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

Should you visit Istanbul or Goa?

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

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

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.

Goa

Goa is a small but important state located on the west coast of India known as a popular beach resort and vacation area.

A large Portuguese influence can be found in Goa in the form of architecture as well as the cuisine, as it was formerly a Portuguese colony. Because of Goa's Portuguese history, there is a distribution of religion among the people, making it quite different than other states in India. About sixty-five percent of the population is Hindu, while about twenty-four percent is Catholic. Goa is one of the most peaceful states in India, with a very low crime rate. The best time to visit Goa is between November and February, as this is when the weather is most comfortable.

This is a popular tourist destination both for the Indian population as well as for tourists from around the world. The warm climate, beautiful beaches, friendly people, fun activities, and cultural diversity make it a popular destination for many types of travelers.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Turkey, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Turkey, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Mumbai, and The Best 2-Week Tours from New Delhi.


Which place is cheaper, Goa 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 $154, while the average daily cost in Goa is $918. 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 Goa in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Istanbul $71
    Goa $342
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Istanbul $142
    Goa $684
Compare Hotels in Istanbul and Goa

Looking for a hotel in Istanbul or Goa? 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 Goa


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.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Istanbul $33
    Goa $231
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Istanbul

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


  • Metro Cards
    $4.43

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Istanbul

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Istanbul:

  • İstanbul Airports Transfer Services (Ceyhan Arslan Travel Agency): $57
  • İstanbul Airport Transfer: $53
  • İstanbul Airport Private Transfer Services: $83
  • istanbul airport transfer: $24
  • Viaport Theme Park Ticket with Optional Hotel Transfer: $45
  • VIP Experience: Transfers from Istanbul Airport to Anywhere: $75
  • Turkish Night Tour with Meyhane Experience and Transfer: $117
  • Transfer from Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen Airport(SAW)to Istanbul Port: $44
  • Transfer from Hotels to Airports in Istanbul by Private Eco-Sedan: $50
  • Solar Beach: Black Sea Day Trip with Transfers from Istanbul: $65
  • Saw Sabiha Gokcen Airport Transfers for Old City & Taksim Hotels: $71
  • Sabiha Gokcen Airport Transfer by Private Minivan + Meeting Service: $95

Is it cheaper to fly into Istanbul or Goa?

Prices for flights to both Goa 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 $57
    Goa $361

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Istanbul

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

  • Istanbul Dinner Cruise Show: $20
  • Istanbul Bosphorus Dinner Cruise Tour: $22
  • Bosphorus Dinner Cruise Tour With Turkish Night Show: $22
  • Bosphorus Night Cruise: Dinner, Drinks & Hotel Pickup: $25
  • All Inclusive; Istanbul Bosphorus Dinner Cruise with Live Shows&Unlimited Drinks: $30
  • Istanbul Bosphorus Dinner Cruise and Show with Private Table: $30
  • Istanbul Bosphorus Dinner Cruise: Turkish Night Show Experience: $30
  • Bosphorus Dinner Cruise with Shows and Drinks: $30
  • Istanbul Luxury Bosphorus View Tavern Dinner & Belly Dance Show: $30
  • Bosphorus Dinner Cruise Istanbul with Turkish Night Show & Pickup: $30
  • İstanbul Mega Lüfer Dinner Cruise Bosphorus and Show - Pvt. Table: $30
  • Bosphorus Turkish Night Show and Dinner Cruise with Private Table: $31

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Istanbul $37
    Goa $346

Tours and Activities in Istanbul

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

  • "Classic Wonders" Tour: $118
  • 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: $160
  • 1-Day Best of Istanbul Private Tour with the Best Local Guides: $295
  • 1-Day Private Istanbul Layover Tour: $240
  • 2 - Hours Bosphorus Yacht Cruise: $299
  • 2 Continents Tour incl. Beylerbeyi Palace [full-day]: $172
  • 2 Day Cappadocia Tour with Istanbul Flights &Hot Air Balloon Tour: $296
  • 2 Hours Afternoon Bosphorus Cruise: $12
  • 2 Hours Bosphorus Cruise ((MORNING TOUR)): $24
  • 2-Day Sightseeing, 2 Continents, 3 Highlights & Bosphorus Cruise: $91

Tours and Activities in Goa

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

  • Agra: Taj Mahal & Agra Fort Skip-the-Line Tour-All Inclusive: $6.76
  • Agra: Private Taj Mahal and Agra Local City Tour By Tuk-Tuk: $27
  • Kerala:- 04 Days, Munnar, Periyar, Kumarakom & Boat Cruise: $514

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Istanbul $10
    Goa $191

Sample the Local Flavors in Istanbul

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Istanbul:

  • Pub Crawler VIP Entry Rooftop Bars&Clubs with Party Bus: $27
  • Famous Istanbul Pub Crawl #1 Nightlife Experience: $28
  • Pub Crawl Original Istanbul Pub Crawl with Party Bus: $31
  • Istanbul Private Wine Tasting Tour Through 3 City Wineries: $212


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Istanbul and Goa, we can see that Goa 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 Goa 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 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 Goa would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Goa 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 Goa Expensive?.


Which has a larger population, Istanbul or Goa?

Istanbul has a larger population, and is about 9 times larger than the population of Goa. When comparing the sizes of Istanbul and Goa, 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.