Should you visit Cappadocia or Antalya?
Should I visit Cappadocia or Antalya? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Cappadocia
Cappadocia is in Central Anatolia, between the mountains Erciyes, Melendiz and Hasan. It is famous for its underground cities, fairy chimneys, and caves. The landscape of the area is some of the most unique you'll ever see. The fairy chimneys are bizarrely shaped rock outcroppings that have evolved from the unique geography in the area. There are hiking trails through the series of valleys that make up the area. It's a great place to explore for outdoor enthusiasts and adventure seekers.
Antalya
Antalya is the largest city along Turkey's Mediterranean coast and the eighth largest city in the country with over one million people in the metropolitan area. The city dates back to about 200 BC when it was settled by the Attalid Dynasty of Pergamon and soon conquered by the Romans. The city was ruled by several different groups and most recently was transferred to Italian suzerainty following World War I. It became part of Turkey following the War of Independence. The city has seen an influx of development in recent years and it has grown into a tourism mecca with more than 12 million visitors in 2014.
Which city is cheaper, Antalya or Cappadocia?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Cappadocia is $35, while the average daily cost in Antalya is $53. 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Cappadocia and Antalya in more detail.
Accommodation
An average hotel room with basic furnishings costs about $22 in Cappadocia For the most convenient locations and nicer amenities you can expect to pay a bit more.
An average hotel room with basic furnishings costs about $52 in Antalya For the most convenient locations and nicer amenities you can expect to pay a bit more.
Food
Food in Cappadocia costs travelers about $13 per day on average. Restaurants can vary significantly in price, so choose wisely if you're trying to save money. Fast food and street stalls are typically your cheapest options, which sit down restaurants can be significantly more expensive.
On average, meal and food prices in Antalya cost around $18 per person, per day. While this price can vary widely by location, the type of restaurant, and the amount of food ordered, a typical meal often costs around $7.20.
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Food
Meals for one day
Cappadocia $13
Antalya $18
Typical Food prices in Cappadocia
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Cappadocia:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Antalya
For Antalya, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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Giza Pyramids Sound and Light Show with Dinner:
$83
Local Transportation
To get around in Cappadocia, the average visitor spends $11 per day, per person. This includes the costs of taxi rides and private drivers as well as public transportation, which tends to be much more affordable.
Antalya's transportation costs can vary by the type of transport chosen by visitors. Naturally, taxis and private drivers cost much more than public transportation options. On average, visitors spend $8.46 per person, per day on transportation in Antalya.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cappadocia
Also for Cappadocia, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Shared Airport Transfer Service:
$12
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Cappadocia Private Airport Transfers:
$24
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Antalya
Also for Antalya, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Private Boat Tour to Kekova and Sunken City From Antalya Incl.Transfer:
$1,009
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Private Transfer : Antalya to Cappadocia:
$672
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Private Transfer from Antalya to Cappadocia:
$213
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Private Transfers Between Antalya Airport - Antalya City Centre:
$150
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Antalya Airport Arrivals Transfer to Alanya:
$141
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Antalya Airport: KAS Private Arrival Transfer:
$124
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Antalya Airport: Patara Private Transfer:
$124
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Private Sightseeing and Airport Departure Transfer:
$121
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From Antalya to Kalkan Private Transfer:
$120
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Private Transfer From Antalya Airport to Kas:
$119
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Antalya Airport (AYT) Departure Transfer (Alanya Hotels to Antalya Airport):
$108
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Antalya Airport: Arrival Transfer to Side:
$101
Entertainment
In Cappadocia, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average $16 per person, per day.
Sightseeing, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in Antalya can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around $14 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
Typical Entertainment prices in Cappadocia
For Cappadocia, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Underground City Entrance for Two
$3.43
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Hot Air Balloon Ride for Two
$66
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Horseback Riding for Two
$13
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Cappadocia Driving Tour
$14
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Goreme Museum Entrance Fee
$1.72
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Whirling Dervishes Show
$11
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Turkish Bath
$8.01
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Hot air ballooning
$46
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Goreme open air museum
$2.29
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Bellydancing Show
$15
Tours and Activities in Cappadocia
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Cappadocia.
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Cappadocia Day Tour:
$61
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Cappadocia Heritage 1 Day Private Tour:
$545
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Cappadocia Highlights Small-Group Tour by Minibus:
$61
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Cappadocia Highlights Tour with Lunch:
$18
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Cappadocia Hot Air Balloon Flight and Full-Day Tour:
$184
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Cappadocia Tour: 2-Day Discovery Tour from Istanbul:
$387
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Cappadocia Tour: Underground City, Caravanserai & Salt Lake:
$72
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Customizable Private Tour in a Minivan:
$205
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Full Day Private Tour with Japanese Guide:
$53
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Full-Day Highlights Tour:
$28
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Full-Day Private Custom Tour:
$58
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Full-Day Private Discovery of Anatolian Art Tour:
$69
Tours and Activities in Antalya
For Antalya, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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3-Day Cappadocia Tour:
$151
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A Day at Kas Beach Tour:
$671
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Admission Ticket to Sandland Antalya:
$7.46
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Alanya: Horse Riding Adventure:
$59
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Alanya: Tandem Paragliding Experience:
$103
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Antalya 4x4 and White Water Rafting Adventure with Lunch:
$61
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Antalya Aquarium Tour from Kemer, Beldibi, Kiris, Camyuva, Goynuk, Tekirova:
$65
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Antalya City Tour:
$81
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Antalya City Tour - ANT2:
$122
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Antalya City Tour - Small group Tour:
$80
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Antalya City Tour Private Tour 1 to 6 peoples:
$300
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Antalya City Tour and Duden Waterfalls Visit with Boat Trip:
$67
Alcohol
Alcoholic beverages can often be a significant portion of a traveler's budget, and the costs can vary greatly from person to person. In Cappadocia, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is $12.
Typically, people visiting Antalya spend on average $7.86 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Sample the Local Flavors in Cappadocia
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Cappadocia:
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Private Half-Day Vineyards & Wine Tasting Tour:
$79
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cappadocia and Antalya, we can see that Antalya is more expensive. And not only is Cappadocia much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Cappadocia would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cappadocia 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 Antalya would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Antalya than you might in Cappadocia.
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