Should you visit Istanbul or Lisbon?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel cost comparison between Istanbul and Lisbon can help. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
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 $99, while the average daily cost in Lisbon is $113. 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 $122 This assumes double occupancy and modest accommodations.
For a normal double-occupancy room in Lisbon, $102 is the average cost for a hotel room. Also in Lisbon, the typical price for a place to stay for one person is $51, such as in a hostel.
Food
Food in Istanbul costs travelers about $25 per day on average. Restaurants can vary significantly in price, so choose wisely if you're trying to save money. Fast food and street stalls are typically your cheapest options, which sit down restaurants can be significantly more expensive.
In Lisbon travelers spend around $37 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
$25
Lisbon
$37
Typical Food prices in Istanbul
Some typical examples of dining costs in Istanbul are as follows:
-
Juice
$0.25
-
Turkish Delight
$0.07
-
Dessert
$1.05
-
Pastries
$0.18
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Istanbul
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Istanbul.
-
3 Hour Evening Food Tour in Kadıkoy:
$90
-
Bosphorus: Dinner Cruise with Live Performances Experience:
$47
-
Orient Bosphorus Dinner and Show Cruise:
$51
-
Istanbul Bosphorus Cruise with Dinner and Entertainment:
$53
-
4-Hour Bosphorus Dinner and Cruise:
$97
-
Dinner Cruise on the Bosphorus:
$55
-
Istanbul New Year 2022 Dinner and Party Cruise on the Bosphorus:
$0.00
-
Istanbul Dinner Cruise & Show:
$29
-
Istanbul Dinner Cruise Show:
$30
-
Bosphorus Dinner Cruise Inc. Dinner and Belly Dance Show with Hotel Transfer:
$34
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:
-
2-Hour Pastel de Nata Cooking Class:
$55
-
Private Family-Friendly Food Tour:
$67
-
3-Hour Bike Food Tour:
$70
-
Lisbon Hands-on Portuguese Cooking Class:
$80
-
Lisbon by night - Walking Tour, Fado and Dinner:
$108
-
Drag Queen Cooking Party and Live Show:
$119
-
Half–Day Private Electric Tuk Tuk Guided Food Tour:
$119
-
Azeitão and Alentejo Wine and Food Tour from Lisbon:
$182
-
Lisbon Fado and Dinner Private Prestige Tour:
$327
-
Fado Dinner Show Private Night Lisbon Tour:
$273
Local Transportation
The cost of a taxi ride in Istanbul is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $5.79 per person, per day, on local transportation in Istanbul.
Public transportation tends to be much less expensive in Lisbon than paying for a taxi or private car service, as is expected. Typically, people spend $20 on transportation in Lisbon on average per day.
Typical Local Transportation prices in Istanbul
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Istanbul are as follows:
-
Ferry
$0.34
-
Local Bus
$0.37
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Istanbul
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Istanbul:
-
Istanbul Airport Private Transfer:
$59
-
Private Istanbul New Airport Transfer Service:
$4.36
-
Private Transfer from Istanbul Airport to Istanbul:
$65
-
Istanbul Transfers: Airport, Hotel or Return Trip:
$55
-
Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport Private Transfers:
$48
-
Istanbul Airport Transfers:
$73
-
Istanbul Airport Transfer / Private Airport Transfer:
$3.73
-
Istanbul Airports Transfer:
$6.22
-
istanbul airport cheapest vip transfer by private car:
$14
-
Safe Airport transfer service in istanbul:
$16
Typical Local Transportation prices in Lisbon
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Lisbon:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lisbon
Also for Lisbon, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
-
Lisbon Airport: Shared Arrival and Departure Transfers:
$12
-
Lisbon Sailing Tour with Transfers:
$35
-
Lisbon Airport Transfer Service to Cascais Hotels:
$46
-
Private Transfer from/to Lisbon Airport:
$46
-
Lisbon Airport Transfer to Cascais, Estoril or Sintra:
$64
-
Lisbon Airport to City Center Private Transfer:
$68
-
Full-Day Kayak Tour with Picnic and Transfer:
$97
-
Transfer between Lisbon and Popular Cities in Portugal:
$260
-
Lisbon Airport to or from Algarve Private Transfer:
$358
-
Lisbon to Seville Private Transfer:
$666
Entertainment
Entertainment and activities in Istanbul typically cost an average of $36 per person, per day. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
Sightseeing expenses in Lisbon, including the cost of admission tickets for day tours, museums, and attractions, usually cost an average of $16 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:
-
Grand Bazaar Tour with Expert:
$42
-
The Highlights of Istanbul Tour:
$44
-
Samatya - Armenian District Walking Tour:
$85
-
Dolmabahce Palace and Grand Bazaar Tour:
$107
-
Private Istanbul Tour with Car and Guide:
$333
-
2-Day Cappadocia Tour From Istanbul Optional Balloon Flight:
$339
-
Dolmabahçe Palace Admission and Guided Tour:
$21
-
Istanbul Food on Foot Tour:
$151
-
Istanbul Private Guided Tour:
$53
-
Highlights of 1 or 2-Day Private Guided Tour:
$84
Tours and Activities in Lisbon
Here are a few actual costs in Lisbon for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
-
Lisboa Story Centre: 1-Day Admission Ticket:
$8.48
-
Private 1.5-Hour Kickstart Tour w/ a Local:
$9.10
-
4-Hour Walking Tour and Free Tram Ride:
$16
-
Belém Guided Tour:
$17
-
Small Group Walking Tour of Belém:
$18
-
Self-Drive City Tour With GPS Audio Guide:
$20
-
Lisbon’s South Side, River Tejo & 3-Hour Walking Tour:
$22
-
Private Off the Beaten Path Tour with a Local:
$26
-
Old Lisbon Private Walk Tour:
$26
-
Lisbon Half-Day Private Tour:
$28
Alcohol
The average person spends about $8.86 on alcoholic beverages in Istanbul per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
The average person spends about $14 on alcoholic beverages in Lisbon per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
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
Also in Lisbon, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
-
From Private Wine Tour with Setúbal & Arrábida:
$61
-
Arrábida: Full-Day Private Tour with Wine Tasting:
$71
-
Port Wine Tasting & Tapas:
$90
-
Private Van Tour Evora and Alentejo Wine Tasting:
$91
-
Private Wine Tour in Lisbon:
$91
-
Lisbon Wine Tasting, Tapas and Old City Tour:
$118
-
Cheleiros and Bucelas Wine Tasting Tour from Lisbon:
$205
-
Setúbal Region & Arrábida: Full-Day Private Wine Tour:
$239
-
Sintra: Full-Day Tour from Lisbon with Wine Tasting:
$64
-
Portuguese Wine Tasting and Cheese Lunch:
$44
When comparing the travel costs between Istanbul and Lisbon, we can see that Lisbon is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Europe, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
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