Should you visit Istanbul or Hong Kong?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Istanbul or Hong Kong, this travel cost comparison can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
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.
Hong Kong
In Hong Kong you will find a predominantly Cantonese population that has long been influenced by British occupation. Most residents speak English and you can see the obvious effects of years of capitalism. Shopping malls are everywhere and most are thriving. Along the waterfront every night the buildings light up in a dramatic and festive light show that highlights such businesses as Sony and Canon, which are fixtures in the city. The city is a major financial hub, and is very international in nature. The city itself is very densely packed and there are narrow high rises that look vulnerable due to their height. There are two main areas to the city, Hong Kong Island and Kowloon. Hong Kong Island is the location of the original British settlement. Today it is where you will find the highest skyscrapers, the most modern buildings, and the most popular shopping areas. Kowloon is located on a peninsula that is to the north of Hong Kong Island. The tip of the peninsula is a popular destination for backpackers as it has many of the city's hostels. This area is referred to as Tsim Sha Tsui. There are also a few high end hotels in the area. It is possible to head outside of the city so that you can escape into some rural regions where you can take a break from the crowds.
Which city is cheaper, Hong Kong or Istanbul?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Istanbul is $54, while the average daily cost in Hong Kong is $127. 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Istanbul and Hong Kong in more detail.
Accommodation
A hotel room in Istanbul is about $66 This assumes double occupancy and modest accommodations.
The prices for places to stay in Hong Kong can vary by date, location, and type. Generally, the average cost for accommodation per person is $60, while a typical double-occupancy hotel room for two people will cost around $120.
Local Transportation
The cost of a taxi ride in Istanbul is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $3.17 per person, per day, on local transportation in Istanbul.
Public transportation tends to be much less expensive in Hong Kong than paying for a taxi or private car service, as is expected. Typically, people spend $6.96 on transportation in Hong Kong on average per day.
Typical Local Transportation prices in Istanbul
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Istanbul are as follows:
-
Ferry
$0.19
-
Local Bus
$0.20
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Istanbul
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Istanbul:
-
İstanbul Private Airport Transfer:
$19
-
İstanbul Airport Transfer:
$45
-
istanbul airport transfer-sabiha gokcen airport transfer-vip transfer:
$28
-
istanbul airport cheapest vip transfer by private car:
$14
-
istanbul airport & sabiha gokcen airport transfer by private car:
$30
-
VIP Transfer Services for Airports, Hotels or Other Location:
$80
-
VIP Airport Transfer and Shuttle:
$62
-
VIP Airport Transfer:
$56
-
Turkish Bath in Istanbul with transfer:
$199
-
Transfer in Private Vehicle from Istanbul Old City to Sabiha Gokcen Airport:
$57
-
Transfer in Private Vehicle from Istanbul Old City to Istanbul Airport:
$51
-
Transfer in Private Minivan from Istanbul Old City to Sabiha Gokcen Airport:
$61
Typical Local Transportation prices in Hong Kong
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Hong Kong:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Hong Kong
Also for Hong Kong, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
-
Hong Kong Shared Departure Transfer: Hotel to Airport:
$30
-
Hong Kong Shared Arrival Transfer: Airport to Hotel:
$30
-
Private Airport Transfer: Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) to Hong Kong:
$32
-
Private Airport Transfer: from Hong Kong to Hong Kong Int. Airport (HKG):
$32
-
HongKong airport Private transfer to Tsim Sha Tsui or Kowlong City maxi 9 person:
$35
-
Private Arrival Transfer: Hong Kong Airport to Hong Kong Island or City Center:
$38
-
Private Departure Transfer from Hong Kong Island or City to Hong Kong Airport:
$38
-
HongKong airport Private transfer to or from HongKong Island maximum 9 person:
$39
-
HKG Private Arrival Transfer from Hong Kong Airport to Hotel:
$48
-
HKG Private Departure Transfer from Hong Kong/Kowloon Hotel to Hong Kong Airport:
$48
-
Hong Kong City to Cruise Port Hong Kong - Private Car Transfer:
$49
-
Hong Kong City to Hong Kong Airport (HKG) - Departure Private Transfer:
$62
Is it cheaper to fly into Istanbul or Hong Kong?
Prices for flights to both Hong Kong 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
On average, meal and food prices in Istanbul cost around $14 per person, per day. While this price can vary widely by location, the type of restaurant, and the amount of food ordered, a typical meal often costs around $5.60.
In Hong Kong travelers spend around $26 a day on food. You can save money by choosing casual restaurants or food stalls, or you can spend plenty more by dining in nicer restaurants at every meal.
-
Food
Meals for one day
Istanbul $14
Hong Kong $26
Typical Food prices in Istanbul
Some typical examples of dining costs in Istanbul are as follows:
-
Juice
$0.13
-
Turkish Delight
$0.04
-
Dessert
$0.57
-
Pastries
$0.10
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:
$29
-
Istanbul Dinner Cruise Show:
$30
-
Bosphorus Dinner Cruise Inc. Dinner and Belly Dance Show with Hotel Transfer:
$34
-
Alaturca Ottoman Dramatic Stage Show & Dinner Cruise ( Non - Alcoholic ):
$35
-
Bosphorus Dinner & Show Cruise (All Inclusive):
$36
-
Bosphorus Dinner Show Cruise With Non Alcoholic Menu ISTANBUL Dinner cruise:
$36
-
Bosphorus Dinner Cruise An Unforgettable Experience in Istanbul:
$36
-
Bosphorus Dinner Cruise & Night Show from Istanbul:
$37
-
Istanbul Cruise&Show with Dinner:
$37
-
Dinner Cruise on the Bosphorus:
$38
-
Istanbul Dinner Cruise & Show:
$39
-
Istanbul Dinner Cruise with Sema Ceremony:
$40
Typical Food prices in Hong Kong
For Hong Kong, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Hong Kong
For Hong Kong, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
-
E-Ticket: Symphony of Lights Dinner Cruise and Free Transfer:
$64
-
2-Hour Dinner & Shows on Victoria Harbour Night Cruise:
$81
-
Hong Kong Market Tour and Cantonese Cooking Class with a Local Chef:
$154
-
Private Food Tour: The Best Bites of Mongkok:
$204
-
Private Food Tour: The Best Bites of Hong Kong Island:
$204
-
Private Romantic Dinner for 2 on Luxury Yacht:
$1,549
Entertainment
Entertainment and activities in Istanbul typically cost an average of $20 per person, per day. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
Sightseeing expenses in Hong Kong, including the cost of admission tickets for day tours, museums, and attractions, usually cost an average of $76 per day, per person.
Typical Entertainment prices in Istanbul
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Istanbul are as follows:
Tours and Activities in Istanbul
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Istanbul are as follows:
-
1 Day - Istanbul Tour:
$315
-
1 Day Cappadocia Hot Air Balloon Tour From Istanbul:
$300
-
1 Day Istanbul & Ephesus Tour By Plane - YK230:
$419
-
1 Day Regular Cappadocia Tour by Plane - YK0011:
$384
-
1 Day Tour - Sapanca:
$300
-
1 Night 1 Day Cappadocia Tour from Istanbul - Including Hot Air Balloon Tour:
$496
-
1 Night 1 Day Cappadocia Travel from Istanbul - Including Hot Air Balloon Tour:
$509
-
1 Night 1 Day Cappadocia Trip from/to Istanbul - Including Hot Air Balloon Tour:
$513
-
1 Night 1 Day Trip from Istanbul to Cappadocia - Including Hot Air Balloon Tour:
$490
-
1 Night 2 Days Cappadocia Trip from/to Istanbul - Including Hot Air Balloon Tour:
$521
-
1 Night 2 Days Ephesus, Kusadasi, Hierapolis & Pamukkale Tour from/to Istanbul:
$372
-
1 Night Cappadocia Trip with Hot Air Balloon Tour:
$525
Typical Entertainment prices in Hong Kong
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Hong Kong's activities, tours, and tickets:
Tours and Activities in Hong Kong
For Hong Kong, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
-
A Food Adventure in Hong Kong with a Local Foodie:
$2.64
-
Peak Tram Sky Pass: Tram Ticket, Hong Kong Sky Tour and Sky Terrace 428 Entry:
$13
-
E-Ticket: Peak Tram Round Trip and Sky Terrace:
$17
-
sky100 Hong Kong Observation Deck Admission Ticket:
$19
-
Ngong Ping 360 Cable Car Ticket on Lantau Island:
$21
-
Skip the line: E-Tickets in Macau:
$23
-
Victoria Peak Hong Kong (Tai Ping Shan) Ticket:
$24
-
Hong Kong Sky100 Admission Ticket:
$24
-
Victoria Harbour Cruise by Aqua Luna:
$28
-
Central Street Art Walking Tour:
$28
-
sky100 Admission Ticket for Two Person with One Free Café 100 Dining Voucher:
$31
-
Skip The Line: Ngong Ping Cable Car Round Trip Voucher:
$31
Alcohol
The average person spends about $4.85 on alcoholic beverages in Istanbul per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
Typically, people visiting Hong Kong spend on average $17 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Sample the Local Flavors in Istanbul
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Istanbul:
-
Daily Tekirdag Wine Tasting Tour from Istanbul:
$427
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Istanbul and Hong Kong, we can see that Hong Kong 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 Hong Kong 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 Hong Kong would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Hong Kong than you might in Istanbul.
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