Which place is cheaper, Riga or Ephesus?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Ephesus or Riga?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Ephesus or Riga, 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 Riga?
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).
Riga
Riga is the vibrant capital city of Latvia. It continues to gain popularity as a tourist destination in part because it is the base for the airline Air Baltic. This affordable airline offers discount flights around Europe and most of these flights pass through Riga with a forced overnight layover. This encourages travelers to visit this fascinating city for at least a night or two.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Cultural Tours in Turkey, and The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Turkey.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayEphesus $143Riga $111
The average daily cost (per person) in Ephesus is $143, while the average daily cost in Riga is $111. 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 Riga in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personEphesus $70Riga $56
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomEphesus $140Riga $112
Compare Hotels in Ephesus and Riga
Looking for a hotel in Ephesus or Riga? 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 Riga Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Ephesus $51Riga $16
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ephesus
Also for Ephesus, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Kusadasi Cruise Port to Kusadasi Hotels: $22
- Private Transfer from Kusadasi hotels to Kusadasi Cruise Port: $22
- Private Transfer from Kusadasi Cruise Port to Kusadasi hotels: $24
- Private Transfer from Kusadasi hotels to Kusadasi Cruise Port: $24
- Kusadasi Buggy Car Safari With Free Hotel Transfer Service: $40
- Kusadasi Boat Trip With Lunch And Hotel Transfer: $40
- Kusadasi Half Day Quad Safari Experience With Free Hotel Transfer: $50
- Kusadasi Samos Ferry Trip With Free Hotel Transfer Service: $55
- Private Transfer from Kusadasi Cruise Port to Izmir Airport (ADB): $58
- Scuba Diving Experience in Kusadasi with Instructor and Transfer: $60
- Kusadasi Port Private Departure Transfer: $63
- Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport - Kusadasi Centrum (All hotels, home...) transfers: $65
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Riga
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Riga:
- Riga - Tallin: Transfer and Tour through beautiful landmarks: $487
- From Private Transfer to Tallinn with Sightseeing: $459
- From Private Transfer to Vilnius with Sightseeing: $427
- From Private Transfer to Tallinn: $342
- Transfer from Riga International Airport to Downtown: $267
- From Transfer to Tallinn with Turaida Museum Reserve: $230
- From Vilnius: One-Way Private Transfer to Riga: $182
- From Cesis and Sigulda Day Trip with Hotel Transfers: $150
- Riga Private Mercedes Benz Airport Transfer: $138
- Riga Gun Experience: Roundtrip Transfer and 4 Firearms: $131
- Riga Private Mercedes Benz Airport Transfer: $108
- Private transfer Riga - Hill of Crosses - Riga: $104
Is it cheaper to fly into Ephesus or Riga?
Prices for flights to both Riga 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 $33Riga $35
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
Typical Food Prices in Riga
Some typical examples of dining costs in Riga are as follows:
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Fast Food Lunch$6.18
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Riga
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Riga.
- Central Market Latvian Food Tour: $42
- Unique Food Tour: $52
- Medieval Guided Tour & Three-Course Dinner Experience: $96
- Riga Medieval Dinner: $114
- Private Cooking Master Class In The Latvian Family : $131
- Taste Market Tour & Cooking Masterclass: $138
- Cooking Experience with Chef: Learn & Dine: $139
- Latvian Food: Cooking Masterclass with a Chef: $152
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Ephesus $59Riga $23
Tours and Activities in Ephesus
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Ephesus.
- For Cruisers: Skip-the-line Private Free Ephesus Tour : $0.05
- Self-guided Virtual Tour of The Highlights: $6.53
- Entry Free: Drive by Ephesus and Ancient Wonder Tour: $12
- Self-guided Virtual Tour of the ancient pearl of the Mediterranean: $17
- Kusadasi Traditional Turkish Bath Hamam Experience : $17
- SKIP THE LINE :Best Seller Ephesus Private Tour For Cruiser Guest: $19
- Private & Mini Group Classical Ephesus Tour For Cruisers: $19
- Skip the Line - Best of Ephesus: $19
- Time Travel in Affordable and Spectacular Experience: $20
- Best of Ephesus Guided Tour For Cruise Guest : $20
- Kusadasi Scuba Diving Tour By Local Experts: $20
- Kusadasi Quad Safari Adventure: $20
Tours and Activities in Riga
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Riga are as follows:
- The best of Bauska walking tour: $75
- 1 Day Riga Sightseeing Red Bus Grand Tour: $27
- 2.5-Hour Riga Cruiser Bike Tour: $41
- 3-Hour Private Paintball Game Experience in Zīles: $86
- 5 Hour Shared Tour to Hill of Crosses from Riga: $82
- ATV Quad Off Road or City Tour in Riga: $142
- Beer Bike Experience : $36
- Best of Riga Walking Tour: $181
- Best of Riga Walking Tour - Highlights and Hidden Gems: $66
- City:canal:tour: $21
- Crafted Cocktails: A Masterclass Experience: $80
- Daily Bike Tour in Riga with Professional Guide: $44
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayEphesus $15Riga $21
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 Riga
Also in Riga, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Old town pub & bar crawl, hidden gems, and local party: $25
- Pub Crawl in Riga: $33
- Riga Evening Adventure: Pub Crawl & Games Night: $37
- Riga's Old Town Beer Bike Tour & Guided Pub Crawl: $37
- Riga Happy Hour Pub Crawl: $54
- Riga Beer Killer Bar Crawl: $55
- Latvian Wine Tasting & Monk Show: $75
- Old Town Sightseeing & Latvian Wine Tasting with Show: $96
- Riga Pub Crawl & Party Bus Tour: $523
- Yacht Tour with Medieval Banquet and Wine Tasting: $3,320
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ephesus and Riga, we can see that Ephesus is more expensive. And not only is Riga much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Riga would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Riga 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 Riga.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Ephesus Expensive? and Is Riga Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Ephesus or Riga?
Riga has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Ephesus. When comparing the sizes of Ephesus and Riga, 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.
When is the best time to visit Ephesus or Riga?
Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Ephesus or Riga in the Summer?
Both Riga and Ephesus during the summer are popular places to visit. Furthermore, most visitors come to Riga for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
Ephesus is much warmer than Riga in the summer. The daily temperature in Ephesus averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and Riga fluctuates around 17°C (63°F).
Ephesus usually gets less rain in July than Riga. Ephesus gets 1 mm (0 in) of rain, while Riga receives 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyEphesus 27°C (81°F)Riga 17°C (63°F)
Should I visit Ephesus or Riga in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Ephesus and Riga. Furthermore, the autumn months attract visitors to Riga because of the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
In the autumn, Ephesus is much warmer than Riga. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Ephesus in October average around 19°C (66°F), and Riga averages at about 7°C (45°F).
In October, Ephesus usually receives less rain than Riga. Ephesus gets 29 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Riga receives 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberEphesus 19°C (66°F)Riga 7°C (45°F)
Should I visit Ephesus or Riga in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Ephesus as well as Riga. Additionally, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Riga this time of year.
It's quite cold in Riga in the winter. In January, Ephesus is generally much warmer than Riga. Daily temperatures in Ephesus average around 10°C (50°F), and Riga fluctuates around -5°C (23°F).
Ephesus receives a lot of rain in the winter. Ephesus usually gets more rain in January than Riga. Ephesus gets 149 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Riga receives 33 mm (1.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryEphesus 10°C (50°F)Riga -5°C (23°F)
Should I visit Ephesus or Riga in the Spring?
Both Riga and Ephesus are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Also, many travelers come to Riga for the activities around the city and the natural beauty.
Ephesus is much warmer than Riga in the spring. The daily temperature in Ephesus averages around 15°C (59°F) in April, and Riga fluctuates around 5°C (42°F).
In April, Ephesus usually receives less rain than Riga. Ephesus gets 32 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while Riga receives 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilEphesus 15°C (59°F)Riga 5°C (42°F)
Typical Weather for Riga and Ephesus
| Ephesus | Riga | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 10°C (50°F) | 149 mm (5.9 in) | -5°C (23°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) |
| Feb | 10°C (50°F) | 103 mm (4.1 in) | -4°C (24°F) | 25 mm (1 in) |
| Mar | 12°C (53°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) | -0°C (31°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) |
| Apr | 15°C (59°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) | 5°C (42°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| May | 19°C (67°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) |
| Jun | 24°C (75°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 15°C (60°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 1 mm (0 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 1 mm (0 in) | 16°C (62°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) |
| Sep | 24°C (75°F) | 23 mm (0.9 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 76 mm (3 in) |
| Oct | 19°C (66°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| Nov | 14°C (58°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 2°C (36°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Dec | 12°C (53°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) | -2°C (28°F) | 49 mm (1.9 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.