Which place is cheaper, Casablanca or Istanbul?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Istanbul or Casablanca?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Istanbul or Casablanca, 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 Casablanca?
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.
Casablanca
Casablanca is so much more than a classic Bogart movie with killer one-liners. It is also the largest, most cosmopolitan city in the country of Morocco. Sitting at the economic and industrial heart of this region, Casablanca has a population of approximately four million. Brush up on your high school French before visiting this lively city as it's the main language spoken by the locals. While this is the most liberal and progressive city in Morocco, remember to be cautious in this region of the world with your western views.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Turkey, The Best Tours for Seniors to Turkey, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Morocco, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Morocco.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayIstanbul $126Casablanca $71
The average daily cost (per person) in Istanbul is $126, while the average daily cost in Casablanca is $71. 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 Casablanca in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personIstanbul $47Casablanca $42
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomIstanbul $94Casablanca $84
Compare Hotels in Istanbul and Casablanca
Looking for a hotel in Istanbul or Casablanca? 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 Casablanca Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Istanbul $55Casablanca $11
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 IST Airport Economy Minivan Transfer: $11
- 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 Airport (SAW) to Istanbul - Arrival Private Transfer: $22
- Istanbul Ataturk Airport (ISL) to Istanbul hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $22
- Istanbul Airport Private Transfers: $22
- Princes' Islands Cruise w/Music, Lunch & Transfer: $22
- Princes' Islands Cruise with Lunch and Transfer Full-Day Tour: $23
- Istanbul New Airport (IST) to City Center - Arrival Private Transfer: $24
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Casablanca
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Casablanca:
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Train from Airport (for 2)$6.98
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Taxi Ride$7.98
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Casablanca
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Casablanca:
- Private Airport Transfer from or to Marrakech Menara Airport.: $6.34
- Best Private Transfer From Casablanca Airport To All Morocco: $17
- Private Transfer to Mohammed V Airport: $19
- Mohammed V Airport to City Private Transfer: $19
- Casablanca private Airport Transfer : $19
- Casablanca Mohamed V Airport to Hotels Private Arrival transfer : $19
- Casablanca Private Transfer from Hotel Accommodation To Airport : $19
- Transfer from Mohammed V Airport to your hotel Casablanca: $19
- Transfer from your hotel Casablanca to Mohammed V Airport: $19
- Private transfer from Casablanca Airport to hotels and cities: $20
- Mohammed V Airport (CMN) to Casablanca Cruise Port - Arrival Private Transfer: $21
- Casablanca Mohammed V Airport (CMN) to Casablanca - Arrival Private Transfer: $21
Is it cheaper to fly into Istanbul or Casablanca?
Prices for flights to both Casablanca 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 $31Casablanca $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
- Dinner Cruise and Entertainment with Private Table: $17
- Bosphorus Dinner Cruise & Show with Private Table: $17
- Bosphorus Dinner Cruise Tour With Turkish Night Show: $21
- 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
- Istanbul Bosphorus Dinner Cruise: $28
- Istanbul Bosphorus Dinner Cruise and Turkish Night Show: $28
- 3 Hour Ottoman Dinner Cruise in Istanbul : $29
Typical Food Prices in Casablanca
Some typical examples of dining costs in Casablanca are as follows:
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Breakfast$2.99
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Lunch$8.97
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Dinner at Rick's Cafe (for Two)$32
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Casablanca
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Casablanca.
- Flavors of Morocco Food Tour in Casablanca: $30
- Couscous Cooking with a Local Family: $50
- Street Food Tour by Night: $60
- Casablanca City Night Tour and Traditional Moroccan Dinner: $64
- Street private Guided Food Tour with Tastings: $66
- Food Tour with Tastings and Lunch: $70
- Experience Casablanca Night Tour & Authentic Moroccan Dinner: $72
- Casablanca City Night Tour and Traditional Moroccan Dinner: $74
- Street Private Guided Food Tour with Tastings at Casablanca: $74
- Central Market Food Tour with Tastings and Lunch: $95
- Casablanca Food Tour - Moroccan Street Food Tour: $105
- Casablanca Private Night Tour with Traditional Dinner: $130
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Istanbul $79Casablanca $8.90
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:
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.20
- City Tour with Audio Guide in your smartphone: $5.33
- Hagia Sophia Exclusive Digital Audio Guided Tour: $5.33
- Highlights Self Guided Scavenger Hunt & Tour: $5.33
- Istanbul Sites: Peel back the layers of Turkish history a self-guided audio tour: $5.40
- Self Guided City Audio Tour of Istanbul: $5.44
- Kadikoy's history, theatres and sweet shops: a self-guided audio tour: $5.99
- City Exploration Game and Tour: $6.39
- Istanbul Outdoor Escape Game: The Royal Adventure: $7.06
- Istanbul in a day: A Self-Guided Audio Tour in English: $7.81
- Istanbul Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.00
- App self-guided tours Istanbul with multilingual audioguide: $9.59
Tours and Activities in Casablanca
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Casablanca are as follows:
- Platinum Tour - Hassan II Mosque and cathedral: $10
- Skip the line Hassan II mosque Premium Tour entry ticket included: $12
- Hassan II Mosque Premium Tour with Entry Ticket: $15
- Hassan II Mosque : Secure your Skip The Line Tickets Now !: $15
- Skip the line Hassan II Mosque guided Tour entry tickets included: $15
- Private Tour the Mosque Hassan II & Sacred Heart Cathedral: $15
- The Backstage of Art: Private Guided Tour: $20
- City Tour with Hassan II Mosque Entry Ticket: $24
- Traditional Souks Shopping Private Guided Tour: $24
- casablanca Shopping Hidden Souks : Private guided Tour: $26
- City Highlights Tour with Lunch: $26
- Hassan II Mosque: Fast-Track Tickets Available!: $31
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayIstanbul $15Casablanca -
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
- Party Pub Crawl with Party Bus: $29
- Wine Tasting Experience in Istanbul : $45
- Istanbul Wine Tasting at Home with Local Family: $83
- 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: $841
Sample the Local Flavors in Casablanca
Also in Casablanca, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Wine Tasting and Lunch at the oldest Domaine from Casablanca: $299
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Istanbul and Casablanca, we can see that Istanbul is more expensive. And not only is Casablanca much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Istanbul is in Europe and Casablanca is in Africa, 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 Casablanca would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Casablanca 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 Casablanca.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Istanbul Expensive? and Is Casablanca Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Istanbul or Casablanca?
Istanbul has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Casablanca. When comparing the sizes of Istanbul and Casablanca, 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 Casablanca?
Istanbul has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Casablanca experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Istanbul or Casablanca in the Summer?
Both Casablanca and Istanbul are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The summer months attract visitors to Istanbul because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences. Plenty of visitors come to Casablanca because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In the summer, Istanbul is around the same temperature as Casablanca. Typically, the summer temperatures in Istanbul in July average around 24°C (74°F), and Casablanca averages at about 23°C (73°F).
It's quite sunny in Casablanca. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Istanbul. Istanbul usually receives more sunshine than Casablanca during summer. Istanbul gets 333 hours of sunny skies, while Casablanca receives 303 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Istanbul usually receives more rain than Casablanca. Istanbul gets 19 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Casablanca receives 1 mm (0 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyIstanbul 24°C (74°F)Casablanca 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Istanbul or Casablanca in the Autumn?
Both Casablanca and Istanbul during the autumn are popular places to visit. The city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Istanbul this time of year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Casablanca year-round.
In October, Istanbul is generally cooler than Casablanca. Daily temperatures in Istanbul average around 16°C (61°F), and Casablanca fluctuates around 20°C (67°F).
In Casablanca, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the autumn, Istanbul often gets less sunshine than Casablanca. Istanbul gets 169 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Casablanca receives 233 hours of full sun.
Istanbul usually gets more rain in October than Casablanca. Istanbul gets 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Casablanca receives 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberIstanbul 16°C (61°F)Casablanca 20°C (67°F)
Should I visit Istanbul or Casablanca in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Istanbul and Casablanca. Many travelers come to Istanbul for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Casablanca attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Istanbul is much colder than Casablanca in the winter. The daily temperature in Istanbul averages around 6°C (43°F) in January, and Casablanca fluctuates around 13°C (55°F).
Istanbul usually receives less sunshine than Casablanca during winter. Istanbul gets 75 hours of sunny skies, while Casablanca receives 190 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Istanbul usually receives more rain than Casablanca. Istanbul gets 99 mm (3.9 in) of rain, while Casablanca receives 62 mm (2.5 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryIstanbul 6°C (43°F)Casablanca 13°C (55°F)
Should I visit Istanbul or Casablanca in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Istanbul as well as Casablanca. Many visitors come to Istanbul in the spring for the activities around the city and the natural beauty. The warm climate attracts visitors to Casablanca throughout the year.
In the spring, Istanbul is cooler than Casablanca. Typically, the spring temperatures in Istanbul in April average around 13°C (55°F), and Casablanca averages at about 16°C (60°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Casablanca. In the spring, Istanbul often gets less sunshine than Casablanca. Istanbul gets 180 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Casablanca receives 262 hours of full sun.
Istanbul usually gets more rain in April than Casablanca. Istanbul gets 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Casablanca receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilIstanbul 13°C (55°F)Casablanca 16°C (60°F)
Typical Weather for Casablanca and Istanbul
| Istanbul | Casablanca | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 6°C (43°F) | 99 mm (3.9 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 62 mm (2.5 in) |
| Feb | 6°C (44°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| Mar | 8°C (47°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) | 15°C (58°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| Apr | 13°C (55°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| May | 17°C (63°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 19 mm (0.7 in) |
| Jun | 21°C (71°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) |
| Jul | 24°C (74°F) | 19 mm (0.7 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 1 mm (0 in) |
| Aug | 24°C (74°F) | 26 mm (1 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 0 mm (0 in) |
| Sep | 20°C (69°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Oct | 16°C (61°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) | 20°C (67°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) |
| Nov | 12°C (54°F) | 89 mm (3.5 in) | 16°C (62°F) | 72 mm (2.9 in) |
| Dec | 9°C (47°F) | 122 mm (4.8 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 80 mm (3.1 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.