Fixed / near-fixed costs (per person)
1) Visa + mandatory insurance (UK travellers)
If you’re using the Saudi tourist eVisa (commonly used for Umrah, excluding Hajj), the widely referenced total fee is SAR 535 including mandatory health insurance. That’s roughly £104–£107 at current SAR/GBP rates.
2) MenACWY vaccine (commonly required/expected for Umrah/Hajj travel)
Budget ~£50–£60 (varies by clinic). Example price: £57 per dose at Superdrug clinics.
Variable costs (biggest drivers)
3) Flights (UK → Jeddah or Madinah, return, economy)
A realistic planning range for UK Umrah flights is ~£391–£671 return depending on season/airport/airline.
(You can sometimes find lower in off-peak, but don’t base your whole budget on “best price ever”.)
4) Transport inside Saudi (airport + intercity + local)
Makkah ↔ Madinah train (Haramain) starts around SAR 150+ (economy) (~£29–£30+) and higher for business class.
Airport transfers vary by package/private/shared.
Local taxis/ride-hailing depends on distance and peak times.
Real budget breakdowns (UK examples)
These are per person estimates to help you set a realistic total. Hotels are the biggest swing factor (distance + star rating + room share).
A) Budget / Economy (7 nights, quad room, off-peak)
| Cost item | Realistic £ range |
|---|---|
| Flights (return) | £391–£550 |
| Visa + insurance | £104–£107 |
| MenACWY | £50–£60 |
| Hotels (7 nights, shared) | £200–£420 |
| Transport (transfers + local + 1 intercity) | £60–£140 (train add ~£30) |
| Food & drinks | £80–£160 (£12–£23/day) |
| Estimated total | £885–£1,437 |
B) Mid range (10 nights, triple room, mixed 4★)
| Cost item | Realistic £ range |
|---|---|
| Flights (return) | £420–£650 |
| Visa + insurance | £104–£107 |
| MenACWY | £50–£60 |
| Hotels (10 nights, better location/comfort) | £450–£850 |
| Transport (transfers + local + intercity) | £90–£180 (train add ~£30) |
| Food & drinks | £150–£260 (£15–£26/day) |
| Estimated total | £1,264–£2,107 |
C) Premium (14 nights, double room, 5★ / closer hotels)
| Cost item | Realistic £ range |
|---|---|
| Flights (return) | £500–£900 |
| Visa + insurance | £104–£107 |
| MenACWY | £50–£60 |
| Hotels (14 nights, premium / walking-distance) | £1,100–£2,200 |
| Transport (more private transfers) | £160–£320 (train optional) |
| Food & drinks | £280–£490 (£20–£35/day) |
| Estimated total | £2,194–£4,297 |
The 3 biggest “hidden cost” traps (UK travellers)
Room type: quad/triple can cut hotel cost per person massively.
Hotel distance: “walking distance” can add hundreds worth it for elders/families.
Peak weeks: Ramadan + UK school holidays can push flights + hotels up fast.
If you tell me:
Departure city: London / Manchester / Birmingham
Trip length: 7 / 10 / 14 nights
Tier: Budget / 4★ / 5★
Room type: quad / triple / double