Which place is cheaper, Chennai or Ephesus?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Ephesus or Chennai?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Ephesus or Chennai, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Ephesus or Chennai?
Ephesus
The ancient city of Ephesus was famed for the Temple of Artemis (completed around 550 BC). It is one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The temple was destroyed in 401 AD and rebuilt by Emperor Constantine I along with new public baths. The town was again partially destroyed by an earthquake in 614 AD. The city's importance as a commercial center declined as the harbor was slowly silted up by the Cayster River (Kucuk Menderes).
Chennai
Formerly known as Madras from its colonial history, Chennai today is one of India's largest cities and capital of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is located on the Bay of Bengal in southeastern India with an extensive stretch of sandy beaches, plenty of dining and shopping, a number of historic temples, monuments, and churches, plus amusement parks and more.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Cultural Tours in Turkey, The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Turkey, The Best Adventure Tours to India, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in India.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayEphesus $143Chennai $29
The average daily cost (per person) in Ephesus is $143, while the average daily cost in Chennai is $29. 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 Ephesus and Chennai in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personEphesus $70Chennai $15
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomEphesus $140Chennai $30
Compare Hotels in Ephesus and Chennai
Looking for a hotel in Ephesus or Chennai? 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: Ephesus Hotel Prices and Chennai Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Ephesus $51Chennai $2.61
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ephesus
Also for Ephesus, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Airport Transfer In Ephesus: $205
- Transfer from/to Izmir Airport ADB to/from Didim Area: $186
- Private Transfers From Kusadasi: $174
- Kusadasi Hotels to Bodrum Airport BJV Transfers: $169
- Milas Bodrum Airport (BJV) Transfer to OR from Kusadasi: $140
- Kusadasi to Pamukkale Hotels Private Transfer: $137
- Private Transfers İzmir City Adnan Menderes Apt to/from Selçuk, Ephesus, Şirince: $131
- Private Transfers İzmir City or Adnan Menderes Airport to/from Kusadasi Town: $131
- Didim (Altinkum) Hotels to Bodrum Airport BJV Transfers: $115
- Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport (ADB) Transfer to OR from Kusadasi: $100
- Kusadasi International Golf Hotels to Izmir Airport ADB Transfers: $93
- Kusadasi Hotels to Izmir Airport ADB Transfers: $93
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Chennai
Also for Chennai, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Full Day Tour to Kanchipuram and UNESCO's Mahabalipuram with Private Transfer: $246
- Private Arrival Transfer: Chennai Airport (MAA) to Pondicherry Hotels: $145
- Private Arrival Transfer: Chennai International Airport to Hotel: $40
- Private Transfer from Chennai (MAA) Airport to Chennai City: $37
- Private Transfer from Chennai City to Chennai (MAA) Airport: $37
- Bangalore - private departure transfer from Hotel to Airport : $35
- Chennai International Airport to Hotel-Private Arrival transfer: $25
- Affordable Chennai Airport Transfer: $24
- Chennai - Private Arrival Transfer - From Airport to Hotel: $20
- Departure Transfer from Chennai Hotels to Chennai airport: $20
- Departure transfer: Chennai hotels to Chennai International Airport: $19
- Chennai - Private Departure Transfer from Hotel to Airport : $19
Is it cheaper to fly into Ephesus or Chennai?
Prices for flights to both Chennai and Ephesus 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 dayEphesus $33Chennai $6.40
Typical Food Prices in Ephesus
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Ephesus:
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Sandwiches$0.15
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Dessert$0.17
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Lunch at Beach (for 2)$0.59
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Snacks$0.25
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ephesus
For Ephesus, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Cooking Class in Kusadasi Ephesus: $110
- Taste of Traditional Turkish Cuisine | Small Group Kusadasi Food Tour: $211
- Cooking Class in Ephesus Selcuk Town: $228
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Chennai
For Chennai, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- 2 Hour Street Food Tour in Sowcarpet Chennai : $37
- Private In-Home Vegetarian Cooking Class and Meal in Chennai: $46
- Private Vegetarian South Indian Cooking Class in Chennai : $48
- South Indian Cooking Class in Chennai with a Passionate Baker: $48
- South Indian Vegetarian Cooking Class in Chennai with Menna: $54
- South Indian Vegetarian Cooking Class Near the Chennai airport: $62
- Traditional Tamil Brahmin Vegetarian Cooking Lesson with a Local in Her Home: $74
- Private Authentic Indian Cooking Class in Chennai with a Local: $76
- Private 3-Hour Cooking Lesson and Meal in Chennai: $100
- Authentic South Indian Cooking Class and Vegetarian Meal with a Local in Chennai: $122
- Food Trail In Sowcarpet With Transport And Dinner - Chennai: $216
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Ephesus $59Chennai $2.77
Tours and Activities in Ephesus
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Ephesus.
- Ephesus Half Day Small Group Tour: $40
- Ephesus Shared Tour from Kuşadası Port: $130
- Ephesus Tour With Small Group From Kusadasi: $77
- Ephesus Tour from Kusadası Port: $44
- Ephesus small groups Tour For Cruisers (skip the line): $200
- Ephesus tours and Virgin Mary's House Temple Artemis tours : $67
- Private Pergamum Tour from Izmir or Kusadasi: $274
- Private Tour Ephesus for Cruise Guests : $250
- Private Tour to Ephesus, Virgin Mary, and Artemis Temple From Cruise Ship/Hotel: $120
- Small Group Pamukkale Day Tour from Selcuk or Kusadası : $93
- ( Skip The Line - Max 10 Pax) Small Group Ephesus Tour for Cruise Passengers : $25
- -e Bike Tour Through Vineyards with Ephesus Visit: $120
Tours and Activities in Chennai
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Chennai.
- St Thomas Mount Tour Chennai: $85
- Auroville and Pondicherry Tour from Chennai: $44
- Bazaar Walking tour in George Town: $35
- Best Of Chennai- Classic Tour on Royal Enfield Motorcycle: $160
- Bicycle tour in Mahabalipuram with transport from Chennai,lunch & guide: $99
- Chennai Cultural Walking Tour: $26
- Chennai Delights: Exploring the Best of the City Tour: $198
- Chennai Food Tasting Trails (2 Hour Guided Tour Experience): $26
- Chennai Full Day Guided Tour in a Private Car: $120
- Chennai Full Day Sightseeing in a Private Car: $70
- Chennai Half Day Guided Tour in a Private Car: $100
- Chennai Heritage Trails (2 Hour Guided Walking Tour): $13
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayEphesus $15Chennai $3.08
Typical Alcohol Prices in Ephesus
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Ephesus from other travelers:
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Beer$0.12
Sample the Local Flavors in Ephesus
Also in Ephesus, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Skip-the-line Ephesus & Wine Tasting Tour From Kusadasi Port: $54
- Ephesus port tours and Wine Tasting Tours : $70
- Ephesus and Sirince with Wine tasting Private Half Day Shore Excursion: $100
- Ancient Ephesus tour with Wine Tasting in the village and visit to Mother's Mary House: $131
- Private Ephesus Tour with Wine Tasting: $134
- Full-Day Private Ephesus Tour with Wine Tasting from Kusadasi: $149
- Ephesus and Wine Tasting Tour From Kusadasi with Private Guide and Van: $218
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ephesus and Chennai, we can see that Ephesus is more expensive. And not only is Chennai much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Ephesus is in Europe and Chennai 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 Chennai would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Chennai 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 Ephesus would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Ephesus than you might in Chennai.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Ephesus Expensive? and Is Chennai Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Ephesus or Chennai?
Chennai has a larger population, and is about 70 times larger than the population of Ephesus. When comparing the sizes of Ephesus and Chennai, 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.