A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Ios vs. Bodrum for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Ios or Bodrum?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Ios or Bodrum? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Where Should I go: Ios or Bodrum?

Ios

Ios is an island in the south of Greece, located in the Cyclades group of islands in the Mediterranean Sea. It is a peaceful beach getaway by day, and a lively party scene by night. While its main town is the hub for nightlife, it is also a charming place during the day, typical of a traditional Greek village with shops and cafes against a backdrop of whitewashed buildings and turquoise waters.

Bodrum

Bodrum is a city on the Bodrum Peninsula, stretching from Turkey's southwest coast into the Aegean Sea. The city features twin bays with views of Bodrum Castle. This medieval fortress was built partly with stones from the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, completed in the 4th century B.C. The city is also a gateway for nearby beach towns and resorts. Although more than a million tourists flock to its beaches, boutique hotels, trendy restaurants, and clubs each summer, the town of Bodrum (ancient Halicarnassus) never seems to lose its cool. More than any other Turkish seaside getaway, it has an enigmatic elegance that pervades it. The evocative castle and the ancient ruins around town also help keep Bodrum a discerning step above the rest.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Greece, The Best 3-Day Tours in Greece, The Best Anzac Day Tours in Turkey, and The Best Coach Bus Tours in Turkey.


Which place is cheaper, Bodrum or Ios?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Ios is €91, while the average daily cost in Bodrum is €87. 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 Ios and Bodrum in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Ios 39
    Bodrum 45
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Ios 78
    Bodrum 90
Compare Hotels in Ios and Bodrum

Looking for a hotel in Ios or Bodrum? 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.

Hotels in Ios


Hotels in Bodrum


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: Ios Hotel Prices and Bodrum Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Ios 16
    Bodrum 22

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ios

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ios:

  • 1-Way Private Helicopter Transfer to the Greek Islands: $2,417

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bodrum

Also for Bodrum, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Bodrum to Bodrum Milas Airport (BJV) - Departure Private Transfer: $19
  • İzmir Airport - Kuşadası / İzmir Center : Private Transfer: $24
  • Bodrum to Bodrum Milas Airport (BJV) - Departure Private Transfer: $25
  • Boat Cruise with Lunch and Optional Hotel Transfer: $27
  • From Ferry Transfer to Kos: $27
  • Turkish Bath and Spa Expereince with Hotel Transfers: $30
  • From Private Village Tour with Lunch and Transfers: $34
  • Bodrum Traditional Turkish Bath Experience With Hotel Transfer: $35
  • Independent Day Trip to Kos Island from Bodrum with Transfers: $36
  • Bodrum Milas Airport (BJV) to Bodrum Round-Trip Private Transfer: $37
  • From Kos: A day ride to Bodrum with comfortable transfer: $39
  • Bodrum Quad Safari Tour With Free Hotel Transfer By Locals: $40

Is it cheaper to fly into Ios or Bodrum?

Prices for flights to both Bodrum and Ios 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Ios 33
    Bodrum 23

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bodrum

For Bodrum, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Cooking Class in Authentic Etrim Village: $44
  • Christmas Dinner at Karnas Vineyards: $104
  • Farmers Market visit & Turkish Cooking Class: $125
  • Bodrum Market Visit and Cooking Class: $128
  • Bodrum Vineyard Tour with Dinner and Wine Pairing: $128
  • Food and Wine pairing Dinner at Karnas Vineyards Bodrum: $131
  • Bodrum Cooking Class: $174
  • Private Sunset Boat Tour in Bodrum With Dinner: $221
  • Shore Excursions - Istanbul by Night: Turkish Food Tour: $252
  • Private Vineyard Tour with Dinner Under the Stars in Karnas: $291
  • From Private Sunset Boat Tour with Dinner & Swimming: $320
  • Private Sunset Boat Tour with Dinner: $368

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Ios 26
    Bodrum 29

Tours and Activities in Ios

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Ios are as follows:

  • 5 -6 Hour Private Chora E-Bike Tours: $131
  • Electric Bike Tour Chora to Diaseli Cheesery: $109
  • Electric Bike Tour Chora to Homer's Tomp: $109
  • From RIB Boat Trip to Sikinos Island and Winery Tour: $84
  • Ios Island Trekking Tours: Discover Ios Unexplored: $27
  • Ios Island: Speedboat Cruise from Mylopotas Beach: $52
  • 4-Hour Cruise of the Best Beaches: $63
  • Private Orienteering Experience in Mylopotas: $163

Tours and Activities in Bodrum

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Bodrum.

  • Muğla: Quick Tour, Essentials of Muğla: $6.00
  • Daily Boat Tour (Orak Island) around Bodrum and Black Island Coves : $19
  • Beaches and Islands Boat Tour with Lunch: $20
  • Orak Island Boat Tour with Swim Stops and Lunch: $24
  • Orakadasi Boat Tour From Bodrum (Maldives of Turkey) With Lunch: $25
  • Bodrum Black island Tour: $26
  • Bodrum Village Tour with Group: $26
  • Blue cruise around Bodrum bays: $28
  • Black Island Boat Tour with Lunch: $30
  • Turkish Bath Experience: $31
  • Boat Tour for Mein Schiff Cruise Passengers: $32
  • Half Day Guided Knidos Ancient City Tour: $35

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Ios 33
    Bodrum 13

Sample the Local Flavors in Ios

Also in Ios, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Bar Crawl Ios Ticket in Cyclades: $38


When comparing the travel costs between Ios and Bodrum, we can see that Ios 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 Ios Expensive? and Is Bodrum Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Ios or Bodrum?

Bodrum has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Ios. When comparing the sizes of Ios and Bodrum, 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.