Which place is cheaper, Kolkata (Calcutta) or Istanbul?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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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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Istanbul Prices
Turkey PricesKolkata (Calcutta) Prices
India Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayIstanbul $154Kolkata (Calcutta) $42
The average daily cost (per person) in Istanbul is $154, while the average daily cost in Kolkata (Calcutta) is $42. 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 $71Kolkata (Calcutta) $15
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomIstanbul $142Kolkata (Calcutta) $30
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 $33Kolkata (Calcutta) $4.46
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Istanbul
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Istanbul are as follows:
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Metro Cards$4.43
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Istanbul
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Istanbul:
- Princess Islands Day Trip w Hotel Transfer & Lunch: $18
- Princes’ Islands Tour with Lunch and Transfers: $21
- Princes Islands Tour with Hotel Transfer & Lunch: $24
- istanbul airport transfer: $24
- Istanbul Airport Private Arrival Transfer: $29
- Full Day Sapanca Tour with Lunch and Transfer From Istanbul: $30
- Istanbul Airport or Sabiha Gokcen Private Airport Transfers: $30
- Private Istanbul Cruise Port(Galataport) Transfer hotel-airport: $30
- Istanbul Airport Private Departure Transfer: $31
- Private Minivan Transfer from Istanbul Airport: $33
- Istanbul to Istanbul Airport (IST) - Departure Private Transfer: $34
- Private OneWay Airport Transfer in Istanbul (IST/SAW) City Center: $34
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kolkata (Calcutta)
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kolkata (Calcutta):
- Kolkata Airport to Kolkata Hotels drop: Private Transfers: $33
- Departure transfer from Hotel to Airport in Kolkata: $44
- Private Transfer from Kolkata to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose (CCU) Airport: $64
- Build Your Own: custom private tour of Kolkata with transfers: $74
- Path of Knowledge: A Heritage Walking Tour of Kolkata with Private Transfer: $153
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 $57Kolkata (Calcutta) $21
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
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kolkata (Calcutta)
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Kolkata (Calcutta).
- Hooghly River Dinner Cruise: $39
- Bengali Nights Kolkata Food Tour with 13+ Tastings: $39
- Alleyway Food Tour: $40
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Istanbul $37Kolkata (Calcutta) $13
Tours and Activities in Istanbul
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Istanbul are as follows:
- Istanbul Scavenger Hunt & Highlights Self-Guided Walking Tour: $1.76
- Daily Bursa and Uludag Tour from Istanbul with lunch: $5.00
- Istanbul Self-Guided City Walking Tour & Scavenger Hunt: $5.21
- Self Guided Walking Tour of Istanbul with Audio Guide: $5.92
- Istanbul Self-Guided Audio Tour: $6.00
- 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: $8.28
- Istanbul Istiklal Street Story Self Guided Audio GPS Walking Tour: $9.99
- Kadikoy's history, theatres and sweet shops: a self-guided audio tour: $9.99
- Sapanca and Masukiye Tour from Istanbul with Optional Activities: $10
Tours and Activities in Kolkata (Calcutta)
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Kolkata (Calcutta) are as follows:
- Hello Calcutta Walk Tour: $20
- Walking Tour of Kolkata Heritage and Food: $22
- Day Tour Of Kolkata: $24
- Flower Market Colors and Ganges Ghat Experience: $30
- Chasing The Sun Experience Kolkata's Culture: $35
- Hooghly River Evening Cruise: $36
- Kolkata's Flower Market - Hooghly's Flower Fest Tour: $39
- Kolkata's English History - European Calcutta Tour: $39
- Cultural Confluence of Kolkata - Culture Kaleidoscope Tour: $39
- Magic Hour Tour: $40
- Kolkata Midtown Madness- A Street Food & Nightlife Tour: $42
- Kolkata Private Half Day City Tour To Majestic Temples: $42
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayIstanbul $10Kolkata (Calcutta) $7.22
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 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.