Which place is cheaper, Arequipa or Istanbul?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Istanbul or Arequipa?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Istanbul or Arequipa, 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 Arequipa?
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.
Arequipa
Sitting in the middle of the Misti, Chachani and PichuPichu volcanoes of Peru is the enchanting city of Arequipa. With 468 years of history, the city is full of Spanish colonial architecture. Known to locals as the "white city," the city center, Plaza de Armas, is quite the sight with buildings of sillar white stone made from the rocks of the surrounding volcanoes.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Turkey, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Turkey, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Peru, and The Best Cultural Tours in Peru.
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Istanbul Prices
Turkey PricesArequipa Prices
Peru Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayIstanbul $151Arequipa $61
The average daily cost (per person) in Istanbul is $151, while the average daily cost in Arequipa is $61. 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 Arequipa in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personIstanbul $70Arequipa $25
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomIstanbul $140Arequipa $50
Compare Hotels in Istanbul and Arequipa
Looking for a hotel in Istanbul or Arequipa? 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 Arequipa Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Istanbul $33Arequipa $6.42
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Istanbul
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Istanbul are as follows:
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Metro Cards$4.34
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Istanbul
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Istanbul:
- Airport Transfer Hotel Transfer Istanbul Transfer: $63
- Airport Transfer to Istanbul City with Minivan: $40
- Airport Transfer: Istanbul to Sabiha Airport SAW by Business Car: $64
- Airport Transfer: New Airport IST to Istanbul by Luxury Van: $71
- Airport Transfer: Sabiha Airport SAW to Istanbul by Business Car: $64
- Airport Transfer: Sabiha Airport SAW to Istanbul by Luxury Van: $69
- Arrival Private Transfer from New Airport IST to Istanbul City in Van: $70
- Arrival Transfer: New Airport IST to Istanbul by Luxury Van: $70
- BEST of Istanbul City Full-Day Tour with Transfers: $49
- Best Airport Transfer Company Istanbul Meet Transfer: $51
- Bodrum Airport Private Transfer Services: $67
- Bosphorus Sunset Luxury Yacht Cruise with Guide and Transfers: $77
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Arequipa
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Arequipa are as follows:
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Taxi Ride$1.45
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Bus Ride$0.46
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Taxi Ride$1.01
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Arequipa
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Arequipa:
- Arequipa Airport Arrival Transfer: $13
- Arequipa Airport Departure Transfer: $19
- Private Transfer from Alfredo Rodríguez Ballón Airport to Hotel: $20
- Private Transfer from Arequipa Airport to hotels: $30
- Arequipa Airport Private Transfer: $38
- Koh Lanta any hotel to Krabi airport Private transfer: $78
- Colca Canyon full day tour with transfer to Puno: $80
- Colca Canyon 2 days from Arequipa with final transfer to Puno: $85
- Colca Canyon + Transfer To Puno: $103
- 2-Day Colca Canyon Tour with optional transfer to Puno: $135
- 3 Day Trek Including Transfer to Puno / Colca Canyon: $214
- Private Transfer From Arequipa To Puno With a 2 Hour Stop: $252
Is it cheaper to fly into Istanbul or Arequipa?
Prices for flights to both Arequipa 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 $55Arequipa $25
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Istanbul
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Istanbul.
- Istanbul Bosphorus Dinner Cruise Tour: $21
- Bosphorus Dinner Cruise Tour With Turkish Night Show: $21
- Bosphorus Sightseeing Cruise with Optional 4 Course Dinner: $25
- Night Cruise on the Bosphorus: Dinner and Show in Istanbul: $27
- Bosphorus Dinner Cruise & Turkish Dance Shows with Private Table: $27
- Istanbul Bosphorus Dinner Cruise: Live Folk Dance & DJ Experience: $27
- Istanbul Bosphorus Dinner Cruise with Turkish Show Private Table: $29
- Bosphorus Night Cruise: Dinner, Drinks & Hotel Pickup: $29
- Bosphorus Night Cruise Dinner and Dance Show,Transfer included: $30
- Istanbul Luxury Bosphorus View Tavern Dinner & Belly Dance Show: $30
- Istanbul Bosphorus Dinner Cruise: Turkish Night Show Experience: $30
- All Inclusive; Istanbul Bosphorus Dinner Cruise with Live Shows&Unlimited Drinks: $30
Typical Food Prices in Arequipa
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Arequipa:
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Coke$0.43
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Lunch$3.04
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Ice Cream$1.16
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Fruit$0.87
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Ice Cream$1.01
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Arequipa
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Arequipa.
- Cooking Class at La Plantation: $36
- Peruvian Cooking Experience in Arequipa: $43
- Peruvian Cooking Class in arequipa: $50
- Arequipa Nights Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $59
- Peruvian Cooking Class: $63
- Arequipa Food Tour: Ancestral Cuisine & City Tour: $70
- Arequipa Food Tour Experience: $115
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Istanbul $37Arequipa $19
Tours and Activities in Istanbul
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Istanbul are as follows:
- Istanbul Scavenger Hunt & Highlights Self-Guided Walking Tour: $3.42
- Istanbul Self-Guided City Walking Tour & Scavenger Hunt: $5.03
- Istanbul Bosphorus Sightseeing Cruise from Europe: $5.90
- Istanbul Self-Guided Audio Tour: $6.00
- Istanbul Bosphorus Turkish Night Show Ticket: $7.20
- Istanbul Highlights Self guided scavenger hunt and Walking Tour: $7.99
- Bosphorus Sightseeing Cruise Tour with Audio Guide: $8.00
- Istanbul Bosphorus Sunset and Day Time Sightseeing Cruise: $8.00
- Walking Tour in Istanbul with Audio and Written Guide Balat&Asia: $8.00
- Walking Tour in Istanbul with Audio and Written Guide Pera: $8.00
- Old Town Istanbul Walking Tour: Blue Mosque & Grand Bazaar: $9.90
- Bosphorus Daytime or Sunset Sightseeing Cruise & Audio Guide: $9.90
Typical Entertainment Prices in Arequipa
Here are a few typical costs in Arequipa for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Monastery Entry$2.89
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Salsa Class$2.89
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Movie Ticket$3.15
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Hot Springs$2.89
Tours and Activities in Arequipa
Here are a few actual costs in Arequipa for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Route of the Sillar 4-Hour Tour: $10
- City tour Arequipa by foot: $10
- Walking Tour through the Historic Center of Arequipa: $10
- Arequipa Sillar Stone Quarries and Culebrillas Canyon Tour: $13
- Arequipa Tasting Tour: $13
- Tour to La Ruta del Sillar and Culesbrillas in Arequipa: $15
- Chili River White Water Rafting Adventure with Pickup: $16
- Full Day Arequipa Tour to Sillar and Canyon: $17
- Sillar Route and Culebrillas Canyon Full-Day Tour from Arequipa: $18
- Countryside Tour Arequipa: $18
- Rafting in Arequipa Chili River Half Day Tour: $18
- Koh Rong Tour: A Snorkeling, Fishing, Sunset, Plankton: $20
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayIstanbul $9.97Arequipa $17
Sample the Local Flavors in Istanbul
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Istanbul:
- Istanbul Pub Crawl: Bars, Dancefloors, & Beyond: $17
- Pub Crawler VIP Entry Rooftop Bars&Clubs with Party Bus: $26
- Famous Istanbul Pub Crawl #1 Nightlife Experience: $28
- Pub Crawl Original Istanbul Pub Crawl with Party Bus: $30
- Istanbul Wine Tasting at Home with Local Family: $78
- Taksim Pera Wine Tasting 3 Hour Guided Tour: $130
- Istanbul Private Wine Tasting Tour Through 3 City Wineries: $205
Typical Alcohol Prices in Arequipa
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Arequipa are as follows:
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Beer$2.60
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Istanbul and Arequipa, we can see that Istanbul is more expensive. And not only is Arequipa much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Istanbul is in Europe and Arequipa is in South America, 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 Arequipa would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Arequipa 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 Arequipa.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Istanbul Expensive? and Is Arequipa Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Istanbul or Arequipa?
Istanbul has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Arequipa. When comparing the sizes of Istanbul and Arequipa, 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.
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.