How Much Does It Cost to Climb Mount Everest? (Price Guide)

Climbing Mount Everest is one of the most expensive trips a person can take, and the final bill depends on choices made long before the climb starts. The two biggest are which outfitter you hire and how much support you buy on the mountain. Nearly everything else, from permits to oxygen, follows from those decisions.

This guide looks at the Nepal side of the mountain. It breaks out the Nepalese government permit, what outfitters charge by type, the published price from one named operator, and the extras that expeditions bill separately. It covers cost only. Anyone considering the climb should work with an experienced guided expedition and its medical team.

Published estimates for a guided climb on the Nepal side span a wide range, and the cheapest and priciest outfitters sit far apart. One long-running Everest reporting source puts the typical guided expedition at $40,000 – $80,000.

That range is a starting point. Personal gear, travel to Kathmandu, insurance, tips, and any extra oxygen or Sherpa support are priced on top of many packages, and outfitters differ on what they include.

Nepal charges every foreign climber a permit fee, and the fee depends on the season. The government revised the fees recently, and the amounts below are what the Kathmandu Post reported when the new fee took effect. Check Nepal's tourism authorities for the current schedule before you budget, because permit rules can change.

Spring, from March to May, is the main climbing season and carries the highest permit fee. Autumn costs half as much, and the winter and monsoon permit costs less again. Outfitters usually build the permit into their package price, but confirm that in writing.

Who runs the expedition changes the price more than almost anything else. The table below shows median prices for 2026 on the Nepal side, sorted by the kind of outfitter.

A Nepalese guide service is the least expensive option. An international company that uses Sherpa guides costs more, and an international company that fields international guides costs the most. Price differences generally reflect staffing, logistics, and support, though you should ask each operator what it provides rather than assuming.

For a concrete reference, Alpine Ascents publishes its Everest prices. This is a single operator, so treat the figures as one example and not an industry average.

The South Col route price is for a five-climber team, and the Everest plus Lhotse option costs more because it adds a second summit. Operators sell different services at different prices, and a lower or higher quote from another company does not mean better or worse value without comparing what is included.

Supplemental oxygen is a major line item, and some outfitters bill it separately or sell tiers of oxygen support. The prices below are typical per-item figures.

A single bottle costs $650 each, and an expedition needs more than one, so the total grows quickly. The mask and regulator are priced separately from the bottles. A personal Sherpa on oxygen is an extra service, priced at $4,000 – $10,000. Ask any outfitter how many bottles its price covers, what the oxygen flow plan is, and how much a personal Sherpa adds.

Several costs sit outside the headline price on most itineraries:

• Personal clothing and climbing equipment, bought or rented
• Flights to and from Kathmandu, plus hotels before and after the expedition
• Travel and evacuation insurance that covers high-altitude climbing
• Tips for Sherpas and base camp staff
• Visas and extra days if the weather delays the schedule

Insurance deserves special attention. A private-pay helicopter evacuation on the Nepal side is quoted at $5,000 – $20,000. Talk to a licensed insurance agent about which policies cover high-altitude evacuation, and read the exclusions closely.

Because packages differ, the quote is only comparable when you know what it covers. Ask each company:

• Does the price include the Nepal permit and any other government fees?
• How many bottles of oxygen are included, and what costs extra?
• What is the ratio of Sherpas to climbers?
• Which services come with the fee, such as meals, tents, and base camp staff?
• What happens to the payment if the expedition is cancelled or the season is lost?

Get the answers in writing and compare them across at least two operators.