Which place is cheaper, Gdansk or Istanbul?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Istanbul or Gdansk?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Istanbul or Gdansk, 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 Gdansk?
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.
Gdansk
Gdansk is the capital and largest city of the Pomeranian Voivodeship in northern Poland. The port dates back a thousand years and was an influential city in the Hanseatic League during the Middle Ages. The city was essentially destroyed during World War II but has rebuilt into one of Europe's most beautiful port cities. The city now has a population of around 460,000 and is a popular tourist destination for visitors from around the globe. It is known for its impressive city center, its great museums, and its beaches that line the coast of the Gulf of Gdansk. In particular, it is a popular summer destination.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Turkey, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Turkey, The Best 10-Day Tours in Poland, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Poland.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayIstanbul $126Gdansk $54
The average daily cost (per person) in Istanbul is $126, while the average daily cost in Gdansk is $54. 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 Gdansk in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personIstanbul $47Gdansk $27
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomIstanbul $94Gdansk $54
Compare Hotels in Istanbul and Gdansk
Looking for a hotel in Istanbul or Gdansk? 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 Gdansk Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Istanbul $55Gdansk $8.53
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 Airport Transfer by Private Minivan + Meet & Greet Service: $85
- Istanbul Cruise Port(Galataport) Private Transfer Service: $35
- Saw Sabiha Gokcen Airport Transfers for Old City & Taksim Hotels: $55
- 1-Way Private Transfer to/from Sabiha Gokcen Airport: $75
- Airport - Otel Transfer and City Tours: $20
- Airport Istanbul Private Transfer IST or SAW Airport : $34
- Airport transfer Istanbul: $46
- Arrival & Departure Private Transfer in Istanbul: $43
- Arrival Private Transfer: New Airport IST to Istanbul in Luxury Van: $70
- Bursa Uludağ Mountain Tour From Istanbul w/Lunch & Hotel Transfer: $35
- CARPEDIEM : SABIHA GOKCEN AIRPORT LUXURY TRANSFER (Arrival/Departure): $45
- Daily Green Bursa Tour with Cable Car & Transfer from Istanbul: $73
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Gdansk
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Gdansk:
- Gdańsk Airport: Bus Transfer to/from Elblag: $15
- Gdańsk Airport: Bus Transfer to/from Ostróda: $23
- Private Transfer from Gdansk Airport (GDN) to Gdynia Cruise Port: $28
- Private Transfer from Gdynia Cruise Port to Gdansk Airport (GDN): $28
- Private Transfer from Gdansk (GDN) Airport to Gdansk city: $33
- Private Transfer from Gdansk city to Gdansk (GDN) Airport: $33
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Gdansk HTL-APT (GDN): $34
- From Gdansk, Sopot, Gdynia: Private Transfers to Olivia Sta: $36
- Alle Taxi - Airport Transfer Gdansk: $36
- Gdansk Airport: Private Transfer to Gdansk, Sopot, or Gdynia: $37
- Private Transfer from Gdansk (GDN) Airport to Gdynia City: $38
- Arrival Private Transfer from Gdansk Airport GDN to Gdansk City by Minivan: $39
Is it cheaper to fly into Istanbul or Gdansk?
Prices for flights to both Gdansk 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 $31Gdansk $20
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 Gdansk
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Gdansk.
- Delicious Gdańsk Food Tour in Poland: $94
- 4-hour Polish Food Tour: $109
- Private Food-Pairing Dinner Experience: $121
- Gdansk foodpairing dinner: $124
- Gdansk Traditional Food Tour with Old Town Sightseeing: $156
- Gdansk Food Tour Experience: $168
- Gdańsk: World-Class Fine Dining Dinner on the Top Floor: $208
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Istanbul $79Gdansk $8.13
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 Gdansk
Here are a few actual costs in Gdansk for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Gdańsk: City Exploration Game and Tour: $5.35
- Gdańsk: Self-Guided Highlights Scavenger Hunt & Tour: $5.35
- Discover Gdansk! - €5 Walking Tour: $5.46
- Old Town Highlights Self-guided Tour: $6.31
- Gdańsk: First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $6.42
- Gdansk Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self-Guided Tour: $6.56
- Individual Sightseeing Tour with Audio Guide: $7.43
- Gdańsk: Sightseeing Cruise around the Old Town of Gdansk: $14
- Self-Guided Walking Tour with Audio Guide: $14
- Gorgeous Gdansk Self-Guided Audio Tour: $15
- Gdańsk : Catamaran River Cruise (group): $17
- Gdańsk: Motlawa River Yacht Cruise: $17
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayIstanbul $15Gdansk $4.74
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 Gdansk
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Gdansk:
- Gdansk Pub Crawl with Free Drinks: $22
- Pub Crawl with Free Drinks: $25
- Pub Crawl with Complimentary Drinks: $30
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Istanbul and Gdansk, we can see that Istanbul is more expensive. And not only is Gdansk much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Gdansk would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Gdansk 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 Gdansk.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Istanbul Expensive? and Is Gdansk Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Istanbul or Gdansk?
Istanbul has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Gdansk. When comparing the sizes of Istanbul and Gdansk, 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 Gdansk?
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 Gdansk in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Istanbul and Gdansk. The summer months attract visitors to Istanbul because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Istanbul is generally a little warmer than Gdansk. Daily temperatures in Istanbul average around 24°C (74°F), and Gdansk fluctuates around 17°C (63°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Gdansk this time of the year. In Istanbul, it's very sunny this time of the year. Istanbul usually receives more sunshine than Gdansk during summer. Istanbul gets 333 hours of sunny skies, while Gdansk receives 204 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Istanbul usually receives less rain than Gdansk. Istanbul gets 19 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Gdansk receives 68 mm (2.7 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyIstanbul 24°C (74°F)Gdansk 17°C (63°F)
Should I visit Istanbul or Gdansk in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Istanbul as well as Gdansk. 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.
Istanbul is much warmer than Gdansk in the autumn. The daily temperature in Istanbul averages around 16°C (61°F) in October, and Gdansk fluctuates around 8°C (46°F).
In the autumn, Istanbul often gets more sunshine than Gdansk. Istanbul gets 169 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Gdansk receives 97 hours of full sun.
Istanbul usually gets more rain in October than Gdansk. Istanbul gets 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Gdansk receives 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberIstanbul 16°C (61°F)Gdansk 8°C (46°F)
Should I visit Istanbul or Gdansk in the Winter?
Both Gdansk and Istanbul are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Istanbul for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Gdansk can get quite cold in the winter. In the winter, Istanbul is much warmer than Gdansk. Typically, the winter temperatures in Istanbul in January average around 6°C (43°F), and Gdansk averages at about -2°C (28°F).
Istanbul usually receives more sunshine than Gdansk during winter. Istanbul gets 75 hours of sunny skies, while Gdansk receives 33 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Istanbul usually receives more rain than Gdansk. Istanbul gets 99 mm (3.9 in) of rain, while Gdansk receives 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryIstanbul 6°C (43°F)Gdansk -2°C (28°F)
Should I visit Istanbul or Gdansk in the Spring?
Both Gdansk and Istanbul during the spring are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Istanbul in the spring for the activities around the city and the natural beauty.
In April, Istanbul is generally much warmer than Gdansk. Daily temperatures in Istanbul average around 13°C (55°F), and Gdansk fluctuates around 6°C (43°F).
In the spring, Istanbul often gets more sunshine than Gdansk. Istanbul gets 180 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Gdansk receives 162 hours of full sun.
Istanbul usually gets more rain in April than Gdansk. Istanbul gets 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Gdansk receives 35 mm (1.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilIstanbul 13°C (55°F)Gdansk 6°C (43°F)
Typical Weather for Gdansk and Istanbul
| Istanbul | Gdansk | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 6°C (43°F) | 99 mm (3.9 in) | -2°C (28°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) |
| Feb | 6°C (44°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) | -2°C (28°F) | 25 mm (1 in) |
| Mar | 8°C (47°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) | 1°C (34°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) |
| Apr | 13°C (55°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 6°C (43°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) |
| May | 17°C (63°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) |
| Jun | 21°C (71°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) |
| Jul | 24°C (74°F) | 19 mm (0.7 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) |
| Aug | 24°C (74°F) | 26 mm (1 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) |
| Sep | 20°C (69°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) |
| Oct | 16°C (61°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) |
| Nov | 12°C (54°F) | 89 mm (3.5 in) | 2°C (36°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) |
| Dec | 9°C (47°F) | 122 mm (4.8 in) | -2°C (28°F) | 39 mm (1.5 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.