurance for international trips, but it is even more important for trekking in Nepal.

For Everest Base Camp, you have to get a travel insurance that includes trekking up to 6,000 meters (19,685 ft) including helicopter evacuation.

As the trek goes up to high altitude, there is a risk of altitude sickness, especially if you go up too fast. (I recommend an acclimatization day in Namche and another acclimatization day in Dingboche to help acclimatization).

Even with the best plans, you never know what may happen, so travel insurance is crucial.

Transport Cost

• Flight cost: Kathmandu to Lukla: USD 225 (one-way)
• Jeep/Bus ticket cost (one-way): Kathmandu to Salleri: Rs. 1,500-2,000 (USD 10-14), Salleri to Surke jeep: Rs. 3,000 (USD 22)

Most people trek Everest Base Camp by flying to Lukla. The Lukla Airport is considered as one of the most dangerous airports in the world but the flights only take off if the weather is good.

A one-way flight from Kathmandu to Lukla costs USD 225 (one-way), so for a return flight, it’s USD 450 in total.

The flight may be scary but it is the fastest way to get in and out of Lukla (unless the flights are delayed due to bad weather).

There is also an alternative to get to the EBC trek start point by road. Jeeps go to a small village called Surke which is close to Lukla. The jeeps take two days to arrive to Surke, as first you have to take a jeep/bus from Kathmandu to Salleri, and then another jeep from Salleri to Surke. Each jeep ride takes around 10-12 hours.

Nevertheless, if you have time and want to save some money, then the option to go by road to start EBC is better. The jeep from Kathmandu to Salleri is Rs. 1,500-2,000 (USD 10-14), and the jeep from Salleri to Surke: Rs. 3,000 (USD 22).

Accommodation Costs

• Room with shared toilet: Rs. 500-1,000 (USD 3.50-7) per night
• Room with private toilet: Rs. 1,500-3,000 (USD 10-21) per night

The accommodation is in traditional teahouses on the trekking routes in Nepal. The teahouses are basic accommodation and have mostly twin rooms. Each teahouse has one or two single rooms, and a few rooms with 3 or 4 beds.

Each village on the EBC trek is pretty big with plenty of teahouses, expect for the villages in higher altitude (Lobuche and Gorakshep).

The teahouses are also much bigger than the ones I stayed in during my Annapurna and Langtang trek. The teahouses on the EBC trek are pretty massive, they have 2-3 floors, and each floor has 10 rooms or so.

I realized on the trek that the teahouses on the Everest Base Camp trek were built much bigger so that they can accommodate the high number of trekkers.

Even if you trek EBC solo, there is no need to pre-book the accommodation as there is plenty to choose from. I trekked without a guide in peak trekking season, and I could always book accommodation on the spot.

The price for a room is between Rs. 500-1,000 (USD 3.50-7) for rooms with shared toilets. The rooms with private toilet are between Rs. 1,500-3,000 (USD 10-21) per night. The lowest price is in low altitudes (Phakding, Namche, Tengboche), and the higher prices are in higher altitudes (Dingboche, Lobuche, Gorakshep).

I usually went for rooms with shared toilets but if I trekked EBC again, I would choose rooms with private toilets all the way. Initially, I chose the shared toilets as I decided that I’ll get by using the shared toilets as long as my stomach was fine.

I was worried that I’d get a stomach bug half-way through the trek, so I was putting off getting a room with a private toilet till then. In the end my stomach was fine for the whole trek, but I felt really tired from the toilets being so unhygienic and being shared between so many people. So, if you can spend a bit more on the accommodation cost, I definitely recommend the rooms with a private toilet.

Food Costs

The good thing about trekking in Nepal is that you can get almost any type of food. The teahouses have a menu that include both Nepali and international dishes, so there is a wide range of options.

The Nepali dish, dal bhat, is a popular choice on the trek as it gives a lot of energy. It includes rice, lentil soup and vegetable curry. I ate a lot of dal bhat in lower altitudes and had slightly less appetite higher up so then I went for lighter dishes.

The price for food increases as you go up higher on the trek. The ingredients for food have to be carried up by porters, yaks or donkeys, and due to these costs, the price for food increases the further up you are.

Food Prices on the Everest Base Camp Trek

Breakfast:

• Porridge: Rs. 500-850 (USD 3.50-6)
• Toast with eggs: Rs. 900-1,500 (USD 6-10)
• Veg omelette: Rs. 400-900 (USD 3-6)
• Chapati with eggs: Rs. 800-1,400 (USD 5.50-10)

Lunch/Dinner:

• Veg Dal bhat: Rs. 800-1,300 (USD 5.50-9)
• Mixed noodles: Rs. 900-1,300 (USD 6-9)
• Mixed fried rice: Rs. 900-1,350 (USD 6-9)
• Mixed pizza: Rs. 1,000-1,650 (USD 7-11)
• Garlic soup: Rs. 450-800 (USD 3-5.50)
• Spaghetti: Rs. 800-1,500 (USD 5.50-10)
• Veg momo: Rs. 500-1,150 (USD 3.50-8)

Drink Prices on the Everest Base Camp Trek

• Ginger tea (1 cup): Rs. 200-400 (USD 1-3)
• Black tea (1 cup): Rs. 100-300 (USD 0.50-2)
• Hot chocolate (1 cup): Rs. 300-450 (USD 2-3)
• Coke/Fanta/Sprite: Rs. 450-750 (USD 3-5)
• Juice: Rs. 400-750 (USD 3-5)
• Beer: Rs. 500-1,200 (USD 3.50-8)

Wifi & Internet Costs

• Lukla, Phakding, Namche Bazaar, Tengboche: free wifi, mobile network connection works (both NCell and Nepal Telecom)
• Dingboche: NCell Sim doesn’t work, Nepal Telecom works
• Lobuche, Gorakshep: Wifi card for 24h costs Rs. 1,200 (USD 8), wifi card for 48h costs Rs. 1,500 (USD 10).

The wifi and internet access is pretty good throughout the EBC trek. You can use your Nepali SIM card in lower altitudes. The wifi is free in most of the teahouses in lower altitudes until you reach Dingboche.

So, internet access is overall pretty good in lower altitudes (Phakding, Namche, Tengboche). Plus, you can also charge your phone/power bank for free. There is even a plug in the rooms of the teahouses up until Dingboche.

The wifi, mobile network connection and charging changes from Dingboche up.

There are two Nepali SIM cards (NCell, Nepal Telecom), but NCell stops working in Dingboche, and only Nepal Telecom works. So, for the EBC trek, it is better to get the SIM card by Nepal Telecom. In Dingboche onwards, you also have to pay for charging phones and power banks.

If you have a SIM by NCell, you can buy the access to wifi at the hotel or get a wifi card. When I was in Dingboche, I paid for the wifi at the teahouse. It was Rs. 800 (USD 5.50) for two days that I stayed there as I also did an acclimatization hike in Dingboche.

When you get higher than Dingboche (Lobuche, Gorakshep), the only option to connect to the internet is by getting a wifi card. The wifi cards are by Airlink, and they are like a scratch card. You scratch the password and connect to the wifi at the teahouse using the unique code on the card. You can get the wifi cards at every teahouse.

I bought the wifi cards in Lobuche as I trekked solo and like to update my family every day during my trek, even if it is just a short text to say “I’m all good”. Actually, getting the wifi card is great and works well most of the time, but the downside is that using the internet can use a lot of the battery, so then you also have to charge your phone and power banks.

Cost of Other Amenities

Lots of other things are also available throughout the trek. Bigger villages also have small shops, and bigger places like Namche has everything from trekking outfits to souvenirs, and nice restaurants to cafes.

Here are the costs for a couple of basic things that you can get in the teahouses:

• Drinking water: Rs. 100-500 (USD 0.50-3.50)
• Hot shower: Rs. 300-700 (USD 2-4): but I don’t recommend a shower above Namche as there is a risk you’d get a cold. Even if you take a hot shower, it is very cold outside.
• Phone Charging (1 full charge): Rs. 500 (USD 3.50). Free charging until Dingboche village.
• Power Bank Charging (1 full charge): Rs. 1,000-1,500 (USD 7-10). Free charging until Dingboche.
• Tissues (1 pack): Rs. 50-150 (USD 1)
• Toilet Paper (1 roll): Rs. 300 (USD 2)
• Snacks: Rs. 300 (USD 2) for energy bars, snickers, bounty, mars

Additional Costs

Apart from the costs you spend during your trek, you should budget also for costs prior to your trek, for example, flight ticket to Nepal, Nepali visa, and buying a backpack and outfits for the trek.

• Flight to Nepal
• Nepali Visa: USD 30 for 15 days, USD 50 for 30 days, USD 125 for 90 days.
• Trekking Outfits: You can check out here my packing list I recommend for trekking in Nepal.

Tips for Reducing the Cost for Everest Base Camp

1. Hire a Guide with a Group of Friends

I recommend having a guide for the EBC trek and if you go with some friends, then the cost for the guide is split between the group. You can also find some trekking buddies in Facebook groups like Backpackers in Nepal.

2. Go By Road (Without Flight to Lukla)

The most popular way to travel between Kathmandu and Lukla is by flight. If you want to save money on transport, there is also an option to trek EBC without flying to Lukla. It is more affordable but it also takes longer.

The Kathmandu to Lukla flight is USD 225 (one-way) and takes only around 30 minutes. Whereas, if you go by jeep, it takes 2 days. First, you have to take a jeep from Kathmandu to Salleri (Rs. 2,000/USD 13), then another jeep from Salleri to Surke (Rs. 3,000/USD 21).

3. Get the Rooms with Shared Toilets

The rooms with private toilets are the best but to keep the costs lower, just go for the rooms with shared toilets. I could keep my costs lower by only taking the rooms with a shared toilet.

However, looking back, I should have paid for the rooms with the private toilets as it would have been more comfortable.

4. Pack Snacks

Energy bars and snacks are available throughout the trek but it is cheaper if you buy them in Kathmandu. The prices get higher as you go higher on the trek. If you pack some snacks then you can save on not having to buy snacks for higher prices.

5. Skip Buying Wifi Cards

Wifi is free up until Dingboche. In Dingboche there are also cafes where you can use the wifi for free as long as you are a customer.

If you don’t mind disconnecting from the internet for a couple of days, you can save some money by not buying the wifi cards in Lobuche and Gorakshep. Just let your family know that you’ll be out of contact for a few days, so they don’t worry.

If you trek solo, I suggest you to buy the wifi cards so you can keep in touch with your family. The wifi cards only work in the teahouses but you can still use it to let your family know once a day that you are fine.

Menu Prices on Everest Base Camp Trek

Here are the menu prices from villages along the EBC trek, including Phakding, Namche Bazaar, Tengboche, Dingboche, Lobuche and Gorakshep.

Phakding Menu Prices

Namche Bazaar Menu Prices

Tengboche Menu Prices

Dingboche Menu Prices

Lobuche Menu Prices

Gorakshep Menu Prices

Everest Base Camp Posts

FAQs: Everest Base Camp Trek Cost

How much does it cost to trek Everest Base Camp?

The trek packages to Everest Base Camp cost around USD 1,500 that includes domestic transport, meals and accommodation, plus a trekking guide and porter. You have to pay additionally for flight to Nepal, visa, and insurance.

You can also trek it without buying a trek package and hire a guide once in Kathmandu. Then, the cost for a guide is Rs. 3,000 (USD 21) per day and can be split between the group members. For food, accommodation, wifi, and charging costs are around USD 400-500 per person if you pay for everything as you go.

How much do meals cost on Everest Base Camp?

The price of meal is around USD 5-10 – with lower prices in lower altitude, and higher prices in higher altitude on the trek.

Conclusion

I think there is a myth that trekking Everest Base Camp is very expensive. Sure, there are some trekking companies selling trek packages for USD 6,000-7,000 but actually, you can complete it in much less.

The general Everest Base Camp trek package costs around USD 1,500 which includes pretty much everything once you arrive in Nepal. It is a good option if you don’t have time to plan the trek and want everything organized for you from the moment you land in Nepal.

If you have more time to organize the trek for yourself, then you can do it even when you arrive in Nepal. You can hire a guide on the spot and then pay for the expenses on the trek as you go. In this case, you pay the guide fees, and every day you pay in the teahouse for the food and accommodation for yourself.

If you are trekking on a budget, there is even an option to start the trek by taking the jeep to Surke (a small village close to Lukla). If it is your first time trekking in Nepal, I recommend hiring a guide – the guide costs are split between the group, so if you trek with friends, the cost for guide is much lower. On a budget, you can complete the trek in around USD 400.

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