Which place is cheaper, Belgrade or Istanbul?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Istanbul or Belgrade?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Istanbul or Belgrade, 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 Belgrade?
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.
Belgrade
Belgrade is the capital city of the Republic of Serbia. Dating back to the 4th Century BC, is has seen many changes from Celtic tribes at its earliest beginnings to Roman rule, the Ottoman Empire, and Serbian independence. Relics of its past can be seen today in Belgrade's architecture and museums, while there are also a host of contemporary activities like nightlife, clubs, cafes, and concerts.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Turkey, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Turkey, The Best Budget Tours to Serbia, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Belgrade.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayIstanbul $126Belgrade $44
The average daily cost (per person) in Istanbul is $126, while the average daily cost in Belgrade is $44. 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 Belgrade in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personIstanbul $47Belgrade $30
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomIstanbul $94Belgrade $60
Compare Hotels in Istanbul and Belgrade
Looking for a hotel in Istanbul or Belgrade? 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 Belgrade Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Istanbul $55Belgrade $5.55
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
- Private Transfer from Istanbul Hotels to Istanbul Cruise Port: $19
- Istanbul City to Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen Airport (SAW)-Departure Private Transfer: $20
- Airport - Otel Transfer and City Tours: $20
- Private One-Way New Istanbul Airport Transfer To/From Istanbul: $21
- 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
- Istanbul Airport Private Transfers: $22
- Princes' Islands Cruise w/Music, Lunch & Transfer: $24
- Istanbul Airport VIP/ULTRA VIP Transfer, Free WIFI: $25
- Private Transfer from Istanbul Hotels to Istanbul Cruise Port: $26
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Belgrade
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Belgrade:
- Bus Transfer Between Airport and Slavija Square: $3.65
- Belgrade to Belgrade N. Tesla Airport (BEG) - Departure Transfer: $35
- Airport Transfer in Belgrade, Serbia: $39
- Belgrade airport transfer: $46
- Champs Limo Belgrade Serbia Private Transfers: $48
- Belgrade Airport transfer - Business Class: $51
- Nikola Tesla Airport Private Transfer: $52
- Belgrade N. Tesla Airport (BEG) to Belgrade - Round-Trip Transfer: $70
- Nikola Tesla BEG airport-private airport transfer: $75
- Private Airport Transfer: $84
- Belgrade and Avala Mountain Full Day Layover Tour with Round-Trip Airport Transfer: $88
- Private Airport Transfer from Belgrade to Novi Sad: $94
Is it cheaper to fly into Istanbul or Belgrade?
Prices for flights to both Belgrade 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 $31Belgrade $9.21
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
- Bosphorus Dinner Cruise & Show with Private Table: $17
- Dinner Cruise and Entertainment with Private Table: $17
- Bosphorus Dinner Cruise , Unlimited Drinks, & Show: $21
- Bosphorus Luxury Catamaran Cruise with Dinner Show: $25
- Bosphorus Dinner Cruise and Turkish Night Show: $26
- Bosphorus Boat Cruise with Dinner & Entertainment: $27
- Istanbul Bosphorus Dinner Cruise with Unlimited Drinks and Shows: $28
- Dinner Cruise Bosphorus with Hotel Transfer: $28
- Istanbul Bosphorus Dinner Cruise and Turkish Night Show: $29
- Half Day Sunset Luxury Yacht Dinner Cruise Tour in Istanbul: $29
- 3 Hour Ottoman Dinner Cruise in Istanbul : $29
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Belgrade
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Belgrade.
- E-Scooter Serbian Food Tour: $65
- Private Walking and Food Tour in Belgrade: $71
- E-Scooter Serbian Food Tour: $75
- The 10 Tastings of Belgrade Private Food Tour : $135
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Istanbul $79Belgrade $4.48
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: $2.14
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.21
- City Tour with Audio Guide in your smartphone: $5.35
- Highlights Self Guided Scavenger Hunt & Tour: $5.35
- Hagia Sophia Exclusive Digital Audio Guided Tour: $5.35
- City Exploration Game and Tour: $6.42
- Istanbul Outdoor Escape Game: The Royal Adventure: $7.08
- Istanbul in a day: A Self-Guided Audio Tour in English: $7.87
- Daytime or Sunset Sightseeing Cruise & Audio Guide: $8.06
- Hippodrome and Blue Mosque Guided Tour: $8.73
- Bosphorus Sightseeing Cruise with Audio Guide: $9.62
- The Royal Adventure Highlights Exploration Game: $11
Tours and Activities in Belgrade
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Belgrade are as follows:
- Skip the Line: Family Centar Sremska Mitrovica -Playroom for kids: $1.09
- Capture Belgrade:Audio Walking Tour in the Heart of the City: $3.19
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.21
- Jack The Ripper Skip-the-Line Ticket in Belgrade: $3.27
- Belgrade City Exploration Game and Tour: $6.42
- Self-Guided City Highlights Scavenger Hunt & Tour: $6.42
- Sightseeing by open top bus: $14
- Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour: $14
- Yugoslavia Communist tour: $16
- Saint Sava Temple guided tour: $16
- Underground Tour with Glass of Wine: $16
- Fortress Underground Tour w/Wine Along the River: $16
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayIstanbul $15Belgrade $21
Sample the Local Flavors in Istanbul
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Istanbul:
- Istanbul Pub Crawl Big Nightout . Rooftop parties,party Bus & Nightlife: $22
- Istanbul 7-Hour Pub Crawl: Big Night Out: $27
- Famous Istanbul Pub Crawl #1 Nightlife Experience: $27
- Party Pub Crawl with Party Bus: $29
- Wine Tasting Experience in Istanbul : $50
- Istanbul Wine Tasting at Home with Local Family: $80
- 2-Day Wine Tasting Tour along the Thracian Wine Route: $180
- Istanbul Private Wine Tasting Tour Through 3 City Wineries : $245
- Istanbul Private and Guided, Food and Wine Tasting Tour: $430
- Luxury Wine Tasting on a Private Yacht: $844
Sample the Local Flavors in Belgrade
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Belgrade:
- Wines & Horses Wine Tasting surrounded by Horses: $48
- Belgrade Reserved Pub Crawl: $49
- Play Pub Crawl Belgrade: $49
- RePlay Pub Crawl in Belgrade: $52
- E-Scooter CRAFT BEER and BREWERY Tour: $53
- Natural wine tasting with great views: $55
- Tour of the MONASTERIES at Fruška Gora NP and Sremski Karlovci with wine tasting: $55
- Belgrade Bar Crawl: $55
- Pearl of North Serbia, trip to Novi Sad and Sremski Karlovci with wine tasting: $60
- Private Wine Tasting by Party in Belgrade: $71
- Novi Sad and Sremski Karlovci private tour with wine tasting: $75
- 3-Hour Walking Local Wine Tasting Tour: $80
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Istanbul and Belgrade, we can see that Istanbul is more expensive. And not only is Belgrade much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Belgrade would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Belgrade 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 Belgrade.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Istanbul Expensive? and Is Belgrade Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Istanbul or Belgrade?
Istanbul has a larger population, and is about 9 times larger than the population of Belgrade. When comparing the sizes of Istanbul and Belgrade, 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 Belgrade?
Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Istanbul or Belgrade in the Summer?
Both Belgrade and Istanbul are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The city activities and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Istanbul this time of year.
In July, Istanbul is generally around the same temperature as Belgrade. Daily temperatures in Istanbul average around 24°C (74°F), and Belgrade fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).
It's quite sunny in Belgrade. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Istanbul. Istanbul usually receives more sunshine than Belgrade during summer. Istanbul gets 333 hours of sunny skies, while Belgrade receives 285 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Istanbul usually receives less rain than Belgrade. Istanbul gets 19 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Belgrade receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyIstanbul 24°C (74°F)Belgrade 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Istanbul or Belgrade in the Autumn?
Both Belgrade and Istanbul during the autumn are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Istanbul for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
Istanbul is a little warmer than Belgrade in the autumn. The daily temperature in Istanbul averages around 16°C (61°F) in October, and Belgrade fluctuates around 14°C (57°F).
In the autumn, Istanbul often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Belgrade. Istanbul gets 169 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Belgrade receives 168 hours of full sun.
Istanbul usually gets more rain in October than Belgrade. Istanbul gets 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Belgrade receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberIstanbul 16°C (61°F)Belgrade 14°C (57°F)
Should I visit Istanbul or Belgrade in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Istanbul and Belgrade. Many visitors come to Istanbul in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Belgrade can be very cold during winter. In the winter, Istanbul is much warmer than Belgrade. Typically, the winter temperatures in Istanbul in January average around 6°C (43°F), and Belgrade averages at about 2°C (35°F).
Istanbul usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Belgrade during winter. Istanbul gets 75 hours of sunny skies, while Belgrade receives 71 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Istanbul usually receives more rain than Belgrade. Istanbul gets 99 mm (3.9 in) of rain, while Belgrade receives 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryIstanbul 6°C (43°F)Belgrade 2°C (35°F)
Should I visit Istanbul or Belgrade in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Istanbul as well as Belgrade. Most visitors come to Istanbul for the activities around the city and the natural beauty during these months.
In April, Istanbul is generally around the same temperature as Belgrade. Daily temperatures in Istanbul average around 13°C (55°F), and Belgrade fluctuates around 14°C (56°F).
In the spring, Istanbul often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Belgrade. Istanbul gets 180 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Belgrade receives 178 hours of full sun.
Istanbul usually gets less rain in April than Belgrade. Istanbul gets 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Belgrade receives 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilIstanbul 13°C (55°F)Belgrade 14°C (56°F)
Typical Weather for Belgrade and Istanbul
| Istanbul | Belgrade | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 6°C (43°F) | 99 mm (3.9 in) | 2°C (35°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| Feb | 6°C (44°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) | 4°C (39°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) |
| Mar | 8°C (47°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) | 9°C (47°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Apr | 13°C (55°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 14°C (56°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) |
| May | 17°C (63°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) |
| Jun | 21°C (71°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) |
| Jul | 24°C (74°F) | 19 mm (0.7 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) |
| Aug | 24°C (74°F) | 26 mm (1 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 52 mm (2 in) |
| Sep | 20°C (69°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 19°C (67°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| Oct | 16°C (61°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Nov | 12°C (54°F) | 89 mm (3.5 in) | 8°C (47°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) |
| Dec | 9°C (47°F) | 122 mm (4.8 in) | 3°C (38°F) | 58 mm (2.3 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.