A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Istanbul vs. Bikaner for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Istanbul or Bikaner?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Istanbul or Bikaner, 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 Bikaner?

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.

Bikaner

Bikaner is located in the Rajasthan state in northwest India. This city is where the headquarters of Bikaner District and Division are located. The city was founded in 1486 by Rao Bika, and has a population of about 645,000 people.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Turkey, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Turkey, The Best Bicycle Tours in India, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in India.


Which place is cheaper, Bikaner or Istanbul?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Istanbul is $149, while the average daily cost in Bikaner is $53. 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 Bikaner in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Istanbul $69
    Bikaner $18
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Istanbul $138
    Bikaner $36
Compare Hotels in Istanbul and Bikaner

Looking for a hotel in Istanbul or Bikaner? 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 Istanbul


Hotels in Bikaner


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 Bikaner Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Istanbul $32
    Bikaner $11
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Istanbul

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Istanbul are as follows:


  • Metro Cards
    $4.29

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Istanbul

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Istanbul:

  • İstanbul Private Arrival Transfer: $68
  • İstanbul Airports Transfer Services (Ceyhan Arslan Travel Agency): $61
  • İstanbul Airport Transfer: $51
  • istanbul airport transfer: $23
  • istanbul Airport Transfer: $69
  • Vip Airport Transfer to/from Istanbul City Center: $63
  • Viaport Theme Park Ticket with Optional Hotel Transfer: $45
  • Viaport Aquarium Ticket with Optional Hotel Transfer: $35
  • Viaport Aquapark Ticket with Optional Hotel Transfer: $65
  • VIP Experience: Transfers from Istanbul Airport to Anywhere: $75
  • VIP Daily Transfer from the Istanbul Airport to Istanbul City: $91
  • VIP Airport Transfer: $91

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Bikaner

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Bikaner:


  • Tuk Tuk Ride
    $0.21

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bikaner

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

  • Bikaner Airport to Bikaner Hotels drop: Private Transfers: $5.45
  • Bikaner Hotels to Bikaner Airport drop: Private Transfers: $5.45
  • Private Transfer From Bikaner To Jodhpur: $48
  • Private Transfer From Bikaner To Jaisalmer: $60
  • Self Guided Bikaner City Tour With One Way Transfer To Jaipur: $108
  • Bikaner Heritage Walking Tour with Private Transfer: $136

Is it cheaper to fly into Istanbul or Bikaner?

Prices for flights to both Bikaner 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Istanbul $55
    Bikaner $26

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Istanbul

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Istanbul.

  • Istanbul Food Tour 30 Tasting Stops with Audio Maps Written Guide: $8.00
  • Bosphorus Sightseeing Cruise with Optional 4 Course Dinner: $25
  • Istanbul Bosphorus Dinner Cruise with Turkish Night Show: $28
  • Istanbul Bosphorus Dinner Cruise with Turkish Show Private Table: $29
  • Dinner and Turkish Night Show in Bosphorus Strait: $29
  • Budget Evening Cruise: Dinner, Live Shows & Party: $29
  • Bosphorus Night Cruise Dinner and Dance Show,Transfer included: $30
  • Bosphorus Turkish Night Show and Dinner Cruise with Private Table: $30
  • Istanbul Bosphorus Dinner Cruise and Show with Private Table: $30
  • Istanbul Bosphorus Dinner Cruise: Turkish Night Show Experience: $30
  • Istanbul Night Life : Bosphorus Dinner Cruise - Unlimited Drinks: $30
  • Bosphorus Dinner Cruise & Night Show: $31

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bikaner

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

  • Rajasthani Cooking Class in Bikaner: $150

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Istanbul $36
    Bikaner $13

Tours and Activities in Istanbul

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

  • "Walk Through History: A Bespoke Istanbul Adventure": $149
  • 1 Istanbul Tour: Highlights, Street Food & Hidden Pearls: $274
  • 1 Perfect Day in Istanbul Private Guided Tour of the City’s Icons: $250
  • 1 or 2 Day Private Istanbul Guided Tour: $80
  • 1, 2 Or 3 Days Private Istanbul Guided Tour: $75
  • 1,2 or 3 DAY: Private Guided Istanbul Tour from CRUISE SHIP or HOTEL: $130
  • 10 Tastings of Istanbul Foodie Tour: $103
  • 2 - Hours Bosphorus Yacht Cruise: $299
  • 2 Day Cappadocia Tour with Istanbul Flights &Hot Air Balloon Tour: $285
  • 2 Days Cappadocia Tour with Hotel Flights and Hot Air Balloon: $200
  • 2 Full Days Guided Istanbul City Tour With Skip the Line Entry: $194
  • 2 Hours Bosphorus Cruise ((MORNING TOUR)): $23

Tours and Activities in Bikaner

For Bikaner, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Heritage & Cultural Trails of Bikaner (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $12
  • Heritage & Cultural Trails of Bikaner (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $12
  • Discover Bikaner in Nightlights (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $12
  • Explore Old Bikaner City: Guided Walking Tour by Foot: $12
  • Taste of Guided 7+ Street Food Tasting Tour: $21
  • Bikaner 2 Hour Guided Street Food Tasting Tour: $22
  • Udaipur: Instagram Photo Tour with Boat Ride & Sunset Views: $40
  • Karni Mata Temple Half-Day Guided Tour: $46
  • Bikaner Sightseeing with Tour Guide - Custom Hours, Itinerary: $49
  • Bikaner to Jaisalmer: Junagarh Fort & Rat Temple Tour: $53
  • Royal Trails of Bikaner (Guided Half Day City Tour): $65
  • Guided Bikaner City Tour With Drop Off at Jodhpur: $72

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Istanbul $9.85
    Bikaner $11

Sample the Local Flavors in Istanbul

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Istanbul:

  • Istanbul Pub Crawl: Bars, Dancefloors, & Beyond: $16
  • 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


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Istanbul and Bikaner, we can see that Istanbul is more expensive. And not only is Bikaner much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Istanbul is in Europe and Bikaner 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 Bikaner would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Bikaner 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 Bikaner.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Istanbul Expensive? and Is Bikaner Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Istanbul or Bikaner?

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