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 $95Riga $139
The average daily cost (per person) in Ankara is $95, while the average daily cost in Riga is $139. 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 $39Riga $59
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAnkara $78Riga $118
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 $25Riga $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$0.11
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ankara
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ankara:
- Private Transfer Ankara Esenboga Airport ESB to Keçiören Ankara: $40
- Private Airport Transfer From/To Ankara Airport to Cankaya Hotels: $41
- Ankara Esenboga Airport to City Hotels Transfer: $46
- Ankara Esenboğa Airport From/To City Center Private Transfer: $50
- Ankara Private Transfer from central Ankara hotels to Ankara Airport (ESB): $53
- Private Transfer from Ankara Esenboga Airport (ESB) to Central Ankara: $53
- Ankara Airport & Hotel Transfers: $56
- Ankara Airport Transfer: Ankara by Private Luxury Vehicle: $63
- Private Transfers Between Ankara Esenboga Airport - Ankara City Centre: $75
- Ankara Esenboga Airport transfers to Ankara City Center (Cankaya,Kizilay) Hotels: $111
- Ankara City Center (Cankaya,Kizilay) Hotels to Ankara Esenboga Airport transfers: $111
- Private Transfers Ankara City or Esenboga Airport to/from Kizilcahamam Town: $185
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: $123
- Departure Private Transfer Riga City to Riga Airport RIX by Minibus: $123
- Departure Private Transfer Riga City to Riga Airport RIX by Minivan: $53
- Departure Transfer from Riga to Riga Airport RIX by Car or Van: $71
- From Cesis and Sigulda Day Trip with Hotel Transfers: $164
- From Private Transfer to Tallinn: $563
- From Private Transfer to Tallinn with Sightseeing: $503
- From Private Transfer to Vilnius with Sightseeing: $468
- Private Transfer Riga International Airport RIX to Jurmala City: $51
- Private Transfer from Riga Airport (RIX) to Riga Cruise Port: $59
- Private Transfer from Riga International Airport RIX to Riga City: $38
- Private Transfer from Riga to Baltics: $264
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 $38Riga $65
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$0.24
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ankara
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Ankara.
- Baklava Cooking Class: $61
- Turkish Cuisine Cooking Class at Local Home with Family: $70
- Sustainable Home Cooking Class in Ankara: $85
Typical Food Prices in Riga
Some typical examples of dining costs in Riga are as follows:
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Fast Food Lunch$6.57
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Riga
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Riga.
- Central Market Traditional Food Tour in a Small Group: $41
- Central Market Latvian Food Tour: $53
- Khinkali and Pelmeni Cooking Master Class: $70
- Riga Medieval Dinner: $127
- Latvian Art Museum, Dinner, and Black Balsam Tasting: $210
- Pizza Making Master Class in Riga: $246
- Traditional Latvian Dinner with Private Folk Show: $252
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Ankara $23Riga $16
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$0.17
Tours and Activities in Ankara
Here are a few actual costs in Ankara for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Self-Guided Secrets of Ankara Exploration Game Tour: $23
- Ankara Private Walking Tour with a Local: $27
- Ankara : Highlights Walking Tour With A Guide: $34
- Private Guided Walking Tour: $35
- Ankara : Private Walking Tour With A Guide ( Private Tour ): $35
- Ankara Walking Tour: Explore Top Sights & Hidden Gems: $39
- Private Walking Tour with a Local: $41
- Best of Private Walking Tour with a Local: $66
- 6-Hour Private Tour with Guide, Car, and Lunch: $175
- Half Day Private Tour in Ankara: $225
- Ankara Private Walking Tour with a Professional Guide: $235
- Private Ankara Sightseeing Tour: $300
Tours and Activities in Riga
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Riga are as follows:
- Old Riga E-Bus Tour with Audio Guide, 45 min: $7.39
- Historic Canal Boat Tour with Audio Guide: $8.21
- Entrance Ticket - House of the Black Heads: $8.21
- Canal Boat Tour with Welcome Drink & Audio Guide: $8.21
- Panorama Riga Observation Deck Ticket: $9.38
- Old Town Electrobus Tour + Audio Guide & Drink: $9.38
- Evening or Sunset Boat Tour with Welcome Drink: $10
- Rowing boats and Pedal boat rental - River Cruises Latvia: $11
- Riga Golden Autumn Canal & River Cruise | River Cruises LV: $11
- Riga Panorama trip – Golden Autumn | River Cruises Latvia: $11
- Audio Tour of Riga Old Town: $12
- Old Riga Walking Tour: Legends & Hidden Gems, 1 hour: $12
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAnkara $10Riga $22
Sample the Local Flavors in Riga
Also in Riga, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Old town pub & bar crawl, hidden gems, and local party: $21
- Pub Crawl with Local Guide: $29
- Riga Pub Crawl: $41
- Latvian Brewery Visit & 5 Beer tasting: $47
- Riga Evening Adventure: Pub Crawl & Games Night: $50
- Game Night & Pub Crawl: $52
- Prosecco Bike & Pub Crawl: $65
- Riga Brewery Tour: $75
- Riga's Old Town Beer Bike Tour & Guided Pub Crawl: $94
- Riga Sip and Paint Experience with Latvian Wine Tasting: $100
- Shooting Range and Old Town Pub Crawl: $106
- Gin Distillery Tour with Tasting and Cocktails: $111
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.