Which place is cheaper, Istanbul or Addis Ababa?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Addis Ababa or Istanbul?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Addis Ababa or Istanbul, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Addis Ababa or Istanbul?
Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa is the capital city of Ethiopia and also the nation's largest when ranked by its population of over three million. There are also more than 120 international missions and embassies in Addis Ababa, making the city a hub for international diplomacy concerning Africa. Other draws include its thriving marketplaces, spicy food, and rich coffee.
Istanbul
Istanbul is strategically located on the Bosphorus and is split between Europe and Asia. It truly is a city where east meets west. Istanbul is the cultural and financial hub of Turkey, and also the most populous city. The sites are countless and there's something for everybody, whether you're interested in art, music, food, or adventure. You can pass many days exploring both the residential and commercial pockets of this city. Much of the appeal is hidden away along back alleys or within corner shops.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Historical Tours in Ethiopia, The Best Adventure Tours to Ethiopia, The Best 2-Week Tours in Turkey, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Turkey.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAddis Ababa $67Istanbul $125
The average daily cost (per person) in Addis Ababa is $67, while the average daily cost in Istanbul is $125. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Addis Ababa and Istanbul in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAddis Ababa $43Istanbul $47
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAddis Ababa $86Istanbul $94
Compare Hotels in Addis Ababa and Istanbul
Looking for a hotel in Addis Ababa or Istanbul? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Addis Ababa Hotel Prices and Istanbul Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Addis Ababa $7.73Istanbul $55
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Addis Ababa
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Addis Ababa are as follows:
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Short Taxi Ride$0.52
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Addis Ababa
Also for Addis Ababa, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer Services Addis Abeba Airport : $23
- City/Airport Transfers-Addis Ababa: $26
- Lalibela Full Day Tour with Guide and Transfer: $130
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Istanbul
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Istanbul are as follows:
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Ferry$0.09
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Local Bus$0.09
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Istanbul
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Istanbul:
- Private Bosphorus Tour on Luxury Yacht w/transfer: $539
- From 2-Day Cappadocia Trip w/ Flight and Transfers: $475
- From Pamukkale Day Tour With Flights and Transfers: $424
- Troy and Gallipoli Day Guided Tour with Transfer: $280
- Private Guided Istanbul Luxury Tour (Tickets and Transfers): $277
- 3-Day Tours & Transfer Package: $229
- Istanbul Dolmabahçe Palace Private Tour with Transfers: $228
- Istanbul Airport Transfer: New Airport IST to Istanbul in Luxury Car: $227
- Istanbul Airport Transfer: Istanbul to Sabiha Airport SAW in Luxury Car: $227
- Istanbul Airport Transfer: Sabiha Airport SAW to Istanbul in Luxury Car: $227
- Istanbul Airport Transfer: Istanbul to New Airport IST in Luxury Car: $227
- Full-Day Old City Tour with Lunch and Transfers: $210
Is it cheaper to fly into Addis Ababa or Istanbul?
Prices for flights to both Istanbul and Addis Ababa change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayAddis Ababa $17Istanbul $31
Typical Food Prices in Addis Ababa
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Addis Ababa:
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Slice of Cake$0.12
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Addis Ababa
For Addis Ababa, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Local Ethiopian Food Tour Addis Ababa: $62
- City Tour, Food Tour, Shopping in Shiro Meda Market : $72
- Local Ethiopian Food Tour: $75
- Culinary Class and Food Tour in Addis Ababa : $82
- Unique Ethiopian Cooking Class and Coffee Ceremony with a Local in Addis Ababa: $116
- Private Ethiopian Home Cooking Class in Addis Ababa with Transfer: $124
- Market Tour and Cooking Class with a Coffee Ceremony at a Home in Addis Ababa: $168
- Food Tour in Addis Ababa: $205
Typical Food Prices in Istanbul
Some typical examples of dining costs in Istanbul are as follows:
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Juice$0.06
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Turkish Delight$0.02
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Dessert$0.26
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Pastries$0.05
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Istanbul
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Istanbul.
- Turkish Night on the Bosphorus Dinner Cruise: $16
- Dinner Cruise and Entertainment with Private Table: $17
- Bosphorus Dinner Cruise , Unlimited Drinks, & Show: $22
- Bosphorus Luxury Catamaran Cruise with Dinner Show: $25
- Bosphorus Dinner Cruise and Turkish Night Show: $26
- Bosphorus Dinner Cruise & Show with Private Table: $27
- Bosphorus Boat Cruise with Dinner & Entertainment: $27
- Istanbul Bosphorus Dinner Cruise with Unlimited Drinks and Shows: $30
- İstanbul Bosphorus Dinner Cruise with Traditional Turkish Show: $30
- Luxury Bosphorus Dinner Cruise & Shows Private Table & Free Wi-Fi: $31
- Bosphorus Dinner Cruise with Folklore Show & Belly Dancers: $32
- Pasha Istanbul Dinner Cruise: $33
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Addis Ababa $7.98Istanbul $79
Tours and Activities in Addis Ababa
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Addis Ababa.
- Addis Ababa City - Half Day Tour: $55
- Half Day City Tour of Addis Ababa : $60
- City tour of Addis, Transit in Addis by car: $65
- Food tasting tours, Enjera/Injera baking,coffee ceremony,Tej tasting: $69
- Addis Ababa Guided City Tour With Airport & Hotel Pick Up: $70
- Addis Ababa Half Day Shopping Tour: $70
- Addis Ababa City tour: $72
- Addis Ababa Authentic Private City Tour: $75
- “Addis Ababa City Tours”: $75
- Every day Addis Ababa City Tour : $75
- Addis Ababa City Tours Full Day With Hotel Pickup And Drop Off: $79
- Addis Food Tasting Tour : $79
Typical Entertainment Prices in Istanbul
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Istanbul are as follows:
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Bosphurus Boat (for 2)$0.61
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Yerebatan Cistern for Two$0.61
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Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts for Two$0.31
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Hagia Sofia entrance$0.92
Tours and Activities in Istanbul
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Istanbul are as follows:
- All in One Day Istanbul - Historical Tour of Istanbul with Bosphorus Cruise: $166
- Bosphorus Cruise And Asia Minor Tour: $220
- Bosphorus Morning or Sunset Guided Cruise Tour: $24
- Dolmabace Palace, Bosphorus Boat Tour , Eyüp Sultan Mosque Tour: $150
- Hagia Sophia Private Tour - Skip the Ticket Line : $199
- Must - See Istanbul Stops 1: Half Day Morning Tour: $140
- 1 Day Private Guided Highlights of Istanbul Tour: $165
- 1 Tour: Istanbul Highlights Street Food & Hidden Pearls: $204
- 1 or 2- Day Istanbul Highlights Tour w/ a Professional Guide: $54
- 1,2 or 3 DAY: Private Guided Istanbul Tour from CRUISE SHIP or HOTEL: $75
- 1-Day Best of Istanbul Private Tour with the Best Local Guides: $250
- 1-Day Private Guided Tour of Istanbul: $199
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAddis Ababa $6.59Istanbul $15
Sample the Local Flavors in Istanbul
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Istanbul:
- Pub and Rooftop Bar Crawl: $27
- Pub Crawl Istanbul / Rooftop Parties & Party Bus: $28
- #1 Rated Istanbul Party Pub Crawl w Party Bus/Sultanahmet&Taksim: $29
- Party Pub Crawl with Party Bus: $30
- Istanbul Private Wine Tasting Tour Through 3 City Wineries : $249
- Istanbul Private and Guided, Food and Wine Tasting Tour: $430
- Luxury Wine Tasting on a Private Yacht: $859
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Addis Ababa and Istanbul, we can see that Istanbul is more expensive. And not only is Addis Ababa much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Addis Ababa is in Africa and Istanbul is in Europe, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Addis Ababa would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Addis Ababa and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Istanbul would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Istanbul than you might in Addis Ababa.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Addis Ababa Expensive? and Is Istanbul Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Addis Ababa or Istanbul?
Istanbul has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Addis Ababa. When comparing the sizes of Addis Ababa and Istanbul, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.