Which place is cheaper, Bodh Gaya or Ankara?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Ankara or Bodh Gaya?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Ankara and Bodh Gaya. 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, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Ankara or Bodh Gaya?
Ankara
Located at the heart of Turkey near Central Anatolia, Ankara is the capital city and second largest city in the country after Istanbul. Formerly known for its long-haired goats and textiles, the city has since developed into a metropolitan mix of modern cultures with historic landmarks.
Bodh Gaya
Located in the state of Bihar in the northeast of India, Bodh Gaya is the most respected place and pilgrimage destination for Buddhists. Bodh Gaya is believed to be the site where Buddha Shakyamuni achieved enlightenment while meditating under the famous Bodhi tree.
Prince Gautama Siddartha was born in the sixth century, B.C. in what is modern-day Nepal. Siddartha lived a comfortable life of extravagance as he was born the son of King Suddhodana of the Sakya clan, but after witnessing human suffering, Siddartha decided to give up all of his possessions and embarked upon a quest to seek knowledge and the solution to such suffering. It is underneath a Pipal tree near the city of Gaya, that it is believed he began to meditate until he became enlightened. Today, a descendent of the original Bodhi Tree is located in the Mahabodhi Temple Complex in the city of Bodh Gaya.
Weather in Bodhgaya is generally warm throughout the year, with daytime highs in the 90s during summer and nighttime lows in the high 40s during winter. Because Bodhgaya is centered around religious sites, pack light layers and plan to dress modestly. Remember that you'll be expected to take shoes off at all temples, so sandals may be easier to wear and a good time-saver.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Turkey, The Best Tours for Seniors to Turkey, The Best Cultural Tours in India, and The Best Food and Culinary Tours in India.
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Ankara Prices
Turkey PricesBodh Gaya Prices
India Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAnkara $91Bodh Gaya $56
The average daily cost (per person) in Ankara is $91, while the average daily cost in Bodh Gaya is $56. 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 Ankara and Bodh Gaya in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAnkara $37Bodh Gaya $20
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAnkara $74Bodh Gaya $40
Compare Hotels in Ankara and Bodh Gaya
Looking for a hotel in Ankara or Bodh Gaya? 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: Ankara Hotel Prices and Bodh Gaya Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Ankara $24Bodh Gaya $20
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Ankara
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Ankara:
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Metro Ride$0.03
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Short Taxi Ride$0.10
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ankara
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ankara:
- Private Transfers Ankara City or Esenboga Airport to/from Kizilcahamam Town: $185
- Private Transfers Ankara City or Esenboga Airport to/from Gordion Ancient City: $185
- Private Transfers Ankara City or Esenboga Airport to/from Beypazari Town: $185
- Private Transfer from Ankara Esenboga Airport (ESB) to Central Ankara: $51
- Private Transfer Ankara Esenboga Airport ESB to Keçiören Ankara: $40
- Private Airport Transfer From/To Ankara Airport to Cankaya Hotels: $40
- Ankara Private Transfer from central Ankara hotels to Ankara Airport (ESB): $51
- Ankara Esenboğa Airport From/To City Center Private Transfer: $69
- Ankara Esenboga Airport transfers to Ankara City Center (Cankaya,Kizilay) Hotels: $108
- Ankara Esenboga Airport to City Hotels Transfer: $55
- Ankara City Center (Cankaya,Kizilay) Hotels to Ankara Esenboga Airport transfers: $108
- Ankara Airport Transfer: Ankara by Private Luxury Vehicle: $62
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bodh Gaya
Also for Bodh Gaya, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- 3 Day Private Bodhgaya Sightseeing Tour with Transfer: $120
- Affordable Bodh Gaya Airport Transfer: $15
- From Varanasi: Bodhgaya Day Trip with Private Transfer: $106
- Gaya Airport (GAY) Private Transfer to Gaya City/Hotels: $25
- Gaya: Create Your Own Itinerary - Private Tour & Transfer: $51
- Private Airport Transfer Gaya to or from Bodhgaya Hotel: $25
- Private Transfer from Bodhgaya Hotel to Gaya Airport: $13
Is it cheaper to fly into Ankara or Bodh Gaya?
Prices for flights to both Bodh Gaya and Ankara 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 dayAnkara $37Bodh Gaya $24
Typical Food Prices in Ankara
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Ankara:
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A Quick Lunch$0.23
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ankara
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Ankara.
- Sustainable Home Cooking Class in Ankara: $75
- Home Cooking Class, Sustainable Tables & Stories: $104
- Turkish Cuisine Cooking Class at Local Home with Family: $291
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Ankara $22Bodh Gaya $8.65
Typical Entertainment Prices in Ankara
Here are a few typical costs in Ankara for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Underground City$0.16
Tours and Activities in Ankara
Here are a few actual costs in Ankara for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 4-Day Eastern Anatolia Tour on the Touristic Eastern Express: $1,922
- Ankara : Highlights Walking Tour With A Guide: $33
- Ankara : Private Walking Tour With A Guide ( Private Tour ): $34
- Ankara Highlights Walking Tour With A Guide: $33
- Ankara Private Walking Tour with a Local: $27
- Ankara Private Walking Tour with a Professional Guide: $228
- Ankara Private Walking Tour: Hidden Gems & Highlights: $24
- Ankara Walking Tour with a Local: $30
- Ankara Walking Tour: Explore Top Sights & Hidden Gems: $39
- 6-Hour Private Tour with Guide, Car, and Lunch: $17,285
- Atakule Tower Observation Deck Ticket: $13
- Private Guided Walking Tour: $35
Tours and Activities in Bodh Gaya
For Bodh Gaya, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Multilingual Private Day Tour of Temple & Buddha Sites: $26
- Guided Virtual Tour of Bodhgaya: $27
- Full Day Tour in Bodhgaya Hotel pick up: $31
- Gaya and Bodh Gaya Full-Day Private Tour: $44
- Bodhgaya Day Tour (Hotel Pickup): $44
- Full-Day Private Guided Bodhgaya Tour with Pick Up: $49
- Private Guided Tour of Bodhgaya with Hotel Pickup: $50
- Bodhgaya and Gaya Pilgrimage Tour: $52
- BODHGAYA FULL DAY TOUR: $56
- Bodhgaya Full Day Tour: $63
- Private Tour of Bodhgaya and Gaya Including Vishnupad Temple: $70
- Half Day Private Guided Tour in Bodh Gaya & Dungeshwari Caves: $88
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAnkara $9.79Bodh Gaya $4.97
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ankara and Bodh Gaya, we can see that Ankara is more expensive. And not only is Bodh Gaya much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Ankara is in Europe and Bodh Gaya is in Asia, 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 Bodh Gaya would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Bodh Gaya 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 Ankara would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Ankara than you might in Bodh Gaya.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Ankara Expensive? and Is Bodh Gaya Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Ankara or Bodh Gaya?
Ankara has a larger population, and is about 100 times larger than the population of Bodh Gaya. When comparing the sizes of Ankara and Bodh Gaya, 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.