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

Should you visit Ankara or Kathmandu?

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 Kathmandu. 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 Kathmandu?

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.

Kathmandu

Kathmandu is the capital and largest city in the country of Nepal. Its metropolitan area forms one large urban area that includes the area of Patan to the south. As of 2011 there were 2.5 million residents in the Kathmandu metropolis and over 3 million in the entire metropolitan area. Kathmandu is likely to be your entry point into Nepal and is a great place to pick up supplies and arrange the details for any treks you hope to do. Many travelers rush through Kathmandu, turned off by the pollution and crowds, but to skip Kathmandu is to miss a major cultural, financial, and influential part of what defines the country of Nepal. The city itself is quite fun to explore if you allow it enough time and an open mind.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Turkey, The Best Tours for Seniors to Turkey, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Nepal, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Nepal.


Which place is cheaper, Kathmandu 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 $131, while the average daily cost in Kathmandu is $62. 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 Kathmandu in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Ankara $53
    Kathmandu $40
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Ankara $106
    Kathmandu $80
Compare Hotels in Ankara and Kathmandu

Looking for a hotel in Ankara or Kathmandu? 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 Kathmandu


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 Kathmandu Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Ankara $35
    Kathmandu $6.85
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
    $0.14

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ankara

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ankara:

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

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Kathmandu

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


  • Taxi Ride
    $1.48

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kathmandu

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kathmandu:

  • Chandragiri Hill Cable Car Tour with Hotel Transfers from Kathmandu: $60
  • Chitwan Sauraha To Kathmandu Private Transfer By Car: $88
  • Chitwan to Pokhara Transfer by Private AC Car (One Way): $80
  • Day Trip to Water and Amusement Park and Kirtipur sightseeing with Transfer : $87
  • From One-Way Private Transfer to Pokhara: $146
  • Kathmandu - Pokhara Transfer or Vice Versa: $100
  • Kathmandu - Private departure transfer from Hotel to Airport : $15
  • Kathmandu : Everest Mountain Flight - with Private Transfers: $321
  • Kathmandu Airport Arrival Transfer(Airport-Hotel): $22
  • Kathmandu Airport Private Transfer Service: $17
  • Kathmandu Airport Private Transfers: $15
  • Kathmandu Airport Transfer: $30

Is it cheaper to fly into Ankara or Kathmandu?

Prices for flights to both Kathmandu 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 $52
    Kathmandu $14
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

Typical Food Prices in Kathmandu

Some typical examples of dining costs in Kathmandu are as follows:


  • Dessert
    $1.33
  • Dinner for Two
    $2.96

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kathmandu

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Kathmandu.

  • Nepali Cooking Class with Momo Making & Pickup: $4.99
  • Nepali Cooking Class & Momo Making with Pickup: $5.00
  • Nepali Cooking Class and Momo Making Workshop: $6.00
  • Nepali Cooking Class in Thamel, Kathmandu with Pickup: $8.00
  • Traditional Nepali Cooking & Momo Making Class: $9.00
  • Dinner with Cultural Show Kathmandu : $14
  • Cultural Dinner Show with Traditional Dance: $18
  • Nepali and Newari Cooking Class with Optional …: $21
  • Momo, Dhalbhat & Thukpa Cooking Class, Nepal: $25
  • Cooking Class in Nepal: $25
  • Private Half -Day Cooking Class with Meals: $26
  • Private Nepali Cooking Class (Dal Bhat and MoMo): $27

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Ankara $32
    Kathmandu $7.92
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:

  • Ankara Highlights Walking Tour With A Guide: $31
  • Private Walking tour With A Guide (Private Tour): $32
  • Ankara : Private Walking Tour With A Guide ( Private Tour ) : $32
  • Private Tour with a Local: $37
  • Istanbul: Half-Day Tour with Topkapi Palace: $145
  • Istanbul: Golden Horn & Bosphorus Day Cruise: $165
  • Half Day Private Tour in Ankara: $215
  • Ankara Private Walking Tour with a Professional Guide: $215
  • Private Tour: Ankara Sightseeing: $235
  • Ankara Private Walking Tour: $264
  • Private Ankara City Tours by an Archaeologist Tour Guide : $280
  • Konya and Cappdocia Tour 3 Days-2 Nights from Ankara: $434

Typical Entertainment Prices in Kathmandu

Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Kathmandu are as follows:


  • Monkey Temple for Two
    $1.48
  • Patan Durbar Square Entrance for Two
    $3.70
  • Swayambhunath Stupa
    $1.48

Tours and Activities in Kathmandu

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Kathmandu are as follows:

  • 4 UNESCO World Heritage Site Tour Nepal: $0.42
  • Old A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.40
  • Bhaktapur and Nagarkot Day Tour with Guide: $9.59
  • Kathmandu Private Day Tour: Seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites: $10
  • Private Kathmandu Day Tour: 7 UNESCO Heritage Sites Tour: $10
  • Kathmandu TO Gorkha Bus Ticket: $11
  • City Highlights Bus Tour: $11
  • Tourist Bus Service: Kathmandu-Pokhara Luxury Sofa: $12
  • Kathmandu to Pokhara Tourist Bus- MNS: $12
  • Discovering Full-Day City Highlights Bus Tour: $12
  • Nagarkot Sunrise View Private Tour: $12
  • Chandragiri Temple Tour with Monkey Temple (Swyambhunath): $12

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Ankara $14
    Kathmandu $5.69

Sample the Local Flavors in Kathmandu

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Kathmandu:

  • Nightlife and Pub Crawl Tour: $33


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

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


Which is Bigger, Ankara or Kathmandu?

Ankara has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Kathmandu. When comparing the sizes of Ankara and Kathmandu, 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.