Which place is cheaper, Leh 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 Leh?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Istanbul or Leh, 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 Leh?
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.
Leh
Leh is a small town located in the Indus river valley at a crossroads of the old trading routes from Kashgar, Tibet, and Kashmir. Today, the town is best known for its Buddhist sites and nearby trekking areas. It is situated in northern India, amidst the mountainous Himalayan range.
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 New Delhi, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Mumbai.
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Istanbul Prices
Turkey PricesLeh Prices
India Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayIstanbul $159Leh $43
The average daily cost (per person) in Istanbul is $159, while the average daily cost in Leh is $43. 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 Leh in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personIstanbul $74Leh $15
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomIstanbul $148Leh $30
Compare Hotels in Istanbul and Leh
Looking for a hotel in Istanbul or Leh? 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 Leh Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Istanbul $35Leh $6.97
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Istanbul
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Istanbul are as follows:
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Metro Cards$4.59
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Istanbul
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Istanbul:
- Fast & Luxury VIP Private Transfer | IST Airport & Hotel pickup: $8.16
- Istanbul VIP Shopping Experience with Transfers and Refreshments: $9.00
- Princess Islands Day Trip w Hotel Transfer & Lunch: $17
- Full Day Sapanca Tour with Lunch and Transfer From Istanbul: $23
- Istanbul Airport or Sabiha Gokcen Private Airport Transfers: $25
- Transfer Istanbul City Center to Istanbul Ataturk Airport: $28
- Private Istanbul Airport Transfer to Blue Mosque Sultan Ahmet: $29
- Reliable & Safe Istanbul Airport Taxi Transfer – VIP Service: $30
- Private Istanbul Cruise Port(Galataport) Transfer hotel-airport: $30
- Istanbul Airports (IST and SAW) Transfers Hotels and Cruise Port: $33
- Private Minivan Transfer from Istanbul Airport: $33
- Istanbul Cruise Port to Istanbul hotels Arrival Private Transfer: $36
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Leh
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Leh:
- From Jaipur: 2-Day Ranthambore Tiger Safari with transfers: $278
- Ladakh: 5-Day Family Tour with Accommodation & Transfers: $361
- Ladakh Family Getaway: 6-Day Tour with Stay & Transfers: $428
Is it cheaper to fly into Istanbul or Leh?
Prices for flights to both Leh 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 $59Leh $21
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Istanbul
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Istanbul.
- Istanbul Bosphorus Dinner Cruise Tour: $23
- Bosphorus Sightseeing Cruise with Optional 4 Course Dinner: $25
- Istanbul Bosphorus Dinner Cruise: Live Folk Dance & DJ Experience: $28
- Istanbul Bosphorus Dinner Cruise with Turkish Show Private Table: $29
- Mega Lüfer Dinner Cruise Bosphorus and Show with Private Table: $30
- Bosphorus Dinner Cruise with Turkish Night Show in Istanbul: $30
- Istanbul Night Life : Bosphorus Dinner Cruise - Unlimited Drinks: $31
- Bosphorus Evening Cruise: Dinner, Live Shows & Private Table: $31
- Bosphorus Dinner Cruise & Night Show: $33
- Istanbul Turkish Coffee Cooking and Tasting with Locals at Home: $33
- Luxury Bosphorus Dinner Cruise with Turkis Night Show in Istanbul: $34
- Istanbul Bosphorus Dinner Cruise with Turkish Night Show: $34
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Istanbul $39Leh $13
Tours and Activities in Istanbul
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Istanbul are as follows:
- Daily Bursa and Uludag Tour from Istanbul with lunch: $2.50
- Highlights of Istanbul Walking Tour: $3.50
- Istanbul Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $4.46
- Istanbul Self-Guided Audio Tour: $6.00
- Kadikoy's history, theatres and sweet shops: a self-guided audio tour: $6.31
- Istanbul Audio Guided Walking Tour 3h and 22 audio reviews: $6.63
- Istanbul Scavenger Hunt & Highlights Self-Guided Walking Tour: $6.99
- Walking Tour in Istanbul with Audio and Written Guide Old City: $8.00
- 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
- Istanbul Highlights Self guided scavenger hunt and Walking Tour: $8.15
- Sapanca and Masukiye Tour from Istanbul with Optional Activities: $10
Tours and Activities in Leh
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Leh are as follows:
- Airport Pickup with Shanti Stupa-Leh Palace & Monastery Tour: $28
- Electric Cycle Tour with Leh Old Town Heritage Walk: $45
- Electric Cycle Tour with Heritage Walk & Meal: $51
- Leh in a Day: Guided Tour of Iconic Landmarks and more: $85
- "Leh to Pangong Lake Sameday tour: A Day of Tranquil Wonders: $87
- Overnight Pangong Tour From Leh With Thiksey & Shey Palace: $113
- 4-Day Tour to Leh Ladakh Pangong Lake and Monasteries: $199
- One Night Two Days Pangong Lake Tour with Accommodation: $203
- Nubra Valley and Pangong Lake 3-Day Tour: $259
- Ladakh Highlights Tour with Homestay: $271
- 6-Day Nubra Valley, Pangong Lake and Sham Valley Tour: $462
- LADAKH TOUR: $620
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayIstanbul $11Leh $4.94
Sample the Local Flavors in Istanbul
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Istanbul:
- Istanbul Pub Crawl: Bars, Dancefloors, & Beyond: $18
- Pub Crawler VIP Entry Rooftop Bars&Clubs with Party Bus: $27
- Famous Istanbul Pub Crawl #1 Nightlife Experience: $28
- Istanbul Party Pub Crawl with Party Bus in Sultanahmet and Taksim: $30
- Istanbul Wine Tasting at Home with Local Family: $78
- Istanbul Private Wine Tasting Tour Through 3 City Wineries: $209
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Istanbul and Leh, we can see that Istanbul is more expensive. And not only is Leh much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Istanbul is in Europe and Leh 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 Leh would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Leh 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 Leh.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Istanbul Expensive? and Is Leh Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Istanbul or Leh?
Istanbul has a larger population, and is about 300 times larger than the population of Leh. When comparing the sizes of Istanbul and Leh, 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.