A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Ankara vs. Helsinki for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Ankara or Helsinki?

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 Helsinki. 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 Helsinki?

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.

Helsinki

Helsinki is the capital of Finland and dates back to 1550. Helsinki is an international metropolis with a diverse population, but also a small town vibe. The city itself has a population of just over 600,000 but the metropolitan area, including Espoo and Vantaa, has a population of more than 1.3 million. There are many outdoor bars and cafes that take advantage of the warmer summer months. During this time there are long days, and the population floods into the street after a long and cold winter, so visiting during the summer is a fun and lively experience.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Turkey, The Best Tours for Seniors to Turkey, The Best 10-Day Tours in Finland, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Finland.


Which place is cheaper, Helsinki or Ankara?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Ankara is $132, while the average daily cost in Helsinki is $172. 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 Helsinki in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Ankara $54
    Helsinki $76
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Ankara $108
    Helsinki $152
Compare Hotels in Ankara and Helsinki

Looking for a hotel in Ankara or Helsinki? 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.

Hotels in Ankara


Hotels in Helsinki


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 Helsinki Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Ankara $35
    Helsinki $23
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Ankara

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Ankara:


  • Metro Ride
    $0.04
  • Short Taxi Ride
    $0.15

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ankara

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ankara:

  • Private Transfers Between Ankara Esenboga Airport - Ankara City Centre: $75
  • 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: $108
  • Private Transfer Ankara Esenboga Airport ESB to Keçiören Ankara: $40
  • Ankara Private Transfer from central Ankara hotels to Ankara Airport (ESB): $108
  • Ankara Private Departure Transfer from City hotels to Airport: $75
  • Ankara Esenboğa Airport From/To City Center Private Transfer: $60
  • Ankara Esenboga Airport transfers to Ankara City Center (Cankaya,Kizilay) Hotels: $102
  • Ankara Esenboga Airport to City Hotels Transfer: $48
  • Ankara Esenboga Airport to Ankara City Hotels Private Arrival Transfer: $65

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Helsinki

Also for Helsinki, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Airport Transfer: Airport HEL to Helsinki by Business Car: $96
  • Airport Transfer: Helsinki to Helsinki Airport HEL by Luxury Van: $102
  • Arrival Private Transfer from Helsinki airport HEL to Helsinki by luxury van: $75
  • Arrival Transfer: Airport HEL to Helsinki by Business Car: $96
  • Departure Private Transfer Helsinki City to Helsinki Airport HEL by business car: $63
  • Departure Private Transfer Helsinki City to Helsinki Airport HEL by luxury van: $75
  • Departure Private Transfer from Helsinki City to Helsinki Port by business car: $45
  • Departure Transfer: Helsinki to Airport HEL by Business Car: $96
  • Guided Tallinn Day Tour from Helsinki / Include hotel transfers: $216
  • Helsinki Airport (HEL) to Helsinki City hotels - Arrival Transfer: $41
  • Helsinki Airport (HEL): One-Way Transfer to/from Helsinki: $143
  • Helsinki Airport (HEL): Transfer to Helsinki Cruise Terminal: $128

Is it cheaper to fly into Ankara or Helsinki?

Prices for flights to both Helsinki 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Ankara $53
    Helsinki $62
Typical Food Prices in Ankara

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Ankara:


  • A Quick Lunch
    $0.33

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Helsinki

For Helsinki, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • FOOD Tour with Rooftop Bar Visit in Helsinki: $105
  • Helsinki Food Tour Including Tastings: $162
  • PRIVATE Helsinki Food Tour & Rooftop Bar Visit and transfers: $168

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Ankara $32
    Helsinki $28
Typical Entertainment Prices in Ankara

Here are a few typical costs in Ankara for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:


  • Underground City
    $0.23

Tours and Activities in Ankara

Here are a few actual costs in Ankara for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • 5 Day Anatolian Tour from Hattians to Hittite Cities: $2,218
  • Ankara : Private Walking Tour With A Guide ( Private Tour ) : $32
  • Ankara Private Walking Tour: $264
  • Ankara Private Walking Tour with a Professional Guide: $216
  • Private Tour with a Local: $37
  • Private Walking tour With A Guide (Private Tour): $32
  • Half Day Private Tour in Ankara: $215
  • Istanbul, Ankara and Cappadocia 5 Nights 6 Days Tour: $656
  • Istanbul: Golden Horn & Bosphorus Day Cruise: $165
  • Konya and Cappdocia Tour 3 Days-2 Nights from Ankara: $435
  • Private Ankara City Tours by an Archaeologist Tour Guide : $280
  • Private Tour: Ankara Sightseeing: $235

Tours and Activities in Helsinki

For Helsinki, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Tip-based Free Walking Tour of Helsinki - RED UMBRELLA TOURS: $3.23
  • Temppeliaukio Church Entrance Ticket: $8.46
  • From Round-Trip Ferry Ticket to Suomenlinna: $8.99
  • Suomenlinna and Lonna Hop-on Hop-off Cruise: $9.31
  • Suomenlinna: Museum Ticket: $9.52
  • Vallisaari Fortress Island Ferry Ticket: $12
  • 4D Flying Cinema Tour of Helsinki Tickets: $14
  • Self-Guided City Highlights Audio Tour: $14
  • Suomenlinna: Guided Walking Tour with an Authorized Guide: $15
  • Helsinki Harbor Cruise: $15
  • SkyWheel Helsinki Entry Ticket: $16
  • A Finntastic Walking Tour in Helsinki: $20

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Ankara $14
    Helsinki $16


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ankara and Helsinki, we can see that Helsinki is more expensive. And not only is Ankara much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Ankara would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Ankara 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 Helsinki would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Helsinki than you might in Ankara.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Ankara Expensive? and Is Helsinki Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Ankara or Helsinki?

Ankara has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Helsinki. When comparing the sizes of Ankara and Helsinki, 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.