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

Should you visit Ankara or Reykjavik?

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 Reykjavik. 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 Reykjavik?

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.

Reykjavik

Reykjavik is the capital and largest city in the country of Iceland. The city is where the vast majority of the country's population resides and the urban area has about 200,000 residents. The city is sprawling, with a large area covered in suburbs. The the city center is quite compact, with many interesting and colorful houses. There are a lot of things that attract tourists to this city, including an interesting culture and history as well as plenty of shopping and dining opportunities.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Turkey, The Best Tours for Seniors to Turkey, The Best Budget Tours to Iceland, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Iceland.


Which place is cheaper, Reykjavik 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 $119, while the average daily cost in Reykjavik is $284. 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 Reykjavik in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Ankara $48
    Reykjavik $148
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Ankara $96
    Reykjavik $296
Compare Hotels in Ankara and Reykjavik

Looking for a hotel in Ankara or Reykjavik? 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 Reykjavik


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 Reykjavik Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Ankara $32
    Reykjavik $48
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Ankara

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


  • Metro Ride
    $0.03
  • Short Taxi Ride
    $0.13

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: $52
  • Private Transfer Ankara Esenboga Airport ESB to Keçiören Ankara: $40
  • Private Airport Transfer From/To Ankara Airport to Cankaya Hotels: $52
  • Ankara Private Transfer from central Ankara hotels to Ankara Airport (ESB): $52
  • Ankara Esenboğa Airport From/To City Center Private Transfer: $55
  • Ankara Esenboga Airport transfers to Ankara City Center (Cankaya,Kizilay) Hotels: $110
  • Ankara Esenboga Airport to City Hotels Transfer: $43
  • Ankara City Center (Cankaya,Kizilay) Hotels to Ankara Esenboga Airport transfers: $110

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Reykjavik

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

  • Airport Express Shared Departure transfer from Reykjavik City to Keflavik Airport: $30
  • Airport Transfer (One way) between Keflavik and Reykjavik: $200
  • Airport Transfer in Iceland from Keflavik Airport to Reykjavik City With Hotel Drop Off: $41
  • Airport Transfer in Iceland from Reykjavik City to Keflavik Airport with Hotel Pick Up: $41
  • Alesund : Private Transfer to/from Ålesund Airport and City: $77
  • Arrival in Iceland - Private airport transfer from KEF Airport: $122
  • Bláfjöll to Keflavik Airport (KEF) - Departure Private Transfer: $81
  • Blue Lagoon Admission Ticket Including Transfer: $294
  • Blue Lagoon Admission Ticket with Transfer: $280
  • Blue Lagoon Entry Ticket with Optional Private or Shared Transfer: $174
  • Blue Lagoon Private Transfer To and From Reykjavik/Keflavik: $128
  • Blue Lagoon Private Transfer with 2h of waiting Back & Forth: $199

Is it cheaper to fly into Ankara or Reykjavik?

Prices for flights to both Reykjavik 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 $48
    Reykjavik $55
Typical Food Prices in Ankara

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


  • A Quick Lunch
    $0.30

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ankara

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

  • Turkish Cuisine Cooking Class at Local Home with Family: $90

Typical Food Prices in Reykjavik

For Reykjavik, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Dinner (Fish Market)
    $189

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Reykjavik

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

  • Exclusive dinner with a local family - Visit a Reykjavík home: $105
  • Reykjavik Food Tour - Supermarket Tour & Lunch at Microbrewery: $123
  • The Reykjavik Christmas Food Tour: $135
  • Icelandic Food Tour: $135
  • Authentic Reykjavik Food Tour with Flea Market Delights: $135
  • Christmas Food Tour with Tastings and Drinks: $147
  • 3 Hour Shared Christmas Food Tour with Guide in Reykjavik: $149
  • Private Vegetarian Reykjavik Food Tour: $195
  • Private Christmas Food Tour with a Local Guide: $226

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Ankara $29
    Reykjavik $76
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
    $0.21

Tours and Activities in Ankara

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

  • 5 Days Hittite Monuments Tour with Specialist Guide: $2,024
  • Ankara : Private Walking Tour With A Guide ( Private Tour ) : $35
  • Ankara Highlights Walking Tour With A Guide: $33
  • Ankara Private Walking Tour with a Professional Guide: $232
  • Private Guided Walking Tour: $34
  • Private Tour with a Local: $40
  • Best of Private Walking Tour with a Local: $33
  • Half Day Private Tour in Ankara: $215
  • Istanbul: Golden Horn & Bosphorus Day Cruise: $165
  • Istanbul: Half-Day Tour with Topkapi Palace: $145
  • Private Ankara City Tours by an Archaeologist Tour Guide : $280
  • Private Ankara Sightseeing Tour: $235

Typical Entertainment Prices in Reykjavik

Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Reykjavik's activities, tours, and tickets:


  • Art Museum
    $11
  • Wine and Spa
    $31

Tours and Activities in Reykjavik

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

  • Reykjavík: National Museum of Iceland Entry Ticket: $21
  • Was James Bond Icelandic? Ticket with One Hour Lecture: $24
  • Icelandic Phallological Museum Entry Ticket: $26
  • Saga Museum Entry Ticket: $28
  • Northern Lights: Aurora Basecamp Observatory Guided Experience: $30
  • Whales of Iceland Museum Entrance Ticket: $33
  • Whales Of Iceland Admission Ticket: $34
  • World War II Walking tour around the city centre: $40
  • Self-Guided Audio Driving Tour of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula: $40
  • Reykjanes Peninsula and Blue Lagoon Self-Guided Driving Tour: $40
  • World War Two Walking Tour in Reykjavik: $40
  • Entry Ticket to FlyOver Iceland Experience: $43

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Ankara $13
    Reykjavik $30

Typical Alcohol Prices in Reykjavik

Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Reykjavik are as follows:


  • Beer
    $9.32

Sample the Local Flavors in Reykjavik

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Reykjavik:

  • Eimverk Distillery Guided Tour with Tasting: $34
  • Craft Beer and Brewery Tour in Iceland: $48
  • Private Brewery & Beer Tasting Tour: $448
  • Microbrewery and Distillery Private Tour: $451


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ankara and Reykjavik, we can see that Reykjavik 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 Reykjavik would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Reykjavik 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 Reykjavik Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Ankara or Reykjavik?

Ankara has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Reykjavik. When comparing the sizes of Ankara and Reykjavik, 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.