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

Should you visit Istanbul or Cochin?

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

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

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.

Cochin

Cochin is a large city in Kerala, India. It's a cosmopolitan commercial port city with a population of over two million and is a major tourist destination. The city has a diverse population that has migrated from elsewhere in Kerala, as well as the rest of India. The city continues to become more cosmopolitan with fashion shifting to western styles. There are also many large shopping malls as well as an enthusiasm for sports such as football (soccer) or cricket.

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


Which place is cheaper, Cochin 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 $159, while the average daily cost in Cochin is $40. 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 Cochin in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Istanbul $74
    Cochin $13
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Istanbul $148
    Cochin $26
Compare Hotels in Istanbul and Cochin

Looking for a hotel in Istanbul or Cochin? 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 Cochin


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 Cochin Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Istanbul $35
    Cochin $9.19
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Istanbul

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


  • Metro Cards
    $4.59

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Istanbul

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Istanbul:

  • Airport Transfer 1 to 6 Passengers: $58
  • Airport Transfer Hotel Transfer Istanbul Transfer: $64
  • Airport Transfer: Istanbul to New Airport IST by Business Car: $70
  • Airport Transfer: Istanbul to New Airport IST by Luxury Van: $76
  • Airport Transfer: Istanbul to Sabiha Airport SAW by Luxury Van: $75
  • Airport Transfer: New Airport IST to Istanbul by Business Car: $70
  • Airport transfer Istanbul: $58
  • Arrival Transfer: New Airport IST to Istanbul by Business Car: $69
  • Best Airport Transfer Company Istanbul Meet Transfer: $52
  • Best of Istanbul City Full-Day Tour with Transfers: $49
  • Departure Transfer: Istanbul to New Airport IST by Business Car: $69
  • Departure Transfer: Istanbul to New Airport IST by Luxury Van: $75

Is it cheaper to fly into Istanbul or Cochin?

Prices for flights to both Cochin 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
    Cochin $19

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

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Istanbul $39
    Cochin $9.05

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

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Istanbul $11
    Cochin $7.79

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 Cochin, we can see that Istanbul is more expensive. And not only is Cochin much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Istanbul is in Europe and Cochin 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 Cochin would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cochin 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 Cochin.

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


Which is Bigger, Istanbul or Cochin?

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