Which place is cheaper, Accra or Istanbul?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Istanbul or Accra?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Istanbul or Accra, 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: Istanbul or Accra?
Istanbul
Istanbul is strategically located on the Bosphorus and is split between Europe and Asia. It truly is a city where east meets west. Istanbul is the cultural and financial hub of Turkey, and also the most populous city. The sites are countless and there's something for everybody, whether you're interested in art, music, food, or adventure. You can pass many days exploring both the residential and commercial pockets of this city. Much of the appeal is hidden away along back alleys or within corner shops.
Accra
Accra is the capital city of Ghana, located on the Atlantic coast of West Africa. Popular attractions include the National Museum of Ghana, local beaches, markets, and cultural landmarks like those dedicated to Civil Rights activist W.E.B. DuBois.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Turkey, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Turkey, The Best 10-Day Tours in Ghana, and The Best Adventure Tours to Ghana.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayIstanbul $126Accra $37
The average daily cost (per person) in Istanbul is $126, while the average daily cost in Accra is $37. 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 Istanbul and Accra in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personIstanbul $47Accra $19
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomIstanbul $94Accra $38
Compare Hotels in Istanbul and Accra
Looking for a hotel in Istanbul or Accra? 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: Istanbul Hotel Prices and Accra Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Istanbul $55Accra $16
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Istanbul
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Istanbul are as follows:
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Ferry$0.09
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Local Bus$0.09
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Istanbul
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Istanbul:
- Princes' Islands Tour with Lunch and Transfers: $13
- Istanbul City to Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen Airport (SAW)-Departure Private Transfer: $20
- Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen Airport (SAW) to City Center - Arrival Private Transfer: $20
- Airport - Otel Transfer and City Tours: $20
- Private One-Way New Istanbul Airport Transfer To/From Istanbul: $21
- Istanbul Ataturk Airport (ISL) to Istanbul hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $22
- Istanbul Hotels to Istanbul Ataturk Airport (ISL) - Departure Private Transfer: $22
- Istanbul Airport (SAW) to Istanbul - Arrival Private Transfer: $22
- Istanbul to Istanbul Airport (SAW) - Departure Private Transfer: $22
- Princes' Islands Cruise with Lunch and Transfer Full-Day Tour: $23
- Princes' Islands Cruise w/Music, Lunch & Transfer: $24
- Private SAW Airport Arrival or Departure Transfer: $25
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Accra
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Accra:
- Accra Airport Hotel City Transfers: $58
- Arrival Transfer From Accra Airport To Hotel: $100
- Private Transfer from Kotoka Airport Accra Ghana (ACC) to Accra city: $109
- Kotoka Airport Exclusive Wheelchair Accessible Transfers!: $115
- Kotoka Airport Exclusive Wheelchair Accessible Transfers!: $130
Is it cheaper to fly into Istanbul or Accra?
Prices for flights to both Accra and Istanbul 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 dayIstanbul $31Accra $9.28
Typical Food Prices in Istanbul
Some typical examples of dining costs in Istanbul are as follows:
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Juice$0.06
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Turkish Delight$0.02
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Dessert$0.26
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Pastries$0.05
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Istanbul
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Istanbul.
- Bosphorus Dinner Cruise with Turkish Night Show from Istanbul: $16
- Istanbul Bosphorus Dinner Cruise Turkish Night Show All inclusive: $16
- Dinner Cruise and Entertainment with Private Table: $17
- Bosphorus Dinner Cruise Tour With Turkish Night Show: $21
- Bosphorus Dinner Cruise , Unlimited Drinks, & Show: $22
- Bosphorus Luxury Catamaran Cruise with Dinner Show: $25
- Bosphorus Dinner Cruise and Turkish Night Show: $26
- Istanbul Bosphorus Cruise with All inclusive Dinner and Belly-Dancer Show : $27
- Bosphorus Boat Cruise with Dinner & Entertainment: $27
- Istanbul Bosphorus Dinner Cruise with Unlimited Drinks and Shows: $28
- Dinner Cruise Bosphorus with Hotel Transfer: $28
- 3 Hour Ottoman Dinner Cruise in Istanbul : $29
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Accra
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Accra.
- Private Ghanaian Cuisine Cooking Class: $40
- Local Ghanaian Cooking Class in Accra to help support wellness community center: $45
- Cooking Class: $75
- Flavors of Ghana: Food Tour Experience.: $78
- Authentic Ghanaian Cooking Lessons: $80
- Home Cooking Class by Auntie K: $89
- Cooking Class with Auntie KK in Osu: $89
- Ghanaian Cooking Class Authentic Tour: $100
- Savor & Learn: Authentic Ghanaian Cooking Experience: $128
- Quad Biking, Landmark Tours and Dinner in Aburi: $204
- Ghanaian Local Foods Cooking Class: $216
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Istanbul $79Accra $3.32
Typical Entertainment Prices in Istanbul
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Istanbul are as follows:
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Bosphurus Boat (for 2)$0.62
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Yerebatan Cistern for Two$0.62
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Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts for Two$0.31
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Hagia Sofia entrance$0.93
Tours and Activities in Istanbul
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Istanbul are as follows:
- App self-guided tours Istanbul with multilingual audioguide: $2.15
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.23
- Highlights Self Guided Scavenger Hunt & Tour: $5.38
- City Tour with Audio Guide in your smartphone: $5.38
- Hagia Sophia Exclusive Digital Audio Guided Tour: $5.38
- City Exploration Game and Tour: $6.46
- Istanbul Outdoor Escape Game: The Royal Adventure: $7.09
- Daytime or Sunset Sightseeing Cruise & Audio Guide: $8.12
- Guided Boat Tour on the Bosphorus: $8.44
- Bosphorus Sightseeing Cruise with Audio Guide: $9.69
- Self Guided Virtual Tour of Hagia Sophia The Highlights: $9.82
- Hagia Sophia & Hippdrome Tour with Local Expert: $11
Tours and Activities in Accra
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Accra are as follows:
- Quabus Accra City Tour : $20
- Makola Market Walking Tour: $41
- Makola Market Walking Tour: $58
- 1 Day Accra City Tour: $71
- Accra Central: Street Food Walking Tour with Akosua Serwaa: $72
- Walking Tour of Accra: $75
- Accra City Tour Experience: $75
- Experience Ghana in a Tailored Accra City Tour.: $79
- Accra Detailed City Tour: $80
- Experience the Beauty, History and the Culture Of Accra in a Day: $80
- Accra City Tour Experience: $80
- The Agbogbloshie (Accra E-waste and Recycling experience) Private Tour: $85
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayIstanbul $15Accra $4.76
Sample the Local Flavors in Istanbul
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Istanbul:
- Istanbul 7-Hour Pub Crawl: Big Night Out: $27
- Party Pub Crawl with Party Bus: $29
- Wine Tasting Experience in Istanbul : $50
- Istanbul Wine Tasting at Home with Local Family: $84
- 2-Day Wine Tasting Tour along the Thracian Wine Route: $180
- Istanbul Private Wine Tasting Tour Through 3 City Wineries : $246
- Istanbul Private and Guided, Food and Wine Tasting Tour: $430
- Luxury Wine Tasting on a Private Yacht: $849
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Istanbul and Accra, we can see that Istanbul is more expensive. And not only is Accra much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Istanbul is in Europe and Accra is in Africa, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Accra would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Accra 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 Istanbul would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Istanbul than you might in Accra.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Istanbul Expensive? and Is Accra Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Istanbul or Accra?
Istanbul has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Accra. When comparing the sizes of Istanbul and Accra, 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 Istanbul or Accra?
Istanbul has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Accra experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Istanbul or Accra in the Summer?
Both Accra and Istanbul are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The summer months attract visitors to Istanbul because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences. Plenty of visitors come to Accra because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In the summer, Istanbul is around the same temperature as Accra. Typically, the summer temperatures in Istanbul in July average around 24°C (74°F), and Accra averages at about 25°C (77°F).
In July, Istanbul usually receives less rain than Accra. Istanbul gets 19 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Accra receives 86 mm (3.4 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyIstanbul 24°C (74°F)Accra 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Istanbul or Accra in the Autumn?
Both Accra and Istanbul during the autumn are popular places to visit. The city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Istanbul this time of year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Accra year-round.
In October, Istanbul is generally much colder than Accra. Daily temperatures in Istanbul average around 16°C (61°F), and Accra fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
Istanbul usually gets more rain in October than Accra. Istanbul gets 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Accra receives 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberIstanbul 16°C (61°F)Accra 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Istanbul or Accra in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Istanbul and Accra. Many travelers come to Istanbul for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Accra attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Istanbul is much colder than Accra in the winter. The daily temperature in Istanbul averages around 6°C (43°F) in January, and Accra fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
In January, Istanbul usually receives more rain than Accra. Istanbul gets 99 mm (3.9 in) of rain, while Accra receives 18 mm (0.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryIstanbul 6°C (43°F)Accra 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Istanbul or Accra in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Istanbul as well as Accra. Many visitors come to Istanbul in the spring for the activities around the city and the natural beauty. The warm climate attracts visitors to Accra throughout the year.
In the spring, Istanbul is much colder than Accra. Typically, the spring temperatures in Istanbul in April average around 13°C (55°F), and Accra averages at about 28°C (82°F).
It's quite rainy in Accra. Istanbul usually gets less rain in April than Accra. Istanbul gets 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Accra receives 117 mm (4.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilIstanbul 13°C (55°F)Accra 28°C (82°F)
Typical Weather for Accra and Istanbul
| Istanbul | Accra | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 6°C (43°F) | 99 mm (3.9 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) |
| Feb | 6°C (44°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Mar | 8°C (47°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Apr | 13°C (55°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 117 mm (4.6 in) |
| May | 17°C (63°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| Jun | 21°C (71°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 281 mm (11.1 in) |
| Jul | 24°C (74°F) | 19 mm (0.7 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) |
| Aug | 24°C (74°F) | 26 mm (1 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) |
| Sep | 20°C (69°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) |
| Oct | 16°C (61°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| Nov | 12°C (54°F) | 89 mm (3.5 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) |
| Dec | 9°C (47°F) | 122 mm (4.8 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 20 mm (0.8 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.