Which place is cheaper, Kolkata (Calcutta) or Istanbul?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Istanbul or Kolkata (Calcutta)?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Istanbul or Kolkata (Calcutta), 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 Kolkata (Calcutta)?
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.
Kolkata (Calcutta)
Formerly known as Calcutta, Kolkata is the capital of West Bengal, India. Featuring colonial architecture, galleries, temples, and festivals, the city has flourished from its roots as an East India Company trading post in the 18th Century to a thriving metropolis. Today Kolkata is a diverse center of culture and bustling activity.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Turkey, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Turkey, The Best 4-Week (1-Month) Tours in India, and The Best Bicycle Tours in India.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayIstanbul $126Kolkata (Calcutta) $37
The average daily cost (per person) in Istanbul is $126, while the average daily cost in Kolkata (Calcutta) is $37. 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 Kolkata (Calcutta) in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personIstanbul $47Kolkata (Calcutta) $17
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomIstanbul $94Kolkata (Calcutta) $34
Compare Hotels in Istanbul and Kolkata (Calcutta)
Looking for a hotel in Istanbul or Kolkata (Calcutta)? 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 Kolkata (Calcutta) Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Istanbul $55Kolkata (Calcutta) $5.11
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:
- Princes' Islands Tour with Lunch and Transfers: $13
- Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen Airport (SAW) to City Center - Arrival Private Transfer: $20
- 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 to Istanbul Airport (SAW) - Departure Private Transfer: $22
- Istanbul Airport (SAW) to Istanbul - Arrival Private Transfer: $22
- Istanbul Hotels to Istanbul Ataturk Airport (ISL) - Departure Private Transfer: $22
- Istanbul Ataturk Airport (ISL) to Istanbul hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $22
- Princes' Islands Cruise with Lunch and Transfer Full-Day Tour: $23
- Princes' Islands Cruise w/Music, Lunch & Transfer: $24
- Private SAW Airport Arrival or Departure Transfer: $25
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kolkata (Calcutta)
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kolkata (Calcutta):
- Private Transfer Kolkata Airport CCU To Kolkata Hotels Drop: $22
- Build Your Own: custom private tour of Kolkata with transfers: $69
- Path of Knowledge: A Heritage Walking Tour of Kolkata with Private Transfer: $165
Is it cheaper to fly into Istanbul or Kolkata (Calcutta)?
Prices for flights to both Kolkata (Calcutta) 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 $31Kolkata (Calcutta) $14
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
- Istanbul Bosphorus Dinner Cruise Turkish Night Show All inclusive: $16
- Dinner Cruise and Entertainment with Private Table: $17
- Bosphorus Dinner Cruise Tour With Turkish Night Show: $21
- Bosphorus Dinner Cruise , Unlimited Drinks, & Show: $22
- Bosphorus Luxury Catamaran Cruise with Dinner Show: $25
- Bosphorus Dinner Cruise and Turkish Night Show: $26
- Istanbul Bosphorus Cruise with All inclusive Dinner and Belly-Dancer Show : $27
- Bosphorus Boat Cruise with Dinner & Entertainment: $27
- Istanbul Bosphorus Dinner Cruise with Unlimited Drinks and Shows: $28
- Dinner Cruise Bosphorus with Hotel Transfer: $28
- 3 Hour Ottoman Dinner Cruise in Istanbul : $29
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kolkata (Calcutta)
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Kolkata (Calcutta).
- Bengali Nights Kolkata Food Tour with 13+ Tastings: $35
- Cooking experience in Authentic Bengali House with Lunch/Dinner: $41
- Alleyway Food Tour: $42
- Traditional Bengali Cooking Class in Kolkata in a Local Home: $64
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Istanbul $79Kolkata (Calcutta) $15
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: $2.15
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.23
- Highlights Self Guided Scavenger Hunt & Tour: $5.38
- City Tour with Audio Guide in your smartphone: $5.38
- Hagia Sophia Exclusive Digital Audio Guided Tour: $5.38
- City Exploration Game and Tour: $6.46
- Istanbul Outdoor Escape Game: The Royal Adventure: $7.09
- Daytime or Sunset Sightseeing Cruise & Audio Guide: $8.12
- Guided Boat Tour on the Bosphorus: $8.44
- Bosphorus Sightseeing Cruise with Audio Guide: $9.69
- Self Guided Virtual Tour of Hagia Sophia The Highlights: $9.82
- Hagia Sophia & Hippdrome Tour with Local Expert: $11
Tours and Activities in Kolkata (Calcutta)
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Kolkata (Calcutta) are as follows:
- Kolkata Colonial Walk (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $13
- Heritage & Cultural Walk of Kolkata (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $13
- Kolkata Half Day Guided City Tour: $27
- The Taste of Kolkata - Evening Food Walk Tour: $30
- Magic Hour Tour: $37
- Cultural Confluence of Kolkata - Culture Kaleidoscope Tour: $37
- Kolkata's Flower Market - Hooghly's Flower Fest Tour: $37
- Kolkata Slum Walking Tour: $41
- Mesmerising Kolkata Private Customised Day Tour: $53
- Kolkata Daily - A Private Tour - Explore • Engage • Enchant: $55
- Full Day City Tour Of Kolkata With Guide: $55
- Kolkata Heritage Tram Tour: $60
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayIstanbul $15Kolkata (Calcutta) $8.27
Sample the Local Flavors in Istanbul
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Istanbul:
- Istanbul 7-Hour Pub Crawl: Big Night Out: $27
- Party Pub Crawl with Party Bus: $29
- Wine Tasting Experience in Istanbul : $50
- Istanbul Wine Tasting at Home with Local Family: $84
- 2-Day Wine Tasting Tour along the Thracian Wine Route: $180
- Istanbul Private Wine Tasting Tour Through 3 City Wineries : $246
- Istanbul Private and Guided, Food and Wine Tasting Tour: $430
- Luxury Wine Tasting on a Private Yacht: $849
Sample the Local Flavors in Kolkata (Calcutta)
Also in Kolkata (Calcutta), these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Pub Crawl Kolkata: $39
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Istanbul and Kolkata (Calcutta), we can see that Istanbul is more expensive. And not only is Kolkata (Calcutta) much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Istanbul is in Europe and Kolkata (Calcutta) 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 Kolkata (Calcutta) would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Kolkata (Calcutta) 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 Kolkata (Calcutta).
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Istanbul Expensive? and Is Kolkata (Calcutta) Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Istanbul or Kolkata (Calcutta)?
Istanbul has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Kolkata (Calcutta). When comparing the sizes of Istanbul and Kolkata (Calcutta), 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.
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.