Which place is cheaper, Mamaia or Ephesus?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Ephesus or Mamaia?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Ephesus or Mamaia, 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 Mamaia?
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).
Mamaia
The most popular beach resort in Romania, Mamaia sits on an 8-kilometer wisp of land between Lake Siutghiol and the Black Sea. With plenty of hotels, restaurants, nightclubs, and an aqua park, the resort area is a party-goer's destination with endless opportunities for fun in the sun and nighttime merriment.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Cultural Tours in Turkey, The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Turkey, The Best Tours for Seniors to Romania, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Bucharest.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayEphesus $143Mamaia $64
The average daily cost (per person) in Ephesus is $143, while the average daily cost in Mamaia is $64. 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 Mamaia in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personEphesus $70Mamaia $25
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomEphesus $140Mamaia $50
Compare Hotels in Ephesus and Mamaia
Looking for a hotel in Ephesus or Mamaia? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Ephesus $51Mamaia $27
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ephesus
Also for Ephesus, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- VIP Transfer Kusadasi From/To Bodrum Airport: $128
- Transfer izmir Adnan Menderes Airport to/from Kusadasi Davutlar: $98
- Scuba Diving Experience in Kusadasi with Instructor and Transfer: $60
- Private Transfers İzmir City or Adnan Menderes Airport to/from Kusadasi Town: $131
- Private Transfers İzmir City Adnan Menderes Apt to/from Selçuk, Ephesus, Şirince: $131
- Private Transfers From Kusadasi: $173
- Private Transfer | KUSADASI - IZMIR Airport: $120
- Private Transfer from Kusadasi hotels to Kusadasi Cruise Port: $22
- Private Transfer from Kusadasi hotels to Kusadasi Cruise Port: $24
- Private Transfer from Kusadasi Cruise Port to Kusadasi hotels: $24
- Private Transfer from Kusadasi Cruise Port to Kusadasi Hotels: $22
- Private Transfer from Kusadasi Cruise Port to Izmir Airport (ADB): $58
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Mamaia
Also for Mamaia, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Mihail Kogalniceanu Constanta to Bucharest Driver - Private Guided Transfer : $272
- Constanta to Bucharest Otopeni airport - private transfers: $251
- Cernavoda to Bucharest - Private Guided Transfer - Car and Driver: $218
- Private Transfer from Constanta to Bucarest (OTP) Airport: $174
Is it cheaper to fly into Ephesus or Mamaia?
Prices for flights to both Mamaia 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 $33Mamaia $22
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
- Ephesus Tour with Cooking Class in the Village: $149
- Taste of Traditional Turkish Cuisine | Small Group Kusadasi Food Tour: $211
- Cooking Class in Ephesus Selcuk Town: $228
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Ephesus $59Mamaia $13
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: $76
- Ephesus Tour from Kusadası Port: $44
- Ephesus small groups Tour For Cruisers (skip the line): $100
- Ephesus tours Sirince Village from Kusadasi Port with lunch: $63
- Ephesus tours and Virgin Mary's House Temple Artemis tours : $67
- 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
- "Ephesus Tours" Port Kusadasi lunch guide bus shopping Caravanserai artemis : $58
- "No Better Way to Explore History - Affordable Ephesus Tour": $30
Tours and Activities in Mamaia
For Mamaia, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Day Tour: Visit Histria Winery and Ancient Citadel: $86
- One Day Tour to Constanta (The Ancient City of Tomis): $175
- Self-Guided Labyrinth in the Rocks Tour near Silistra: $21
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayEphesus $15Mamaia $12
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: $53
- Ephesus port tours and Wine Tasting Tours : $70
- Ephesus&Sirince Village with Wine Tasting Shore Ex: $100
- 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: $130
- Private Ephesus Tour with Wine Tasting: $134
- Virgin Mary Bread and Wine Tour included Lunch: $300
Sample the Local Flavors in Mamaia
Also in Mamaia, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Unveilling the Essence: Gabai Winery's Captivating Wine Tours: $44
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ephesus and Mamaia, we can see that Ephesus is more expensive. And not only is Mamaia much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Mamaia would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Mamaia 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 Mamaia.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Ephesus Expensive? and Is Mamaia Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Ephesus or Mamaia?
Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Ephesus or Mamaia in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Ephesus and Mamaia.
Ephesus is a little warmer than Mamaia in the summer. The daily temperature in Ephesus averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and Mamaia fluctuates around 22°C (72°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Mamaia this time of the year. In Ephesus, it's very sunny this time of the year. Ephesus usually receives more sunshine than Mamaia during summer. Ephesus gets 378 hours of sunny skies, while Mamaia receives 320 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Ephesus usually receives less rain than Mamaia. Ephesus gets 1 mm (0 in) of rain, while Mamaia receives 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyEphesus 27°C (81°F)Mamaia 22°C (72°F)
Should I visit Ephesus or Mamaia in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Ephesus as well as Mamaia.
In the autumn, Ephesus is a little warmer than Mamaia. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Ephesus in October average around 19°C (66°F), and Mamaia averages at about 14°C (56°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Ephesus this time of the year. In the autumn, Ephesus often gets more sunshine than Mamaia. Ephesus gets 232 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Mamaia receives 182 hours of full sun.
Ephesus usually gets around the same amount of rain in October as Mamaia. Ephesus gets 29 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Mamaia receives 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberEphesus 19°C (66°F)Mamaia 14°C (56°F)
Should I visit Ephesus or Mamaia in the Winter?
Both Mamaia and Ephesus are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities.
It's quite cold in Mamaia in the winter. In January, Ephesus is generally much warmer than Mamaia. Daily temperatures in Ephesus average around 10°C (50°F), and Mamaia fluctuates around 1°C (33°F).
Ephesus usually receives more sunshine than Mamaia during winter. Ephesus gets 131 hours of sunny skies, while Mamaia receives 83 hours of full sun in the winter.
It's quite rainy in Ephesus. In January, Ephesus usually receives more rain than Mamaia. Ephesus gets 149 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Mamaia receives 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryEphesus 10°C (50°F)Mamaia 1°C (33°F)
Should I visit Ephesus or Mamaia in the Spring?
Both Mamaia and Ephesus during the spring are popular places to visit.
Ephesus is a little warmer than Mamaia in the spring. The daily temperature in Ephesus averages around 15°C (59°F) in April, and Mamaia fluctuates around 10°C (51°F).
It's quite sunny in Ephesus. In the spring, Ephesus often gets more sunshine than Mamaia. Ephesus gets 231 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Mamaia receives 180 hours of full sun.
Ephesus usually gets around the same amount of rain in April as Mamaia. Ephesus gets 32 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while Mamaia receives 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilEphesus 15°C (59°F)Mamaia 10°C (51°F)
Typical Weather for Mamaia and Ephesus
| Ephesus | Mamaia | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 10°C (50°F) | 149 mm (5.9 in) | 1°C (33°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Feb | 10°C (50°F) | 103 mm (4.1 in) | 2°C (36°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) |
| Mar | 12°C (53°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 26 mm (1 in) |
| Apr | 15°C (59°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) | 10°C (51°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| May | 19°C (67°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) |
| Jun | 24°C (75°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 1 mm (0 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 1 mm (0 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) |
| Sep | 24°C (75°F) | 23 mm (0.9 in) | 19°C (65°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) |
| Oct | 19°C (66°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) | 14°C (56°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) |
| Nov | 14°C (58°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 8°C (47°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) |
| Dec | 12°C (53°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) | 4°C (38°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) |
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.