Which place is cheaper, Istanbul or Cappadocia?
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 Cappadocia or Istanbul?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Cappadocia or Istanbul? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Cappadocia or Istanbul?
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.
Istanbul
Istanbul is strategically located on the Bosphorus and is split between Europe and Asia. It truly is a city where east meets west. Istanbul is the cultural and financial hub of Turkey, and also the most populous city. The sites are countless and there's something for everybody, whether you're interested in art, music, food, or adventure. You can pass many days exploring both the residential and commercial pockets of this city. Much of the appeal is hidden away along back alleys or within corner shops.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours from Istanbul, The Best 2-Week Tours from Istanbul, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Antalya, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Turkey.
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Cappadocia Prices
Turkey PricesIstanbul Prices
Turkey Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCappadocia $122Istanbul $149
The average daily cost (per person) in Cappadocia is $122, while the average daily cost in Istanbul is $149. 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 Cappadocia and Istanbul in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCappadocia $34Istanbul $69
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCappadocia $68Istanbul $138
Compare Hotels in Cappadocia and Istanbul
Looking for a hotel in Cappadocia or Istanbul? 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: Cappadocia Hotel Prices and Istanbul Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cappadocia $33Istanbul $32
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cappadocia
Also for Cappadocia, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Nevşehir or Kayseri Airport Private Transfer Service: $3.39
- Shared Transfers for Kayseri and Nevşehir Airports: $3.41
- Cappadocia Private Airport Transfers from Kayseri & Nevşehir: $11
- Cappadocia Transfer From/To Nevsehir and Kayseri Airport: $11
- Cappadocia Shared Transfer From/To Kayseri or Nevsehir Airport: $12
- Cappadocia ATV Safari Sunrise Sunset Daytime Hotel Transfer: $12
- Cappadocia Shared Transfer From to Kayseri and Nevsehir Airport: $12
- Cappadocia ATV tour with transfer and guide: $12
- Cappadocia NAV & Kayseri ASR Shuttle Airport Transfer: $12
- Cappadocia Airport Transfer to/from Kayseri/Nevsehir (ASR or NAV): $14
- Cappadocia Shuttle Transfer from Nevsehir Airport: $16
- Cappadocia Luxury Private Airport Transfer: $17
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Istanbul
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Istanbul are as follows:
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Metro Cards$4.29
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Istanbul
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Istanbul:
- Istanbul Private Cultural Tours, Hotel Transfers Including: $299
- Istanbul Dolmabahçe Palace Private Tour with Transfers: $290
- Private Transfer from Istanbul Airport to Sabiha Gökcen Airport: $262
- Private Transfer from Sabiha Gökcen Airport to Istanbul Airport: $262
- Private Transfer to Bursa Uludag Hotels from Sabiha Gokcen airport: $245
- Istanbul Airport Transfer: Sabiha Airport SAW to Istanbul in Luxury Car: $222
- Istanbul Airport Transfer: New Airport IST to Istanbul in Luxury Car: $222
- Gallipoli Day Trip from Lunch & Hotel Transfers: $200
- Istanbul Layover Tour: Private & Personalized with Transfers: $189
- Istanbul Private Airport Transfer: $182
- Cappadocia Private Tour, Transfers from Local Hotels or Istanbul: $181
- Istanbul Private Guided Tour for Layover Flight. Transfer incl.: $175
Is it cheaper to fly into Cappadocia or Istanbul?
Prices for flights to both Istanbul and Cappadocia 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 dayCappadocia $56Istanbul $55
Typical Food Prices in Cappadocia
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Cappadocia:
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Cookies$0.02
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cappadocia
For Cappadocia, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Cappadocia Turkish Night Show with Dinner and Drinks: $51
- Cappadocia From Traditional Cooking Class Course: $57
- Cappadocia Turkish Night Show, Dinner & Unlimited Drinks & Pickup: $61
- Turkish Night at Cave Restaurant with Dinner and Unlimited Drinks: $62
- Turkish Nights in Cappadocia Dinner & Cultural Show in a Cave: $65
- Cappadocia Night: Turkish Dance & Dinner: $70
- Turkish Night Show With Dinner in a Cave Restaurant: $74
- Cappadocia Turkish Night Cultural Show and Dinner: $75
- Cappadocia Turkish Night Show with Dinner & Hotel Transfers: $75
- Half-Day Private Food Tour in Kayseri: $78
- 2-Hour Cappadocia Turkish Night Show and Dinner Experience: $79
- Cappadocia Turkish Night with Dinner and Cultural Show: $79
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Istanbul
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Istanbul.
- Istanbul Food Tour 30 Tasting Stops with Audio Maps Written Guide: $8.00
- Bosphorus Sightseeing Cruise with Optional 4 Course Dinner: $25
- Istanbul Bosphorus Dinner Cruise with Turkish Night Show: $28
- Istanbul Bosphorus Dinner Cruise with Turkish Show Private Table: $29
- Dinner and Turkish Night Show in Bosphorus Strait: $29
- Budget Evening Cruise: Dinner, Live Shows & Party: $29
- Bosphorus Night Cruise Dinner and Dance Show,Transfer included: $30
- Bosphorus Turkish Night Show and Dinner Cruise with Private Table: $30
- Istanbul Bosphorus Dinner Cruise and Show with Private Table: $30
- Istanbul Bosphorus Dinner Cruise: Turkish Night Show Experience: $30
- Istanbul Night Life : Bosphorus Dinner Cruise - Unlimited Drinks: $30
- Bosphorus Dinner Cruise & Night Show: $31
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Cappadocia $62Istanbul $36
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$0.60
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Hot Air Balloon Ride for Two$12
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Horseback Riding for Two$2.31
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Cappadocia Driving Tour$2.46
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Goreme Museum Entrance Fee$0.30
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Whirling Dervishes Show$2.01
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Turkish Bath$1.41
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Hot air ballooning$8.15
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Goreme open air museum$0.40
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Bellydancing Show$2.62
Tours and Activities in Cappadocia
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Cappadocia.
- Cappadocia Sunrise Balloon Watching Tour with Hotel Pickup: $3.39
- Cappadocia Green Tour Lunch + Guide + Museum Tickets /Small Group: $3.39
- Cappadocia Daily Tour Red & Green - Mix: $5.68
- Cappadocia Horse Tour: $6.70
- Cappadocia Private Day Tour: $8.00
- Cappadocia Private Tour - Cappadocia's All Highlights in 1 Day: $9.00
- Private Full Day Cappadocia Tour With Luxury Van and Guide: $9.00
- One Day Cappadocia Private Tour: $9.00
- Private Pottery Workshop Experience and Guiding: $9.08
- Cappadocia Tours : Best of Cappadocia: $10
- Private Tour : All Highlights of Cappadocia 1 Day: $10
- Cappadocia Artisan & Local Craft Experience: $10
Tours and Activities in Istanbul
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Istanbul are as follows:
- "Walk Through History: A Bespoke Istanbul Adventure": $149
- 1 Istanbul Tour: Highlights, Street Food & Hidden Pearls: $274
- 1 Perfect Day in Istanbul Private Guided Tour of the City’s Icons: $250
- 1 or 2 Day Private Istanbul Guided Tour: $80
- 1, 2 Or 3 Days Private Istanbul Guided Tour: $75
- 1,2 or 3 DAY: Private Guided Istanbul Tour from CRUISE SHIP or HOTEL: $130
- 10 Tastings of Istanbul Foodie Tour: $103
- 2 - Hours Bosphorus Yacht Cruise: $299
- 2 Day Cappadocia Tour with Istanbul Flights &Hot Air Balloon Tour: $285
- 2 Days Cappadocia Tour with Hotel Flights and Hot Air Balloon: $200
- 2 Full Days Guided Istanbul City Tour With Skip the Line Entry: $194
- 2 Hours Bosphorus Cruise ((MORNING TOUR)): $23
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCappadocia $12Istanbul $9.85
Sample the Local Flavors in Cappadocia
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Cappadocia:
- Wine tasting in Cappadocia: $67
- Local Wine Tasting Experience: $68
- Wine Tasting in Cappadocia Turkey - Introduction of local wines: $72
- Cappadocia Fairy Chimneys Guided Tour with Local Wine Tasting: $85
- Cappadocia Vineyard Experience and Wine Tasting: $92
- Private Wine Tasting and Day Tour w/Göreme Museum: $108
- Wine Tasting and Sunset in Cappadocia: $204
- Half-Day Private Cappadocia Wine Tour Experience: $268
- Ancient Cappadocia's Wine Tasting - Private Tour: $275
Sample the Local Flavors in Istanbul
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Istanbul:
- Istanbul Pub Crawl: Bars, Dancefloors, & Beyond: $16
- Famous Istanbul Pub Crawl #1 Nightlife Experience: $28
- Pub Crawl Original Istanbul Pub Crawl with Party Bus: $30
- Istanbul Wine Tasting at Home with Local Family: $78
- Taksim Pera Wine Tasting 3 Hour Guided Tour: $130
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cappadocia and Istanbul, we can see that Istanbul 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 Istanbul would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Istanbul than you might in Cappadocia.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Cappadocia Expensive? and Is Istanbul Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Cappadocia or Istanbul?
Istanbul has a larger population, and is about 1760 times larger than the population of Cappadocia. When comparing the sizes of Cappadocia and Istanbul, 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.