Which place is cheaper, Riga or Ankara?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Ankara or Riga?
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 Riga. 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 Riga?
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.
Riga
Riga is the vibrant capital city of Latvia. It continues to gain popularity as a tourist destination in part because it is the base for the airline Air Baltic. This affordable airline offers discount flights around Europe and most of these flights pass through Riga with a forced overnight layover. This encourages travelers to visit this fascinating city for at least a night or two.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Turkey, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Turkey.
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Ankara Prices
Turkey PricesRiga Prices
Latvia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAnkara $92Riga $137
The average daily cost (per person) in Ankara is $92, while the average daily cost in Riga is $137. 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 Riga in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAnkara $37Riga $58
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAnkara $74Riga $116
Compare Hotels in Ankara and Riga
Looking for a hotel in Ankara or Riga? 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 Riga Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Ankara $24Riga $11
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$0.03
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Short Taxi Ride$0.10
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ankara
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ankara:
- Ankara Airport & Hotel Transfers: $40
- Private Airport Transfer From/To Ankara Airport to Cankaya Hotels: $40
- Private Transfer Ankara Esenboga Airport ESB to Keçiören Ankara: $40
- Ankara Airport Transfer Meet Transfer: $49
- Ankara Private Transfer from central Ankara hotels to Ankara Airport (ESB): $51
- Private Transfer from Ankara Esenboga Airport (ESB) to Central Ankara: $51
- Ankara Esenboga Airport to City Hotels Transfer: $55
- Ankara Airport Transfer: Ankara by Private Luxury Vehicle: $62
- Ankara Esenboğa Airport From/To City Center Private Transfer: $69
- Private Transfers Between Ankara Esenboga Airport - Ankara City Centre: $75
- Ankara Esenboga Airport transfers to Ankara City Center (Cankaya,Kizilay) Hotels: $109
- Ankara City Center (Cankaya,Kizilay) Hotels to Ankara Esenboga Airport transfers: $109
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Riga
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Riga:
- Arrival Private Transfer from Riga Airport RIX to Riga City by Minibus: $120
- Arrival Private Transfer from Riga Airport RIX to Riga City by Minivan: $51
- Arrival Private Transfer from Riga Airport RIX to Riga by Sedan: $37
- Baltic Explorer Private Riga–Tallinn/Tallinn–Riga Transfer & Tour: $205
- Departure Private Transfer Riga City to Riga Airport RIX by Minibus: $120
- Departure Private Transfer Riga City to Riga Airport RIX by Minivan: $51
- Departure Transfer from Riga to Riga Airport RIX by Car or Van: $69
- From Cesis and Sigulda Day Trip with Hotel Transfers: $161
- From Private Transfer to Tallinn with Pärnu City Tour: $680
- From Private Transfer to Tallinn with Sightseeing: $494
- From Private Transfer to Vilnius with Sightseeing: $448
- Private Transfer from Hotel to Riga Airport with English speaking driver: $56
Is it cheaper to fly into Ankara or Riga?
Prices for flights to both Riga 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 $37Riga $64
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$0.23
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ankara
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Ankara.
- Sustainable Home Cooking Class in Ankara: $75
- Home Cooking Class, Sustainable Tables & Stories: $104
- Turkish Cuisine Cooking Class at Local Home with Family: $291
Typical Food Prices in Riga
Some typical examples of dining costs in Riga are as follows:
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Fast Food Lunch$6.47
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Riga
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Riga.
- Riga Central Market Food Tour with Guide & Tastings ENG, DE: $26
- Central Market Latvian Food Tour with 20 taste samples: $52
- Khinkali and Pelmeni Cooking Master Class: $69
- Latvian Cooking Class in a Local Home: $114
- Traditional Latvian Dinner with Private Folk Show: $248
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Ankara $22Riga $15
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$0.16
Tours and Activities in Ankara
Here are a few actual costs in Ankara for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Atakule Tower Observation Deck Ticket: $13
- Secrets of Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt & Walking Tour: $23
- Ankara Private Walking Tour: Hidden Gems & Highlights: $24
- Ankara Private Walking Tour with a Local: $27
- Ankara Walking Tour with a Local: $30
- Ankara : Highlights Walking Tour With A Guide: $33
- Ankara Highlights Walking Tour With A Guide: $33
- Ankara : Private Walking Tour With A Guide ( Private Tour ): $34
- Private Guided Walking Tour: $35
- Ankara Walking Tour: Explore Top Sights & Hidden Gems: $39
- Private Walking Tour with a Local: $40
- Women-Only Turkish Home Dining Experience: $104
Tours and Activities in Riga
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Riga are as follows:
- Riga Scavenger Hunt & Highlights Self-Guided Walking Tour: $4.57
- Self-Guided Podcast Tour: Riga's Century of Shadows and Light: $5.47
- Self-Guided Podcast Tour The Hidden Monopolies of Riga: $6.84
- Old Riga Walking History Tour: $9.13
- Panorama Riga Observation Deck Ticket: $9.22
- Old Riga Walking Tour: Discover Stories and Legends: $10
- Riga Historic Boat Tour with Audio Guide and Captain Stories: $10
- Historic Canal Boat Tour with Audio Guide: $10
- Riga Sightseeing by Canal Boat with Audio Guide: $11
- Old Riga E-Cart Guided Tour with Local Driver & Audio Guide: $11
- Hidden Gems and Art Nouveau Walking Tour in Riga: $11
- Old Riga walking tour with a local: $11
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAnkara $9.91Riga $22
Sample the Local Flavors in Riga
Also in Riga, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Pub Crawl with Local Guide: $29
- Old town pub & bar crawl, hidden gems, and local party: $29
- Brewery Tour with Beer and Riga Balsam Tasting: $32
- Brewery Tour and Beer Tasting in Riga: $33
- Pub Crawl in Riga: $34
- Riga Pub Crawl Nightlife Experience: $37
- Combo Brewery Tour + Canal Boat tour: $39
- Pub Crawl- Your best night out in Riga with our local guide!: $40
- 2 in 1 - Old Town Walking Tour & Pub Crawl: $40
- Private - Riga Pub Crawl: $40
- Riga 2 in 1 Tour: Art Nouveau Tour & Pub Crawl: $45
- Riga Evening Adventure: Pub Crawl & Games Night: $50
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ankara and Riga, we can see that Riga 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 Riga would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Riga 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 Riga Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Ankara or Riga?
Ankara has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Riga. When comparing the sizes of Ankara and Riga, 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.