Should you visit Cappadocia or Islamabad?
Should I visit Cappadocia or Islamabad? 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.
Islamabad
Islamabad is the capital of Pakistan, specially built in the 1960's to replace the former capital, Karachi. Most of the city's population are employees of the government, though many people come from all over Pakistan to enjoy the city's peaceful atmosphere and green spaces, museums, and monuments.
Which city is cheaper, Islamabad 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 Islamabad is $59. 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 Islamabad 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.
Travelers usually pay around $58 for a double occupancy room in Islamabad If you want to be in a premiere location or have high end 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 Islamabad cost around $21 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 $8.40.
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Food
Meals for one day
Cappadocia $13
Islamabad $21
Typical Food prices in Cappadocia
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Cappadocia:
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.
To get around in Islamabad, 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.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cappadocia
Also for Cappadocia, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Cappadocia Private Airport Transfers:
$24
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Shared Airport Transfer Service:
$12
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Islamabad
Also for Islamabad, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Private Transfer Pakistan:
$200
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Transit Trip: Murree Exploration Day Trip & Round Trip Airport Transfer:
$140
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Premium Services: Islamabad Day Trip & Round Trip Airport Transfers.:
$130
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Transit Trip: Islamabad City Exploration Day Tour & Round Trip Airport Transfer:
$110
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Islamabad Round Trip Airport Transfer & Customizable Day Trip:
$95
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Premium Services: Islamabad International Airport Transfer - Departures:
$70
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Premium Services: Islamabad International Airport Transfer - Arrival:
$70
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Islamabad International Airport Transfer:
$64
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Islamabad Airport Transfer:
$62
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Private Transfer from Islamabad Airport to Pakistan:
$61
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Islamabad Airport Transfer:
$55
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Airport Transfers Peshawar:
$53
Entertainment
In Cappadocia, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average $16 per person, per day.
In Islamabad, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average $13 per person, per day.
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 Islamabad
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Islamabad.
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03 Nights Islamabad to Naran Tour:
$520
-
07 Days Tour to Deosai National Park Skardu Valley Pakistan:
$1,720
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10 Days tour to Swat, Kalam,Kilash and Chitral from April to December:
$630
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11 Days Naran, Hunza, Murree, Pakistan Tour Package:
$1,700
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11 Days Private Pakistan Cultural Tour from Islamabad:
$1,000
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14 Days Trekking & Sightseeing Tour To Hunza:
$2,300
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2-Day Tour with Naran and Lake Saif ul Malook from Islamabad:
$260
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4 Days Culture and Sightseeing tour to Swat Kalam Valley.:
$850
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5 Days Deluxe Tour To Swat Kalam:
$1,144
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5-Day Private Honeymoon Tour in Naran Kaghan Shogran Valley:
$800
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7-Days Autumn Tour to Hunza Valley:
$380
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8 Days Tour to Skardu, Deosai Pakistan:
$1,600
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.
Alcoholic beverages can often be a significant portion of a traveler's budget, and the costs can vary greatly from person to person. In Islamabad, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is $4.08.
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 Islamabad, we can see that Islamabad is more expensive. And not only is Cappadocia much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Cappadocia is in Europe and Islamabad 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 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 Islamabad would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Islamabad than you might in Cappadocia.
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