Which place is cheaper, Messina or Ankara?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Ankara or Messina?
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 Messina. 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 Messina?
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.
Messina
Messina is a city in the northwest area of Sicily. There are only five kilometers across the Straits of Messina to the Calabria region of mainland Italy. You can reach Messina by boats which travel every hour from the town of Villa San Giovanni in mainland Italy. There are also a couple of hydrofoils that make the trip every day from Reggio di Calabria. During the summer season don't be surprised to see cruise ships arriving with crowds of tourists. They are usually docked right downtown and are therefore hard to miss. Messina is also connected to mainland Italy by train, which are transported across the Straits of Messina by ferry.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Turkey, The Best Tours for Seniors to Turkey, The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Italy, and The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Italy.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAnkara $116Messina $127
The average daily cost (per person) in Ankara is $116, while the average daily cost in Messina is $127. 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 Messina in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAnkara $57Messina $70
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAnkara $114Messina $140
Compare Hotels in Ankara and Messina
Looking for a hotel in Ankara or Messina? 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 Messina Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Ankara $37Messina $24
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$0.04
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Short Taxi Ride$0.15
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ankara
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ankara:
- Ankara City Center (Cankaya,Kizilay) Hotels to Ankara Esenboga Airport transfers: $76
- Ankara Esenboga Airport transfers to Ankara City Center (Cankaya,Kizilay) Hotels: $71
- Ankara Esenboğa Airport From/To City Center Private Transfer: $64
- Ankara Private Departure Transfer from City hotels to Airport: $60
- Ankara Private Transfer from central Ankara hotels to Ankara Airport (ESB): $109
- Private Transfer from Ankara Esenboga Airport (ESB) to Central Ankara: $109
- Private Transfers Ankara City or Esenboga Airport to/from Beypazari Town: $185
- 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 Between Ankara Esenboga Airport - Ankara City Centre: $75
- Private transfer: Ankara Airport (ESB) to Ankara: $39
- Private transfer: Ankara to Ankara Airport (ESB): $39
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Messina
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Messina:
- From Private Air-Conditioned Transfer to Taormina: $99
Is it cheaper to fly into Ankara or Messina?
Prices for flights to both Messina 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 $32Messina $40
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$0.36
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Messina
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Messina.
- Private Home Cooking Demo with a Four-Course Meal: $112
- Cesarine: Dining & Cooking Demo at Local's Home in Messina: $115
- Market Tour & Lunch/Dinner at a Cesarina's Home: $149
- Messina Private Home Cooking Class: $155
- Home Cooking Class & Meal with a Local in Messina: $158
- Market Tour, Private Home Cooking Class and Dinner: $202
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Ankara $34Messina $23
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$0.25
Tours and Activities in Ankara
Here are a few actual costs in Ankara for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Family-Friendly Smartphone Walking Tour: $6.00
- Quick Tour, Essentials of Ankara: $6.00
- Inns and Baths City Sightseeing Mobile Audio Guide: $6.00
- Private Walking tour With A Guide (Private Tour): $32
- Ankara : Private Walking Tour With A Guide ( Private Tour ) : $33
- Private Tour with a Local: $37
- Ankara : Highlights Walking Tour: $48
- Istanbul: Half-Day Tour with Topkapi Palace: $145
- Istanbul: Golden Horn & Bosphorus Day Cruise: $165
- İstanbul: Full-Day Tour with Grand Bazaar: $180
- Half Day Private Tour in Ankara: $215
- Ankara Private Walking Tour with a Professional Guide: $218
Tours and Activities in Messina
Here are a few actual costs in Messina for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Alfotour 2/3 hour tour with swimming stop: $32
- 2,5-Hour Messina Walking Tour: $46
- Guided City Highlights Walking Tour: $47
- The Godfather Movie Tour from Messina: $84
- Messina Taormina: cultural heritage experience: $85
- Messina and Taormina City Tour from Messina - Private tour: $87
- Taormina Shore Excursion from Messina - Shared tour: $87
- Taormina and Castelmola Tour from Messina: $98
- 3-Hour Messina Segway PT Authorized Tour: $118
- Full Day Taormina and Castelmola Tour with Messina Shore Excursion: $120
- Etna Alcantara tour: the majestic lava landscape : $126
- Taormina and Castelmola: Private tour: $149
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAnkara $15Messina $19
When comparing the travel costs between Ankara and Messina, we can see that Messina is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Europe, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Ankara Expensive? and Is Messina Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Ankara or Messina?
Ankara has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Messina. When comparing the sizes of Ankara and Messina, 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.