Should you visit Istanbul or Lisbon?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Istanbul or Lisbon, 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.
Lisbon
Portugal's capital city of Lisbon continues to grow in popularity as a travel destination. The cultural scene has come to life in recent years and the city itself is stunningly beautiful. It sits on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean and is made up of hills that create a dramatic and scenic layout. The city has many white-bleached limestone buildings, narrow alleyways, and a laidback charm that appeals to visitors.
Which city is cheaper, Lisbon or Istanbul?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Istanbul is $95, while the average daily cost in Lisbon is $122. 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 Lisbon in more detail.
Accommodation
A hotel room in Istanbul is about $118 This assumes double occupancy and modest accommodations.
An average hotel room with basic furnishings costs about $108 in Lisbon For the most convenient locations and nicer amenities you can expect to pay a bit more.
Food
On average, meal and food prices in Istanbul cost around $24 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 $9.60.
In Lisbon travelers spend around $40 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 $24
Lisbon $40
Typical Food prices in Istanbul
Some typical examples of dining costs in Istanbul are as follows:
-
Juice
$0.24
-
Turkish Delight
$0.07
-
Dessert
$1.00
-
Pastries
$0.18
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 With Non Alcoholic Menu ISTANBUL Dinner cruise:
$36
-
Bosphorus Dinner & Show Cruise (All Inclusive):
$36
-
Bosphorus Dinner Cruise An Unforgettable Experience in Istanbul:
$36
-
Bosphorus Dinner Cruise & Night Show from Istanbul:
$37
-
Istanbul Cruise&Show with Dinner:
$37
-
Istanbul Dinner Cruise & Show:
$39
-
Istanbul Bosphorus Dinner Cruise & Soft Drinks:
$40
-
Istanbul Dinner Cruise&Show:
$40
Typical Food prices in Lisbon
For Lisbon, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Lisbon
For Lisbon, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
-
Wine & Dine Food Tour:
$22
-
History and Flavors Half-Day Food Tour:
$29
-
Virtual Portuguese Cooking Lesson:
$31
-
Live Online Cooking Class from Pastel de Nata with Filipa:
$39
-
Live Fado & Alfama Tour with Traditional Dinner:
$40
-
Bohemian dinner party on a beautiful rooftop near the coast:
$42
-
3-Hour Self-Guided Locals' Food Tour:
$48
-
The magic of Pasteis de Nata cooking class in Lisbon:
$53
-
Bitemojo Self Guided Food Tour New To Lisbon:
$54
-
2-Hour Pastel de Nata Cooking Class:
$55
-
Zero-Waste Cooking Workshop:
$56
-
Withlocals Your Way: Lisbon Personalised Private Food Tour:
$56
Local Transportation
The cost of a taxi ride in Istanbul is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $5.56 per person, per day, on local transportation in Istanbul.
Lisbon's transportation costs can vary by the type of transport chosen by visitors. Naturally, taxis and private drivers cost much more than public transportation options. On average, visitors spend $23 per person, per day on transportation in Lisbon.
Typical Local Transportation prices in Istanbul
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Istanbul are as follows:
-
Ferry
$0.33
-
Local Bus
$0.35
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 Lisbon
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Lisbon:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lisbon
Also for Lisbon, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Lisbon Shared Transfer: To or From the Airport:
$11
-
Lisbon Private Transfer to Airport:
$11
-
Lisbon Airport Shared Departure Transfer:
$11
-
Lisbon Airport Shared Arrival Transfer:
$11
-
Lisbon Private Transfer: To or From the Airport:
$11
-
Private Transfer To or From Lisbon Airport:
$11
-
Shared Transfer Between Airport and City Hotels:
$11
-
Lisbon Shared Arrival Transfer from Airport, Train or Port:
$11
-
Lisbon Shared Departure Transfer to Airport, Train or Port:
$11
-
Lisbon Airport Arrival Shared Transfer:
$11
-
Lisbon Airport Shared Departure Transfer:
$11
-
Lisbon Airport: Shared Arrival and Departure Transfers:
$12
Is it cheaper to fly into Istanbul or Lisbon?
Prices for flights to both Lisbon 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.
Entertainment
Entertainment and activities in Istanbul typically cost an average of $35 per person, per day. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
Sightseeing, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in Lisbon can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around $23 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
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
Tours and Activities in Lisbon
For Lisbon, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
-
Lisbon Downtown Tour - The Perfect Introduction to the City:
$1.24
-
Rua Augusta Arch Admission Ticket:
$3.03
-
Lisbon Historical Walking Tour:
$3.11
-
Rua Augusta Arch Admission Ticket:
$3.41
-
Contemporary Park of Nations Walking Audio Tour by VoiceMap:
$5.48
-
The Soul of Alfama Self-guided Audio Tour by VoiceMap Lisbon:
$5.99
-
Museu Coleção Berardo Admission Ticket:
$6.22
-
Street Art Virtual Tour in Lisbon:
$6.22
-
Skip the Line: Pilar 7 Bridge Experience Admission Ticket:
$6.22
-
Lisboa Story Centre: 1-Day Admission Ticket:
$7.96
-
Lisboa Story Centre Admission Ticket:
$8.09
-
Lisboa Story Centre: 1-Day Admission Ticket:
$8.48
Alcohol
The average person spends about $8.51 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 Lisbon 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
Sample the Local Flavors in Lisbon
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Lisbon:
-
Lisbon Pub Crawl:
$17
-
Lisbon Pub Crawl with Free Drinks:
$18
-
Lisbon Pub Crawl:
$18
-
Lisbon 4-Hour Pub Crawl:
$18
-
Alternative Pub Crawl with a Local Guide:
$28
-
3-Hour Portuguese History & Flavors Food & Wine Tour:
$30
-
Portuguese Wine Tasting and Cheese Lunch:
$44
-
From Half-Day Wine Tasting Tour:
$50
-
Christ the King and Arrábida Small-Group Tour with Wine Tasting from Lisbon:
$58
-
From Private Wine Tour with Setúbal & Arrábida:
$61
-
Sintra: Full-Day Tour from Lisbon with Wine Tasting:
$64
-
Private Full-Day Arrábida Park and Wine Tour:
$67
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Istanbul and Lisbon, we can see that Lisbon is more expensive. And not only is Istanbul much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 Lisbon would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Lisbon than you might in Istanbul.
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