Should you visit Dubai or Istanbul?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Dubai and Istanbul can help you decide which place is right for you.
Dubai
Ever wonder what it would be like to see the lifestyles of the rich and famous up close. There's no more upscale destination than Dubai. It's by far and away the spot for shopping, partying, sunbathing, fine dining and the most luxurious of luxury. As the most modern and progressive of the seven emirates in the United Arab Emirates, this area has experienced an unbelievable economic boom and tourism spike. It's a desert city with an amazing infrastructure.
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.
Which city is cheaper, Istanbul or Dubai?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Dubai is $198, while the average daily cost in Istanbul is $95. 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 Dubai and Istanbul in more detail.
Accommodation
Double occupancy rooms typically run around $272 in Dubai For nicer amenities and a premiere location, you can expect to pay a bit more.
A hotel room in Istanbul is about $118 This assumes double occupancy and modest accommodations.
Food
The average traveler spends about $45 per day in Dubai for food, but obviously this is dependent on the type of restaurant and the amount of food ordered. To save money you can grab a lighter lunch or dinner, or you can try fast food or street food.
On average, meal and food prices in Istanbul cost around $24 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 $9.60.
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Food
Meals for one day
Dubai $45
Istanbul $24
Typical Food prices in Dubai
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Dubai:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Dubai
For Dubai, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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Romantic Dhow Creek Dinner Cruise With Live Shows and International Buffet:
$17
-
Sightseeing Dhow Cruise Dinner:
$18
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Dubai Deira Cruise with International Buffet Dinner with Live Shows:
$19
-
Cruising with Dinner and Live Shows at Dubai Creek:
$20
-
Dubai Creek Dhow Cruise Dinner:
$20
-
Dhow Dinner Cruise at Dubai Creek (Without Transfers):
$20
-
Sail along the Dubai Creek Dhow cruise with a delectable Dinner from AED 60:
$21
-
Sightseeing Romantic Dhow Cruise Dinner:
$21
-
Dhow Cruise Dinner Dubai:
$22
-
Dhow Cruise Dinner on Dubai Creek:
$22
-
Evening Dhow Dinner Cruise in Dubai:
$22
-
Dubai Creek 2-Hour Romantic Dhow Cruise Dinner:
$23
Typical Food prices in Istanbul
Some typical examples of dining costs in Istanbul are as follows:
-
Juice
$0.24
-
Turkish Delight
$0.07
-
Dessert
$1.00
-
Pastries
$0.18
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Istanbul
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Istanbul.
-
Istanbul Dinner Cruise & Show:
$29
-
Istanbul Dinner Cruise Show:
$30
-
Bosphorus Dinner Cruise Inc. Dinner and Belly Dance Show with Hotel Transfer:
$34
-
Alaturca Ottoman Dramatic Stage Show & Dinner Cruise ( Non - Alcoholic ):
$35
-
Bosphorus Dinner Show Cruise With Non Alcoholic Menu ISTANBUL Dinner cruise:
$36
-
Bosphorus Dinner & Show Cruise (All Inclusive):
$36
-
Bosphorus Dinner Cruise An Unforgettable Experience in Istanbul:
$36
-
Bosphorus Dinner Cruise & Night Show from Istanbul:
$37
-
Istanbul Cruise&Show with Dinner:
$37
-
Istanbul Dinner Cruise & Show:
$39
-
Istanbul Bosphorus Dinner Cruise & Soft Drinks:
$40
-
Istanbul Dinner Cruise&Show:
$40
Local Transportation
Dubai'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 $10 per person, per day on transportation in Dubai.
The cost of a taxi ride in Istanbul is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $5.56 per person, per day, on local transportation in Istanbul.
Typical Local Transportation prices in Dubai
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Dubai:
-
Taxi Ride
$12
-
Airport Taxi
$12
-
Sea Taxi
$0.54
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dubai
Also for Dubai, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Ultra - Dubai Private Airport Transfer from Dubai Airport DXB to city centre:
$8.73
-
Ultra - Dubai Private Airport Transfer from city centre to Dubai Airport DXB:
$8.73
-
Ultra - Dubai Private Airport Transfer from Dubai Airport DXB to Jumeirah Beach:
$8.73
-
Ultra - Dubai Private Airport Transfer from Jumeirah Beach to Dubai Airport DXB:
$8.73
-
Shared Transfers from Dubai Hotels to Ski Dubai/Wild Wadi:
$15
-
Private Airport Transfer: from Dubai to Dubai Airport (DXB):
$17
-
Private Airport Transfer: Dubai Airport (DXB) to Dubai:
$17
-
Shared Transfers from Dubai Hotels to Dubai Frame:
$18
-
Sharing Transfers from Dubai Hotels to Dubai Mall (Burj Khalifa, VR Parks, DAUZ):
$18
-
Shared Transfers from Dubai Hotels to Aquaventure/Lost Chamber:
$18
-
Shopping Tour with Sharing Transfers:
$19
-
Dubai City tour with Abra Ride on Sharing Transfers:
$20
Typical Local Transportation prices in Istanbul
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Istanbul are as follows:
-
Ferry
$0.33
-
Local Bus
$0.35
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Istanbul
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Istanbul:
-
Private Transfer from Istanbul to Bodrum:
$1,244
-
Istanbul 5-Day City Package with Hotel, City Tours and Airport Transfers:
$722
-
Transfer From Istanbul to Bodrum:
$722
-
Transfer From Istanbul to Izmir:
$653
-
Transfer From Istanbul to Kusadasi:
$647
-
2-Hour Bosphorus Yacht Cruise with Transfers:
$500
-
4-Day Wonderful Istanbul Including Accommodation Plus Transfer:
$474
-
Istanbul Airport to Kartalkaya Transfer:
$460
-
Safe Istanbul Airport Transfer in Luxury with English Speaking Chauffeur:
$355
-
4-Day Istanbul City Package including Full-Day Istanbul City Tour plus Airport Transfers:
$350
-
Istanbul to Bursa Uludag private minivan transfer service:
$348
-
Private Luxury Transfer from Istanbul Airport to Istanbul City:
$317
Is it cheaper to fly into Dubai or Istanbul?
Prices for flights to both Istanbul and Dubai 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.
Entertainment
Sightseeing, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in Dubai can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around $15 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
Entertainment and activities in Istanbul typically cost an average of $35 per person, per day. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
Typical Entertainment prices in Dubai
For Dubai, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
Tours and Activities in Dubai
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Dubai.
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Dubai Full-Day Global Village Tickets:
$4.11
-
Global Village Entry Tickets:
$4.11
-
Global Village Entry Ticket:
$4.19
-
Skip the Line: Global Village Ticket:
$4.32
-
Global Village Dubai (Ticket):
$4.85
-
Dubai Global Village Entrance Ticket:
$5.20
-
Dubai Marina: Explore its activities & attractions on this audio walking tour:
$5.50
-
Resident Marina Sightseeing Tour:
$12
-
Dubai City Tour, Dubai:
$12
-
Dubai Virtual City Tour With Live Video Chat Commentary:
$15
-
Flying Cup Experience Ticket Dubai:
$17
-
Dubai by Night City Tour:
$17
Typical Entertainment prices in Istanbul
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Istanbul are as follows:
Tours and Activities in Istanbul
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Istanbul are as follows:
-
1 Day - Istanbul Tour:
$315
-
1 Day Cappadocia Hot Air Balloon Tour From Istanbul:
$300
-
1 Day Istanbul & Ephesus Tour By Plane - YK230:
$419
-
1 Day Regular Cappadocia Tour by Plane - YK0011:
$384
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1 Day Tour - Sapanca:
$300
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1 Night 1 Day Cappadocia Tour from Istanbul - Including Hot Air Balloon Tour:
$496
-
1 Night 1 Day Cappadocia Travel from Istanbul - Including Hot Air Balloon Tour:
$509
-
1 Night 1 Day Cappadocia Trip from/to Istanbul - Including Hot Air Balloon Tour:
$513
-
1 Night 1 Day Trip from Istanbul to Cappadocia - Including Hot Air Balloon Tour:
$490
-
1 Night 2 Days Cappadocia Trip from/to Istanbul - Including Hot Air Balloon Tour:
$521
-
1 Night 2 Days Ephesus, Kusadasi, Hierapolis & Pamukkale Tour from/to Istanbul:
$372
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1 Night Cappadocia Trip with Hot Air Balloon Tour:
$525
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 Dubai, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is $18.
The average person spends about $8.51 on alcoholic beverages in Istanbul per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
Typical Alcohol prices in Dubai
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Dubai:
Sample the Local Flavors in Istanbul
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Istanbul:
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Daily Tekirdag Wine Tasting Tour from Istanbul:
$427
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Dubai and Istanbul, we can see that Dubai is more expensive. And not only is Istanbul much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Dubai is in Middle East and Istanbul is in Europe, 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 Istanbul would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Istanbul 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 Dubai would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Dubai than you might in Istanbul.
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