Should you visit Istanbul or London?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel cost comparison between Istanbul and London 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.
London
The capital of the United Kingdom is a thriving multicultural metropolis. Steeped in iconic landmarks, world-class museums and royal parks, London is energetic, majestic, ambitious and one of the world's greatest cities. London is a cultural and fashion capital, a great place to go out, an amazing place to eat and one of those cities that is constantly changing with new and exciting things sprouting up almost every day. History and tradition greet you at every turn in the UK's capital. London is also a city with an edgy underbelly, delighting in neon pink dive bars, cheeky graffiti and mind-blowing street food. When you need a break from the action, pop into a pub or relax in one of the city's many parks. Blow through the city on a double-decker bus, and take a pinch-me-I'm-in-London walk through the West End. As one of the most visited cities in the world, London is busy, vibrant and very tourist friendly. The only problem with London is that it's very expensive; it can eat away at your budget if you aren't careful. Luckily, there are also tons of free or cheap things to do in London that can fill your time.
Which city is cheaper, London 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 London is $200. 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 London in more detail.
Accommodation
A hotel room in Istanbul is about $122 This assumes double occupancy and modest accommodations.
An average hotel room with basic furnishings costs about $250 in London For the most convenient locations and nicer amenities you can expect to pay a bit more.
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.
London food costs typically run travelers around $39 per day. Eating every meal in a nicer restaurant will drive the cost up, and grabbing fast food or casual meals will help you save money.
-
Food
Meals for one day
Istanbul
$25
London
$39
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 London
For London, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in London
For London, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
-
Moroccan Couscous Dinner in Shoreditch:
$50
-
3-Hour Secret British Food Tour:
$82
-
London Gourmet Food Tour:
$125
-
London Half-Day Food Tour: International Foods of Soho:
$111
-
3-Hour Thames Jazz Dinner Cruise:
$92
-
The London Showboat: Dinner, Show & Sightseeing Cruise:
$114
-
River Thames Dinner Cruise:
$116
-
Modern British Dinner at Chef's Home in East London:
$62
-
Dinner with Filmmakers & Filmmaking Experience in London:
$74
-
4-Hour East End Food Tour:
$98
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 London than paying for a taxi or private car service, as is expected. Typically, people spend $28 on transportation in London 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 London
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in London:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in London
Also for London, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
-
Shared City Center Transfer to London City Airport:
$30
-
Executive Transfer Between Heathrow and Central London:
$115
-
Executive Transfer Gatwick to or from Central London:
$169
-
Private Transfer: London to Southend Airport:
$173
-
Oxford Full-Day Tour from London with Train Transfers:
$57
-
Harry Potter Studios and Private Transfer from London:
$126
-
Harry Potter Warner Brothers Studio Tour & Transfers:
$117
-
Harry Potter: Warner Bros. Studio Tour with Transfer:
$118
-
London Airports: Shared Transfer to London Hotels:
$16
-
Warner Bros. Studio Tour and Transfer from London:
$118
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 London, including the cost of admission tickets for day tours, museums, and attractions, usually cost an average of $36 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
Typical Entertainment prices in London
Here are a few typical costs in London for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
Tours and Activities in London
Here are a few actual costs in London for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
-
90 minute Jack the Ripper Guided Walking Tour:
$14
-
Soho and Camden Market 3-Hour Tour in Spanish:
$15
-
Hidden London Walking Tour:
$17
-
World Rugby Museum Entrance Ticket:
$18
-
Notting Hill 2–Hour Walking Tour:
$20
-
South Bank 3-Hour Walking Tour and River Cruise:
$28
-
The London Time Tour Bus:
$28
-
Royal Parks and Palaces Bike Tour:
$34
-
Gangster London Walking Tour with Celebrity Guide:
$35
-
Small Group Children's Tour of Westminster in German:
$35
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 $17 on alcoholic beverages in London 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 London
Also in London, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
-
2-Hour Historic Pub Tour:
$28
-
West End Beer Tasting Pub Tour:
$68
-
Drink London! Historical Pub Walking Tour:
$35
-
2.5-Hour East End Pub Tour:
$48
-
London Pub Crawl and Nightlife Tour:
$28
-
The London Pub Crawl - Shoreditch:
$14
-
Camden Pub Crawl:
$20
-
The Original Shoreditch Pub Crawl:
$28
-
Central Daily 5-Hour Pub Crawl:
$14
-
5-Hour Shoreditch Pub Crawl:
$14
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Istanbul and London, we can see that London 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 London would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in London than you might in Istanbul.
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