Which place is cheaper, Amritsar or Istanbul?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Istanbul or Amritsar?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Istanbul or Amritsar, 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 Amritsar?
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.
Amritsar
Amritsar is a holy city of the Sikh religion, named "holy pool of nectar" for the pool around the base of the Golden Temple complex. This complex is the city's main attraction, bringing pilgrims from all over to bathe in the waters of the sacred pool and visit the sacred temple.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Turkey, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Turkey, The Best Food and Culinary Tours in India, and The Best Photography Tours in India.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayIstanbul $126Amritsar $54
The average daily cost (per person) in Istanbul is $126, while the average daily cost in Amritsar is $54. 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 Amritsar in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personIstanbul $47Amritsar $23
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomIstanbul $94Amritsar $46
Compare Hotels in Istanbul and Amritsar
Looking for a hotel in Istanbul or Amritsar? 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 Amritsar Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Istanbul $55Amritsar $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:
- Istanbul Airport Transfer by Private Minivan + Meet & Greet Service: $85
- Private Airport Transfer in Istanbul: $109
- Saw Sabiha Gokcen Airport Transfers for Old City & Taksim Hotels: $55
- 1-Way Private Transfer to/from Sabiha Gokcen Airport: $75
- Airport - Otel Transfer and City Tours: $20
- Airport Istanbul Private Transfer IST or SAW Airport : $34
- Arrival & Departure Private Transfer in Istanbul: $43
- Arrival Private Transfer IST or SAW Airport to Istambul, Levent or Taksim by Bus: $65
- Arrival Private Transfer: New Airport IST to Istanbul in Luxury Van: $70
- Bursa Uludağ Mountain Tour From Istanbul w/Lunch & Hotel Transfer: $35
- CARPEDIEM : SABIHA GOKCEN AIRPORT LUXURY TRANSFER (Arrival/Departure): $45
- Daily Green Bursa Tour with Cable Car & Transfer from Istanbul: $73
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Amritsar
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Amritsar:
- Affordable Amritsar airport transfer: $11
- Amritsar Airport Transfer: $12
- From Amritsar Airport Transfer: $28
- Airport/Hotel Transfer to Chandigarh Airport/Hotel: $71
- Chandigarh to Amritsar Transfer: $71
- Amritsar to Dharamshala Tour (One Way Transfer): $98
- Private Wagah Border Drama and the Golden Temple with Transfer: $151
Is it cheaper to fly into Istanbul or Amritsar?
Prices for flights to both Amritsar 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 $31Amritsar $19
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 Amritsar
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Amritsar.
- Amritsar Food Tour: $22
- Flavors of Amritsar (2-Hour Guided Street Food Tour Walk): $24
- Amritsar Food Tour: $31
- Wagah Border Retreat Ceremony With Traditional Dinner: $45
- Wagah Border Retreat Ceremony With Dinner: $45
- Indo-Pak Beating Retreat Ceremony at Wagah Border & Dinner: $60
- Evening Tour to Sadda Pind with Dinner: $67
- Beating Retreat Ceremony, Sadda Pind and Dinner: $71
- Private Farm-Fresh Punjabi Cooking Class in Amritsar: $136
- Sadda Pind With Lunch Or Dinner From Amritsar: $186
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Istanbul $79Amritsar $15
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 Amritsar
Here are a few actual costs in Amritsar for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Amritsar Heritage Trails (2 Hour Guided Tour Experience): $13
- Golden Temple Guided Tour (Planet Amritsar Inc.): $17
- Cultural Walk of Amritsar (2 hours guided walking tour): $17
- Amritsar Heritage Walking Tour: $18
- Golden Temple and Jallianwala Bagh Guided Tour: $18
- Real Village Tour Amritsar: $20
- Real Amritsar : Full Day Tour with Wagah Border and Heritage Walk: $21
- Amritsar Golden Temple Tour.: $25
- Wagah Border Ceremony Half-Day Tour: $27
- Wagha Border tour : $29
- Wagah Border Amritsar Sightseeing Taxi: $30
- Amritsar Full Day Tour (Golden Temple with Wagah Border): $30
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayIstanbul $15Amritsar $14
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
Sample the Local Flavors in Amritsar
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Amritsar:
- Pub Crawl Amritsar (3 hours pub hopping tour): $40
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Istanbul and Amritsar, we can see that Istanbul is more expensive. And not only is Amritsar much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Istanbul is in Europe and Amritsar is in Asia, 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 Amritsar would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Amritsar 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 Amritsar.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Istanbul Expensive? and Is Amritsar Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Istanbul or Amritsar?
Istanbul has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Amritsar. When comparing the sizes of Istanbul and Amritsar, 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 Amritsar?
Istanbul has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Amritsar experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Istanbul or Amritsar in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Istanbul and Amritsar. The city activities and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Istanbul this time of year. Amritsar attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
It's very hot in Amritsar this time of the year. In July, Istanbul is generally cooler than Amritsar. Daily temperatures in Istanbul average around 24°C (74°F), and Amritsar fluctuates around 33°C (91°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Amritsar this time of the year. In Istanbul, it's very sunny this time of the year. Istanbul usually receives more sunshine than Amritsar during summer. Istanbul gets 333 hours of sunny skies, while Amritsar receives 215 hours of full sun in the summer.
Amritsar receives a lot of rain in the summer. In July, Istanbul usually receives less rain than Amritsar. Istanbul gets 19 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Amritsar receives 206 mm (8.1 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyIstanbul 24°C (74°F)Amritsar 33°C (91°F)
Should I visit Istanbul or Amritsar in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Istanbul as well as Amritsar. Many travelers come to Istanbul for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area. The warm climate attracts visitors to Amritsar throughout the year.
Istanbul is much colder than Amritsar in the autumn. The daily temperature in Istanbul averages around 16°C (61°F) in October, and Amritsar fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Amritsar. In the autumn, Istanbul often gets less sunshine than Amritsar. Istanbul gets 169 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Amritsar receives 252 hours of full sun.
Istanbul usually gets more rain in October than Amritsar. Istanbul gets 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Amritsar receives 16 mm (0.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberIstanbul 16°C (61°F)Amritsar 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Istanbul or Amritsar in the Winter?
Both Amritsar and Istanbul are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Istanbul in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Plenty of visitors come to Amritsar because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In the winter, Istanbul is much colder than Amritsar. Typically, the winter temperatures in Istanbul in January average around 6°C (43°F), and Amritsar averages at about 14°C (58°F).
Istanbul usually receives less sunshine than Amritsar during winter. Istanbul gets 75 hours of sunny skies, while Amritsar receives 181 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Istanbul usually receives more rain than Amritsar. Istanbul gets 99 mm (3.9 in) of rain, while Amritsar receives 23 mm (0.9 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryIstanbul 6°C (43°F)Amritsar 14°C (58°F)
Should I visit Istanbul or Amritsar in the Spring?
Both Amritsar and Istanbul during the spring are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Istanbul for the activities around the city and the natural beauty during these months. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Amritsar year-round.
In April, Istanbul is generally much colder than Amritsar. Daily temperatures in Istanbul average around 13°C (55°F), and Amritsar fluctuates around 28°C (83°F).
In Amritsar, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the spring, Istanbul often gets less sunshine than Amritsar. Istanbul gets 180 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Amritsar receives 265 hours of full sun.
Istanbul usually gets more rain in April than Amritsar. Istanbul gets 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Amritsar receives 25 mm (1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilIstanbul 13°C (55°F)Amritsar 28°C (83°F)
Typical Weather for Amritsar and Istanbul
| Istanbul | Amritsar | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 6°C (43°F) | 99 mm (3.9 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 23 mm (0.9 in) |
| Feb | 6°C (44°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) |
| Mar | 8°C (47°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| Apr | 13°C (55°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 25 mm (1 in) |
| May | 17°C (63°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 33°C (91°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) |
| Jun | 21°C (71°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) | 35°C (96°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Jul | 24°C (74°F) | 19 mm (0.7 in) | 33°C (91°F) | 206 mm (8.1 in) |
| Aug | 24°C (74°F) | 26 mm (1 in) | 32°C (90°F) | 178 mm (7 in) |
| Sep | 20°C (69°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 31°C (88°F) | 99 mm (3.9 in) |
| Oct | 16°C (61°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) |
| Nov | 12°C (54°F) | 89 mm (3.5 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) |
| Dec | 9°C (47°F) | 122 mm (4.8 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 19 mm (0.7 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.