Which place is cheaper, Rome or Ephesus?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Ephesus or Rome?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Ephesus or Rome, 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 Rome?
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).
Rome
Rome is the capital and largest city in Italy. It is also a common entry point for most visitors flying into the country. Rome has been a center of power, culture, and religion for the last millenium, making it one of the most famous and popular destinations in not only Europe, but the world. The influence of the Roman Empire can be seen across continents.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Cultural Tours in Turkey, The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Turkey, The Best Luxury Tours to Italy, and The Best Budget Tours to Italy.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayEphesus $143Rome $182
The average daily cost (per person) in Ephesus is $143, while the average daily cost in Rome is $182. 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 Rome in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personEphesus $70Rome $95
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomEphesus $140Rome $190
Compare Hotels in Ephesus and Rome
Looking for a hotel in Ephesus or Rome? 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 Rome Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Ephesus $51Rome $23
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ephesus
Also for Ephesus, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Akbuk Hotels to Izmir Airport ADB Transfers: $164
- Didim (Altinkum) Hotels to Bodrum Airport BJV Transfers: $115
- Ephesus Private Guided Tour with Lunch and Transfers: $80
- From-to Izmir AirPort to-from Kusadası Private Airport Transfer: $75
- Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport (ADB) Transfer to OR from Kusadasi: $100
- Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport - Kusadasi Centrum (All hotels, home...) transfers: $65
- Kusadasi Boat Trip With Lunch And Hotel Transfer: $40
- Kusadasi Buggy Car Safari With Free Hotel Transfer Service: $40
- Kusadasi Half Day Quad Safari Experience With Free Hotel Transfer: $50
- Kusadasi Hotels to Bodrum Airport BJV Transfers: $169
- Kusadasi Hotels to Izmir Airport ADB Transfers: $93
- Kusadasi International Golf Hotels to Izmir Airport ADB Transfers: $93
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Rome
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Rome:
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Metro Ride (for Two)$2.14
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Train to the Airport$16
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Taxi to Airport$48
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Bicycle Rental (Full Day)$11
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Rome
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Rome:
- Trieste Port: One-Way Private Transfer to/from Rome Hotels: $2,535
- Fiumucino Rome Airport (FCO): 1-Way Transfer To Trieste Port: $2,535
- Rome Airport (FCO): Transfer to/from Venice Port: $2,007
- Luxury Private Transfer Siena to Rome Fiumicino Airport: $973
- Private luxury transfer Siena to Rome city center: $936
- Luxury private transfer Siena to Rome Ciampino airport: $936
- Private Transfer from Amalfi to Rome or viceversa: $839
- From Sorrento: Private Transfer to Rome or Vice Versa: $813
- Verona Airport (VRN) : One-Way Private Transfer to Ravenna: $706
- Sorrento to Rome 1-Way Private Transfer: $663
- Private Transfer from Naples to Rome or viceversa: $620
- From Private Transfer to Naples or Vice Versa: $588
Is it cheaper to fly into Ephesus or Rome?
Prices for flights to both Rome 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 $33Rome $51
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 Rome
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Rome:
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Casual Lunch (for Two)$15
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4 Ice Cream Sandwiches$3.20
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Cafe e doce$4.29
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Pizza (Fast Food)$2.84
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Sitdown Lunch (for Two)$34
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Cheese and bread$11
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Espresso$2.14
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Dinner$62
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Rome
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Rome.
- Award-Winning Roman Food Tours: $16
- Tipsy Food Crawl Walking Tour with Dinner: $31
- Vatican and Trionfale Farmers Market Food tour and Wine tasting : $32
- Food Tour of the Vatican with Farmers Market and Wine Tasting: $32
- Rome Food Tour with Wine Tasting and Farmers Market in Prati Area: $32
- Guided Food Tour with Food and Drink Tastings: $33
- Roman Master Chef Cooking Class with Wine: $36
- Roman Dinner & History Tour: An Epic Journey Through Time: $37
- Painting & Pizza Party with Unlimited Wine: $40
- Campo dei Fiori & Jewish Ghetto area Street Food Tour: $42
- Rome Food Tour : Street Food Testings with Local Guide: $43
- Wine Tasting and Food Tour at Vatican and Trionfale Farmers: $43
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Ephesus $59Rome $39
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
Typical Entertainment Prices in Rome
Here are a few typical costs in Rome for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Rome Museum Vaticano (for 2)$74
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Coliseum Tickets (for Two)$35
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Roma Pass$32
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Hop on Hop Off Bus (All Day)$21
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Segway Tour$80
Tours and Activities in Rome
Here are a few actual costs in Rome for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Appian Way and Aqueducts Electric Bike Tour: $82
- Castel Sant Angelo Skip the Line Tickets: $39
- Colosseum Arena Floor Guided Tour with Ancient Rome Access : $195
- Colosseum Gladiator Arena Floor Complete Guided Tour : $206
- Colosseum Tour With Kids: $195
- Colosseum and Ancient Rome Tour with Circus Maximus and Forums: $16
- Colosseum, Forum and Palatine Hill Professional Guided Tour: $161
- Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill Tour: $184
- Complete St Peters Basilica Tour with Dome Climb and Crypt: $43
- Cruise into Rome?! Full-Day Rome Discovery from Civitavecchia : $96
- Fast Track Colosseum with Arena and afternoon Vatican Museums Tour: $191
- Golf Cart Driving Tour: Rome City Highlights in 2.5 hrs: $104
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayEphesus $15Rome $19
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
Typical Alcohol Prices in Rome
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Rome:
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Bottle of Wine$6.96
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Pint of Beer$6.79
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Beer$11
Sample the Local Flavors in Rome
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Rome:
- Trionfale and Prati Food and Wine Tasting Tour: $31
- Trionfale Farmers Market and Vatican Quarter Food and Wine Tour: $32
- Vatican Food and Wine Tasting Tour next to the Sistine Chapel: $32
- Cabaret & Burlesque Show: $32
- Vatican Quarter and Trionfale Farmers Market Food and Wine Tour: $43
- Bar Crawl with Local Guide & Drinks: $52
- Tipsy Tour: Fun Bar Crawl In Rome With Local Guide : $53
- Wine Tour in Historic Center of Rome: $55
- Frascati Wine Tasting Experience & Vineyards Tour : $61
- Pasta Making Class & Wine Tasting in a Trasteve Villa: $68
- E-Bike Night Tour with Food and Wine Tasting: $68
- Private Wine Tasting in Trastevere: $71
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ephesus and Rome, we can see that Rome is more expensive. And not only is Ephesus much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Ephesus would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Ephesus 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 Rome would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Rome than you might in Ephesus.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Ephesus Expensive? and Is Rome Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Ephesus or Rome?
Rome has a larger population, and is about 40 times larger than the population of Ephesus. When comparing the sizes of Ephesus and Rome, 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 Rome?
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 Rome in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Ephesus as well as Rome. Additionally, many travelers come to Rome for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Ephesus is around the same temperature as Rome. Typically, the summer temperatures in Ephesus in July average around 27°C (81°F), and Rome averages at about 25°C (77°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Rome. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Ephesus this time of the year. In the summer, Ephesus often gets more sunshine than Rome. Ephesus gets 378 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Rome receives 338 hours of full sun.
Ephesus usually gets less rain in July than Rome. Ephesus gets 1 mm (0 in) of rain, while Rome receives 19 mm (0.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyEphesus 27°C (81°F)Rome 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Ephesus or Rome in the Autumn?
Both Rome and Ephesus are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Also, many visitors come to Rome in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
In October, Ephesus is generally around the same temperature as Rome. Daily temperatures in Ephesus average around 19°C (66°F), and Rome fluctuates around 17°C (63°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Ephesus. Ephesus usually receives more sunshine than Rome during autumn. Ephesus gets 232 hours of sunny skies, while Rome receives 198 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Ephesus usually receives less rain than Rome. Ephesus gets 29 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Rome receives 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberEphesus 19°C (66°F)Rome 17°C (63°F)
Should I visit Ephesus or Rome in the Winter?
Both Rome and Ephesus during the winter are popular places to visit. Also, most visitors come to Rome for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.
Ephesus is a little warmer than Rome in the winter. The daily temperature in Ephesus averages around 10°C (50°F) in January, and Rome fluctuates around 8°C (47°F).
In the winter, Ephesus often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Rome. Ephesus gets 131 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Rome receives 127 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Ephesus. Ephesus usually gets more rain in January than Rome. Ephesus gets 149 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Rome receives 81 mm (3.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryEphesus 10°C (50°F)Rome 8°C (47°F)
Should I visit Ephesus or Rome in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Ephesus and Rome. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Rome because of the activities around the city and the natural beauty.
In the spring, Ephesus is a little warmer than Rome. Typically, the spring temperatures in Ephesus in April average around 15°C (59°F), and Rome averages at about 14°C (57°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Rome this time of the year. In Ephesus, it's very sunny this time of the year. Ephesus usually receives more sunshine than Rome during spring. Ephesus gets 231 hours of sunny skies, while Rome receives 204 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Ephesus usually receives less rain than Rome. Ephesus gets 32 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while Rome receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilEphesus 15°C (59°F)Rome 14°C (57°F)
Typical Weather for Rome and Ephesus
| Ephesus | Rome | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 10°C (50°F) | 149 mm (5.9 in) | 8°C (47°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Feb | 10°C (50°F) | 103 mm (4.1 in) | 9°C (49°F) | 76 mm (3 in) |
| Mar | 12°C (53°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) |
| Apr | 15°C (59°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| May | 19°C (67°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 42 mm (1.6 in) |
| Jun | 24°C (75°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 1 mm (0 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 19 mm (0.7 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 1 mm (0 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) |
| Sep | 24°C (75°F) | 23 mm (0.9 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) |
| Oct | 19°C (66°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) |
| Nov | 14°C (58°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 105 mm (4.1 in) |
| Dec | 12°C (53°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) | 9°C (49°F) | 94 mm (3.7 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.