Which place is cheaper, Pompeii or Ephesus?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Ephesus or Pompeii?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Ephesus or Pompeii, 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 Pompeii?
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).
Pompeii
Pompeii was once a 160-acre Roman port city, called home by more than 20,000 residents. In 79 A.D., Mount Vesuvius erupted and after burying the entire city 16 feet deep in ash, the debris destroyed everything in its path, killing thousands of people and affecting more than 200 square miles around the area.
However, the phenomenon is that the ash preserved everything as it was in that time and to this day, you can visit and observe life as it was nearly two thousand years ago, as figures of people running from the explosion have been burned permanently into history.
The best time to visit Pompeii is during spring, after the rains of March and before the scorching heat of June and July. On the downside, this is the beginning of the busy season for tourists, so while you'll enjoy pleasant weather, you won't be likely to avoid crowds. Conversely, November starts the low-season for travel, so you can easily skip the crowds, though you may have to compromise on weather, as the rains return this time of year. Rain and crowds won't be an issue if you visit during winter, but be warned, temperatures drop down to the 50's during the day, accompanied by winds.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Cultural Tours in Turkey, The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Turkey, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Italy, and The Best Walking Tours in Italy.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayEphesus $143Pompeii $161
The average daily cost (per person) in Ephesus is $143, while the average daily cost in Pompeii is $161. 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 Pompeii in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personEphesus $70Pompeii $75
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomEphesus $140Pompeii $150
Compare Hotels in Ephesus and Pompeii
Looking for a hotel in Ephesus or Pompeii? 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 Pompeii Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Ephesus $51Pompeii $57
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 Pompeii
Also for Pompeii, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer Private from Ravello to Naples: $239
- Transfers Ravello - Naples: $207
- Organic Wine Tasting & Lunch on Vesuvius with Transfer from Pompeii: $132
- Private transfer Ravello to Naples: $121
- Transfer Ravello to Naples: $121
- Private transfer from Ravello to Naples: $121
- Small Group Pompeii Wine Tasting with Lunch & Transfer Included : $97
- Transfers from Naples to Sorrento Positano Amalfi Ravello Maiori: $97
- Transfer from Pompeii to Naples or viceversa: $66
Is it cheaper to fly into Ephesus or Pompeii?
Prices for flights to both Pompeii 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 $33Pompeii $38
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
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Pompeii
For Pompeii, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Traditional Neapolitan Dinner in Pompei - Villa Franca - Family Restourant: $38
- Cooking Class with Italian Mamma in Pompeii: $65
- Lunch or dinner and cooking demo at a local home in Pompei: $93
- Pompei tour with a 2000 years roman dinner: $112
- Small Group Market tour and Cooking class in Pompei: $142
- Private Pizza & Tiramisu Class at a Cesarina's home with tasting in Pompei: $158
- Private Cooking Class with Lunch or Dinner in Pompei: $158
- Private market tour and cooking class with lunch or dinner in Pompei: $206
- guided tour of the ruins and cooking class fresh pasta : $272
- Cooking class: Pasta Experience in Pompei, Italy: $300
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Ephesus $59Pompeii $82
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 Pompeii
For Pompeii, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Pompeii Archeological Site Fast Track Entry Ticket : $36
- Pompeii Day Tour: $97
- 2 Hour Private Walking Tour with Certified Guide in Pompeii: $251
- 2 Hours Private Tour of Pompeii for Journey Through Time: $196
- 2 Hours Walking Tour in Pompeii with an Archaeologist: $272
- 2 days tour: Pompei & Naples center with underground: $207
- 2 hours Pompeii Tour with local historian - ticket included: $60
- 2-hour Private Guided Tour of Pompeii: $272
- Best of Pompeii - 2 hour Private Tour with Alex: $271
- Complete Pompeii Skip the Line Tour with Archaeologist Guide: $55
- Discover Pompeii on this Guided Walking Tour of the Buried City: $63
- Discover hidden secrets of Pompei on a Private tour with a local: $118
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayEphesus $15Pompeii $7.84
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 Pompeii
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Pompeii:
- Wine Tasting Tour on the Slopes of Vesuvius: $46
- Wine Tasting on Mt. Vesuvius: $55
- Seafood Lunch with Wine Tasting & Tour on a golf cart: $87
- Guided Tour of Pompeii Ruins with Lunch and Wine Tasting: $98
- Private Wine Tour and Tasting in Pompeii with a Local: $124
- Pompeii Guided Tour & Horse Riding on Vesuvius with Wine Tasting: $191
- Pompeii, Herculaneum and scenic drive of the Mt. Vesuvius with wine tasting: $207
When comparing the travel costs between Ephesus and Pompeii, we can see that Pompeii is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Europe, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Ephesus Expensive? and Is Pompeii Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Ephesus or Pompeii?
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 Pompeii in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Ephesus and Pompeii. Furthermore, the summer months attract visitors to Pompeii because of the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Ephesus is a little warmer than Pompeii. Typically, the summer temperatures in Ephesus in July average around 27°C (81°F), and Pompeii averages at about 23°C (74°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Pompeii this time of the year. In Ephesus, it's very sunny this time of the year. Ephesus usually receives more sunshine than Pompeii during summer. Ephesus gets 378 hours of sunny skies, while Pompeii receives 313 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Ephesus usually receives less rain than Pompeii. Ephesus gets 1 mm (0 in) of rain, while Pompeii receives 26 mm (1 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyEphesus 27°C (81°F)Pompeii 23°C (74°F)
Should I visit Ephesus or Pompeii in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Ephesus as well as Pompeii.
In October, Ephesus is generally a little warmer than Pompeii. Daily temperatures in Ephesus average around 19°C (66°F), and Pompeii fluctuates around 17°C (63°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 Pompeii. Ephesus gets 232 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Pompeii receives 189 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Pompeii. Ephesus usually gets less rain in October than Pompeii. Ephesus gets 29 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Pompeii receives 132 mm (5.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberEphesus 19°C (66°F)Pompeii 17°C (63°F)
Should I visit Ephesus or Pompeii in the Winter?
Both Pompeii and Ephesus are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Also, many travelers come to Pompeii for the museums.
Ephesus is a little warmer than Pompeii in the winter. The daily temperature in Ephesus averages around 10°C (50°F) in January, and Pompeii fluctuates around 8°C (47°F).
Ephesus usually receives more sunshine than Pompeii during winter. Ephesus gets 131 hours of sunny skies, while Pompeii receives 115 hours of full sun in the winter.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Pompeii. It's quite rainy in Ephesus. In January, Ephesus usually receives more rain than Pompeii. Ephesus gets 149 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Pompeii receives 111 mm (4.4 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryEphesus 10°C (50°F)Pompeii 8°C (47°F)
Should I visit Ephesus or Pompeii in the Spring?
Both Pompeii and Ephesus during the spring are popular places to visit.
In the spring, Ephesus is a little warmer than Pompeii. Typically, the spring temperatures in Ephesus in April average around 15°C (59°F), and Pompeii averages at about 13°C (55°F).
It's quite sunny in Ephesus. In the spring, Ephesus often gets more sunshine than Pompeii. Ephesus gets 231 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Pompeii receives 189 hours of full sun.
Ephesus usually gets less rain in April than Pompeii. Ephesus gets 32 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while Pompeii receives 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilEphesus 15°C (59°F)Pompeii 13°C (55°F)
Typical Weather for Pompeii and Ephesus
| Ephesus | Pompeii | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 10°C (50°F) | 149 mm (5.9 in) | 8°C (47°F) | 111 mm (4.4 in) |
| Feb | 10°C (50°F) | 103 mm (4.1 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 99 mm (3.9 in) |
| Mar | 12°C (53°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 88 mm (3.5 in) |
| Apr | 15°C (59°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) |
| May | 19°C (67°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 52 mm (2.1 in) |
| Jun | 24°C (75°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 1 mm (0 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 26 mm (1 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 1 mm (0 in) | 24°C (74°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) |
| Sep | 24°C (75°F) | 23 mm (0.9 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) |
| Oct | 19°C (66°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) |
| Nov | 14°C (58°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 161 mm (6.3 in) |
| Dec | 12°C (53°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) | 9°C (49°F) | 118 mm (4.6 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.