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

Should you visit Ankara or Islamabad?

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 Islamabad. 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 Islamabad?

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.

Islamabad

Islamabad is the capital of Pakistan, specially built in the 1960's to replace the former capital, Karachi. Most of the city's population are employees of the government, though many people come from all over Pakistan to enjoy the city's peaceful atmosphere and green spaces, museums, and monuments.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Turkey, The Best Tours for Seniors to Turkey, The Best Adventure Tours to Pakistan, and The Best Cultural Tours in Pakistan.


Which place is cheaper, Islamabad or Ankara?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Ankara is $118, while the average daily cost in Islamabad is $41. 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 Islamabad in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Ankara $57
    Islamabad $20
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Ankara $114
    Islamabad $40
Compare Hotels in Ankara and Islamabad

Looking for a hotel in Ankara or Islamabad? 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 Islamabad


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 Islamabad Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Ankara $37
    Islamabad $7.66
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
    $0.16

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ankara

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ankara:

  • Private Transfers Ankara City or Esenboga Airport to/from Gordion Ancient City: $185
  • Private Transfers Ankara City or Esenboga Airport to/from Kizilcahamam Town: $185
  • Private Transfers Ankara City or Esenboga Airport to/from Beypazari Town: $185
  • Ankara Private Transfer from central Ankara hotels to Ankara Airport (ESB): $110
  • Private Transfer from Ankara Esenboga Airport (ESB) to Central Ankara: $110
  • Ankara City Center (Cankaya,Kizilay) Hotels to Ankara Esenboga Airport transfers: $77
  • Private Transfers Between Ankara Esenboga Airport - Ankara City Centre: $75
  • Ankara Esenboga Airport transfers to Ankara City Center (Cankaya,Kizilay) Hotels: $72
  • Ankara Esenboga Airport to Ankara City Hotels Private Arrival Transfer: $66
  • Ankara Esenboğa Airport From/To City Center Private Transfer: $65
  • Ankara Private Departure Transfer from City hotels to Airport: $60
  • Private transfer: Ankara Airport (ESB) to Ankara: $40

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Islamabad

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

  • Islamabad International Airport Arrival Pick up Transfer: $55
  • Islamabad International Airport Departure Drop off Transfer : $55
  • Islamabad International Airport Transfer: $35
  • Islamabad International Airport Transfer - ARRIVAL: $40
  • Islamabad Round Trip Airport Transfer & Customizable Day Trip: $95
  • Premium Services: Islamabad Day Trip & Round Trip Airport Transfers.: $170
  • Premium Services: Islamabad International Airport Transfer - Arrival: $55
  • Premium Services: Islamabad International Airport Transfer - Departures: $55
  • Private Chauffeur: Arrival Transfer Airport Pick up (Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore): $50
  • Private Transfer from Islamabad Airport to Pakistan: $61
  • Transit Trip: Murree Exploration Day Trip & Round Trip Airport Transfer: $140

Is it cheaper to fly into Ankara or Islamabad?

Prices for flights to both Islamabad 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 $33
    Islamabad $15
Typical Food Prices in Ankara

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


  • A Quick Lunch
    $0.36

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Ankara $34
    Islamabad $9.46
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
    $0.25

Tours and Activities in Ankara

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

  • Ankara : Highlights Walking Tour: $31
  • Ankara : Private Walking Tour With A Guide ( Private Tour ) : $33
  • Ankara Private Walking Tour: $271
  • Ankara Private Walking Tour with a Professional Guide: $221
  • Family-Friendly Smartphone Walking Tour: $6.00
  • Inns and Baths City Sightseeing Mobile Audio Guide: $6.00
  • Private Tour with a Local: $38
  • Private Walking tour With A Guide (Private Tour): $33
  • Quick Tour, Essentials of Ankara: $6.00
  • Full-Day Highlights of Cappadocia Tour: $446
  • Half Day Private Tour in Ankara: $215
  • Istanbul: Golden Horn & Bosphorus Day Cruise: $165

Tours and Activities in Islamabad

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Islamabad.

  • Islamabad In & Around Full Day Customized City Tour: $80
  • Full-Day Sightseeing Tour Of Islamabad: $80
  • Private Tour: Islamabad Full Day Customized Exploration Tour: $90
  • Private Tour: Hidden Gems of Islamabad Exploration Tour: $90
  • Best of Islamabad City Landmarks Exploration Tour (Private & Guided).: $95
  • City Tour with Faisal Mosque and Lake View Park: $95
  • Guided Top 5 Wonders Exploration Tour: $95
  • Full Day Private City Tour Of Islamabad: $99
  • Best of Islamabad Half Day Tour With Meal At Monal Restaurant (Morn & Eve Slots): $100
  • Islamabad City Tour With Faisal Mosque, Pakistan Monument & Lunch : $110
  • Top Ten Wonders of Islamabad Guided City Tour: $120
  • Murree Nathiagali Day Tour: $135

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Ankara $15
    Islamabad $2.88


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ankara and Islamabad, we can see that Ankara is more expensive. And not only is Islamabad much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Ankara is in Europe and Islamabad 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 Islamabad would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Islamabad 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 Islamabad.

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


Which is Bigger, Ankara or Islamabad?

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

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