Which place is cheaper, Varanasi 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 Varanasi?
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 Varanasi. 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 Varanasi?
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.
Varanasi
Known to be one of India's holiest cities, many come to Varanasi on a spiritual pilgrimage looking to bathe in the sacred waters of the Ganges River. Dating back to the 11th Century BC, it is also one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. Centuries old temples make up the backdrop, as many come and come again to perform their holy rights at the edge of the historic river.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Turkey, The Best Tours for Seniors to Turkey, The Best Bicycle Tours in India, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in India.
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Ankara Prices
Turkey PricesVaranasi Prices
India Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAnkara $98Varanasi $31
The average daily cost (per person) in Ankara is $98, while the average daily cost in Varanasi is $31. 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 Varanasi in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAnkara $40Varanasi $14
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAnkara $80Varanasi $28
Compare Hotels in Ankara and Varanasi
Looking for a hotel in Ankara or Varanasi? 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 Varanasi Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Ankara $26Varanasi $4.38
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 Transfers Between Ankara Esenboga Airport - Ankara City Centre: $75
- 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: $41
- Ankara Private Transfer from central Ankara hotels to Ankara Airport (ESB): $52
- Ankara Esenboğa Airport From/To City Center Private Transfer: $50
- Ankara Esenboga Airport transfers to Ankara City Center (Cankaya,Kizilay) Hotels: $111
- Ankara Esenboga Airport to City Hotels Transfer: $46
- Ankara City Center (Cankaya,Kizilay) Hotels to Ankara Esenboga Airport transfers: $111
- Ankara Airport Transfer: Ankara by Private Luxury Vehicle: $63
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Varanasi
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Varanasi:
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Tuk Tuk Through Town$0.85
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Rickshaw Ride$0.53
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Varanasi
Also for Varanasi, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Delhi Private Arrival Transfer From New Delhi Airport To Hotel In Delhi: $34
- From Agra: Budget One Way Transfer Agra to Varanasi: $160
- From Agra: One-Way Private Transfer to Varanasi: $166
- Private Transfer: Varanasi Airport to Varanasi Hotel: $12
- Smooth transfer from Varanasi Airport to Hotel: $60
- Varanasi Airport to Varanasi Hotels drop: Private Transfers: $33
- Varanasi hotel to Bodhgaya hotel private transfer: $135
- Sarnath Tour with Guide & Car Including Hotel transfers: $70
Is it cheaper to fly into Ankara or Varanasi?
Prices for flights to both Varanasi 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 $39Varanasi $11
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$0.25
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 Varanasi
For Varanasi, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Dinner In Town$3.66
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Varanasi
For Varanasi, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Cooking Class with Sona: $39
- Private Food Tour with Ganga Aarti Ceremony: $42
- Varanasi Bliss: Private Food Tour, Boat Ride & Ganga Aarti: $62
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Ankara $24Varanasi $9.30
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:
- Ankara : Highlights Walking Tour With A Guide: $34
- Ankara : Private Walking Tour With A Guide ( Private Tour ): $35
- Ankara Private Walking Tour with a Professional Guide: $233
- Ankara Walking Tour: Explore Top Sights & Hidden Gems: $39
- 6-Hour Private Tour with Guide, Car, and Lunch: $175
- Private Guided Walking Tour: $35
- Private Walking Tour with a Local: $41
- Best of Private Walking Tour with a Local: $66
- Full Day Cappadocia Private Tour: $300
- Half Day Private Tour in Ankara: $185
- Private Ankara Sightseeing Tour: $300
- Self-Guided Secrets of Ankara Exploration Game Tour: $30
Typical Entertainment Prices in Varanasi
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Varanasi's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Boat Ride$0.74
Tours and Activities in Varanasi
For Varanasi, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- From Delhi: Taj Mahal & Agra Tour by Gatimaan Express Train: $2.82
- From Delhi: Taj Mahal Sunrise, Baby Taj & Agra Fort Day Tour: $3.95
- Agra: Taj Mahal Tour with Professional photographer & Guide: $5.64
- Spiritual and Heritage Walking Tour in Varanasi: $11
- Varanasi Landmark Evening City Tour - Aarti, Boating & Witnessing the GOD: $11
- Sunrise in Banaras with Ganga Aarti (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $13
- Varanasi Pedal Rickshaw Tours: $13
- Private Yoga Experience in Varanasi: $15
- Varanasi Tuk Tuk Tour: $16
- Mysticism of Varanasi Tour with a local including free Guided Boat Ride: $17
- Sunrise in Varanasi Tour with a local with free Ganga Aarti and Boat Ride: $17
- Varanasi on Tuk Tuk (2 hours offbeat famous travel experience): $17
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAnkara $10Varanasi $6.96
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ankara and Varanasi, we can see that Ankara is more expensive. And not only is Varanasi much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Ankara is in Europe and Varanasi 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 Varanasi would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Varanasi 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 Varanasi.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Ankara Expensive? and Is Varanasi Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Ankara or Varanasi?
Ankara has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Varanasi. When comparing the sizes of Ankara and Varanasi, 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.