Should you visit Amman or Istanbul?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the prices of travel for Amman and Istanbul. We’ll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget. So, let's dig into it.
Amman
Amman is the largest city in of the Hashemite Kingdom of the country of Jordan. It is also the capital city of Jordan and has a population of over four million people. Many people use Amman as a base for venturing out into the rest of Jordan and other surrounding countries. There are many things to see and do in Amman.
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.
Which city is cheaper, Istanbul or Amman?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Amman is $88, while the average daily cost in Istanbul is $59. 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Amman and Istanbul in more detail.
Accommodation
For a normal double-occupancy room in Amman, $78 is the average cost for a hotel room. Also in Amman, the typical price for a place to stay for one person is $39, such as in a hostel.
A hotel room in Istanbul is about $74 This assumes double occupancy and modest accommodations.
Food
In Amman travelers spend around $27 a day on food. You can save money by choosing casual restaurants or food stalls, or you can spend plenty more by dining in nicer restaurants at every meal.
On average, meal and food prices in Istanbul cost around $15 per person, per day. While this price can vary widely by location, the type of restaurant, and the amount of food ordered, a typical meal often costs around $6.00.
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Food
Meals for one day
Amman $27
Istanbul $15
Typical Food prices in Amman
For Amman, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Amman
For Amman, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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Private Lunch or Dinner at a Local Traditional Restaurant in Amman:
$51
-
Amman City Tour & Food Tour Combo:
$69
-
Private Panoramic Tour of Amman with Lunch or Dinner:
$71
-
Private Kan Zaman Lunch or Dinner from Amman:
$76
-
Private Madaba Haret Jdoudna Restaurant Lunch or Dinner from Amman:
$90
-
Half Day Cooking Class in Amman:
$96
-
Downtown Amman by Night (Dinner Included):
$123
-
Contemporary Amman by Night (Dinner Included):
$155
-
Romantic Dinner for Two in Amman:
$160
Typical Food prices in Istanbul
Some typical examples of dining costs in Istanbul are as follows:
-
Juice
$0.15
-
Turkish Delight
$0.04
-
Dessert
$0.63
-
Pastries
$0.11
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Istanbul
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Istanbul.
-
Istanbul Dinner Cruise & Show:
$29
-
Istanbul Dinner Cruise Show:
$30
-
Bosphorus Dinner Cruise Inc. Dinner and Belly Dance Show with Hotel Transfer:
$34
-
Alaturca Ottoman Dramatic Stage Show & Dinner Cruise ( Non - Alcoholic ):
$35
-
Bosphorus Dinner & Show Cruise (All Inclusive):
$36
-
Bosphorus Dinner Show Cruise With Non Alcoholic Menu ISTANBUL Dinner cruise:
$36
-
Bosphorus Dinner Cruise An Unforgettable Experience in Istanbul:
$36
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Bosphorus Dinner Cruise & Night Show from Istanbul:
$37
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Istanbul Cruise&Show with Dinner:
$37
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Dinner Cruise on the Bosphorus:
$38
-
Istanbul Dinner Cruise & Show:
$39
-
Istanbul Dinner Cruise with Sema Ceremony:
$40
Local Transportation
Public transportation tends to be much less expensive in Amman than paying for a taxi or private car service, as is expected. Typically, people spend $19 on transportation in Amman on average per day.
The cost of a taxi ride in Istanbul is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $3.48 per person, per day, on local transportation in Istanbul.
Typical Local Transportation prices in Amman
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Amman:
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Bus Ride (for Two)
$0.71
-
RIde to Airport
$28
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Amman
Also for Amman, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
-
Amman Airport Transfer (From/To Amman- Private Car & Mini Van):
$19
-
Private Arrival Transfer: Amman Airport to Hotel:
$24
-
Transfer From Airport To Amman:
$24
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Airport transfer, Amman, Jordan:
$25
-
Airport Transfer, Pick-up and Drop-off:
$25
-
Amman Airport Private Departure Transfer:
$27
-
Amman Airport Private Arrival Transfer:
$27
-
Private Transfer from Amman Airport to Amman Hotel:
$28
-
Petra Private Transfer to/from Amman or Airport or Dead Sea or K.H.B:
$35
-
Transfer from Amman Airport to Dead Sea Hotels or vise versa:
$38
-
Amman Airport transfer from/to Deadsea or Amman hotels:
$40
-
Private Airport Transfer:
$40
Typical Local Transportation prices in Istanbul
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Istanbul are as follows:
-
Ferry
$0.21
-
Local Bus
$0.22
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Istanbul
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Istanbul:
-
İstanbul Private Airport Transfer:
$19
-
İstanbul Airport Transfer:
$45
-
istanbul airport transfer-sabiha gokcen airport transfer-vip transfer:
$28
-
istanbul airport cheapest vip transfer by private car:
$14
-
istanbul airport & sabiha gokcen airport transfer by private car:
$30
-
VIP Transfer Services for Airports, Hotels or Other Location:
$80
-
VIP Airport Transfer and Shuttle:
$62
-
VIP Airport Transfer:
$56
-
Turkish Bath in Istanbul with transfer:
$199
-
Transfer in Private Vehicle from Istanbul Old City to Sabiha Gokcen Airport:
$57
-
Transfer in Private Vehicle from Istanbul Old City to Istanbul Airport:
$51
-
Transfer in Private Minivan from Istanbul Old City to Sabiha Gokcen Airport:
$61
Is it cheaper to fly into Amman or Istanbul?
Prices for flights to both Istanbul and Amman 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.
Entertainment
Sightseeing expenses in Amman, including the cost of admission tickets for day tours, museums, and attractions, usually cost an average of $25 per day, per person.
Entertainment and activities in Istanbul typically cost an average of $22 per person, per day. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
Tours and Activities in Amman
For Amman, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
-
Discover the hidden gems of Amman's Rainbow street on an audio walking tour:
$5.00
-
Private Full-Day Petra Tour with Lunch from Amman:
$19
-
Half Day Amman Private City Tour:
$22
-
Half Day Private Tour to Iraq al-Amir (Qasr al-‘Abed) and Abo Jaber Caves:
$25
-
Half Day Private Tour to Iraq al-Amir (Qasr al-‘Abed):
$25
-
Half Day Private Tour To Dead Sea:
$26
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JR The Wine Experience:
$27
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Amman Private City Tour:
$29
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Exceptional "Jordanian Hennah" Experience In Amman:
$37
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Private Dead Sea Cheap Tour ! Half Day From Amman:
$39
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Citadel, Amphitheatre, Rainbow Street, Famous mosques, ALL in Amman Private Tour:
$40
-
Jerash & Amman City Tour Day Trip from Amman:
$41
Typical Entertainment prices in Istanbul
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Istanbul are as follows:
Tours and Activities in Istanbul
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Istanbul are as follows:
-
1 Day - Istanbul Tour:
$315
-
1 Day Cappadocia Hot Air Balloon Tour From Istanbul:
$300
-
1 Day Istanbul & Ephesus Tour By Plane - YK230:
$419
-
1 Day Regular Cappadocia Tour by Plane - YK0011:
$384
-
1 Day Tour - Sapanca:
$300
-
1 Night 1 Day Cappadocia Tour from Istanbul - Including Hot Air Balloon Tour:
$496
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1 Night 1 Day Cappadocia Travel from Istanbul - Including Hot Air Balloon Tour:
$509
-
1 Night 1 Day Cappadocia Trip from/to Istanbul - Including Hot Air Balloon Tour:
$513
-
1 Night 1 Day Trip from Istanbul to Cappadocia - Including Hot Air Balloon Tour:
$490
-
1 Night 2 Days Cappadocia Trip from/to Istanbul - Including Hot Air Balloon Tour:
$521
-
1 Night 2 Days Ephesus, Kusadasi, Hierapolis & Pamukkale Tour from/to Istanbul:
$372
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1 Night Cappadocia Trip with Hot Air Balloon Tour:
$525
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Amman spend on average $11 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
The average person spends about $5.33 on alcoholic beverages in Istanbul per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
Sample the Local Flavors in Amman
Also in Amman, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
-
Wine Tasting Experience:
$24
-
Private Wine Tasting Tour In Amman:
$64
Sample the Local Flavors in Istanbul
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Istanbul:
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Daily Tekirdag Wine Tasting Tour from Istanbul:
$427
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Amman and Istanbul, we can see that Amman is more expensive. And not only is Istanbul much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Amman is in Middle East 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 Istanbul would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Istanbul 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 Amman would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Amman than you might in Istanbul.
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