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

Should you visit Istanbul or Bonaire?

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

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

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.

Bonaire

An island municipality of the Netherlands, Bonaire resides in the Caribbean, east of Central America and north of Venezuela. It is a part of the ABC Islands together with Aruba and Curaçao, and is best known as a tropical vacation destination with many great dive spots, beaches, lagoons, and wildlife.

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


Which place is cheaper, Bonaire 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 $161, while the average daily cost in Bonaire is $299. 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 Bonaire in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Istanbul $75
    Bonaire $155
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Istanbul $150
    Bonaire $310
Compare Hotels in Istanbul and Bonaire

Looking for a hotel in Istanbul or Bonaire? 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 Bonaire


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 Bonaire Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Istanbul $35
    Bonaire $65
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Istanbul

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


  • Metro Cards
    $4.65

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Istanbul

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Istanbul:

  • Fast & Luxury VIP Private Transfer | IST Airport & Hotel pickup: $8.16
  • Istanbul VIP Shopping Experience with Transfers and Refreshments: $9.00
  • Princess Islands Day Trip w Hotel Transfer & Lunch: $17
  • Full Day Sapanca Tour with Lunch and Transfer From Istanbul: $23
  • Istanbul Airport or Sabiha Gokcen Private Airport Transfers: $25
  • Transfer Istanbul City Center to Istanbul Ataturk Airport: $28
  • Private Istanbul Airport Transfer to Blue Mosque Sultan Ahmet: $29
  • Reliable & Safe Istanbul Airport Taxi Transfer – VIP Service: $30
  • Private Istanbul Cruise Port(Galataport) Transfer hotel-airport: $30
  • Istanbul Airports (IST and SAW) Transfers Hotels and Cruise Port: $33
  • Private Minivan Transfer from Istanbul Airport: $33
  • Istanbul Cruise Port to Istanbul hotels Arrival Private Transfer: $36

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bonaire

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bonaire:

  • Private Transfers between Bonaire airport and any local address: $40
  • Airport Transfer Return Included: $80

Is it cheaper to fly into Istanbul or Bonaire?

Prices for flights to both Bonaire 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 $59
    Bonaire $101

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: $23
  • Bosphorus Sightseeing Cruise with Optional 4 Course Dinner: $25
  • Istanbul Bosphorus Dinner Cruise: Live Folk Dance & DJ Experience: $28
  • Istanbul Bosphorus Dinner Cruise with Turkish Show Private Table: $29
  • Mega Lüfer Dinner Cruise Bosphorus and Show with Private Table: $30
  • Bosphorus Dinner Cruise with Turkish Night Show in Istanbul: $30
  • Istanbul Night Life : Bosphorus Dinner Cruise - Unlimited Drinks: $31
  • Bosphorus Evening Cruise: Dinner, Live Shows & Private Table: $31
  • Bosphorus Dinner Cruise & Night Show: $33
  • Istanbul Turkish Coffee Cooking and Tasting with Locals at Home: $33
  • Luxury Bosphorus Dinner Cruise with Turkis Night Show in Istanbul: $34
  • Istanbul Bosphorus Dinner Cruise with Turkish Night Show: $34

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bonaire

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

  • Dinner at Sea: $95

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Istanbul $39
    Bonaire $40

Tours and Activities in Istanbul

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

  • Daily Bursa and Uludag Tour from Istanbul with lunch: $2.50
  • Highlights of Istanbul Walking Tour: $3.50
  • Istanbul Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $4.46
  • Istanbul Self-Guided Audio Tour: $6.00
  • Kadikoy's history, theatres and sweet shops: a self-guided audio tour: $6.31
  • Istanbul Audio Guided Walking Tour 3h and 22 audio reviews: $6.63
  • Istanbul Scavenger Hunt & Highlights Self-Guided Walking Tour: $6.99
  • 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
  • Walking Tour in Istanbul with Audio and Written Guide Old City: $8.00
  • Istanbul Highlights Self guided scavenger hunt and Walking Tour: $8.15
  • Sapanca and Masukiye Tour from Istanbul with Optional Activities: $10

Tours and Activities in Bonaire

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

  • Semi Submarine Boat Experience to Klein Bonaire: $33
  • Walking Tours & Private Tours on Bonaire: $36
  • 4 Hours Open Air Party Bus Tour with Beach Stop in Caribbean: $39
  • Half-Day Bonaire Island Tour with Hotel Pickup and Drop-off: $46
  • Bonaire Essentials Island Tour: $49
  • Walking Tour with Lunch & Ice Cream: $55
  • Yacht tour with local guide & snorkeling activities: $57
  • Highlights of Bonaire & Cultural Experience: $59
  • Clearbottom Mangrove Kayak & Snorkel tour: $59
  • Tour in North and South Bonaire Guided: $63
  • Explore North & South Tour: $65
  • Small-Group Guided North & South Tour of Bonaire with Pick Up: $65

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Istanbul $11
    Bonaire $33

Sample the Local Flavors in Istanbul

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Istanbul:

  • Istanbul Pub Crawl: Bars, Dancefloors, & Beyond: $18
  • Pub Crawler VIP Entry Rooftop Bars&Clubs with Party Bus: $27
  • Famous Istanbul Pub Crawl #1 Nightlife Experience: $28
  • Istanbul Party Pub Crawl with Party Bus in Sultanahmet and Taksim: $30
  • Istanbul Wine Tasting at Home with Local Family: $78
  • Istanbul Private Wine Tasting Tour Through 3 City Wineries: $209


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Istanbul and Bonaire, we can see that Bonaire is more expensive. And not only is Istanbul much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Istanbul is in Europe and Bonaire is in Caribbean Islands, 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 Istanbul would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Istanbul 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 Bonaire would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Bonaire than you might in Istanbul.

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


Which is Bigger, Istanbul or Bonaire?

Istanbul has a larger population, and is about 830 times larger than the population of Bonaire. When comparing the sizes of Istanbul and Bonaire, 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.