Which place is cheaper, Montevideo or Istanbul?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Istanbul or Montevideo?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Istanbul or Montevideo, 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 Montevideo?
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.
Montevideo
As the morning sun tinges the calm waters of the Rio de la Plata with a golden hue, the Rambla and its city awakens to life with new adventures for those near and far. From tanning on the luxurious beaches to peering into Uruguayan history at local museums, one can be far from bored while staying in Montevideo. Combining the quaintness of the countryside with the excitement of urban life, this city holds a unique trait that cannot easily be replicated.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Turkey, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Turkey, The Best Cultural Tours in Uruguay, and The Best Adventure Tours to Uruguay.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayIstanbul $126Montevideo $64
The average daily cost (per person) in Istanbul is $126, while the average daily cost in Montevideo is $64. 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 Montevideo in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personIstanbul $47Montevideo $40
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomIstanbul $94Montevideo $80
Compare Hotels in Istanbul and Montevideo
Looking for a hotel in Istanbul or Montevideo? 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 Montevideo Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Istanbul $55Montevideo $7.38
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Istanbul
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Istanbul are as follows:
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Ferry$0.09
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Local Bus$0.09
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Istanbul
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Istanbul:
- Private Bosphorus Tour on Luxury Yacht w/transfer: $753
- From 2-Day Cappadocia Trip w/ Flight and Transfers: $469
- From Pamukkale Day Tour With Flights and Transfers: $323
- Private Full Day Walking Tour in Istanbul with Transfer: $294
- Hagia Sophia, Topkapi & Mosque Tour with Transfer: $286
- Private Guided Istanbul Luxury Tour (Tickets and Transfers): $283
- Troy and Gallipoli Day Guided Tour with Transfer: $280
- 3-Day Tours & Transfer Package: $226
- Istanbul Dolmabahçe Palace Private Tour with Transfers: $225
- Istanbul Airport Transfer: New Airport IST to Istanbul in Luxury Car: $224
- Istanbul Airport Transfer: Sabiha Airport SAW to Istanbul in Luxury Car: $224
- Istanbul Airport Transfer: Istanbul to Sabiha Airport SAW in Luxury Car: $224
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Montevideo
Also for Montevideo, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer in private vehicle from Montevideo Airport (MVD) -Montevideo City: $19
- Carrasco Airport Transfer: $20
- Private Transfer from Montevideo Port to Carrasco Airport (MVD): $26
- Private Transfer from Carrasco Airport (MVD) to Montevideo Port: $30
- Shared 1-Way or Round Trip MVD Airport Transfer: $35
- Airport-Hotel or Hotel-Airport Transfers: $36
- Transfer from Montevideo to Carrasco Airport: $45
- Private 1-Way or Round Trip MVD Airport Transfer: $45
- 1 - way - Transfer from Carrasco Interational Airport to Montevideo: $51
- Private Transfer from Punta Del Este Port to Carrasco Airport MVD: $72
- TRANSFER FROM OR TO THE AIRPORT (4 to 12 paxs): $80
- Carrasco International Airport (MVD) to Montevideo hotels - Round-Trip Transfer: $98
Is it cheaper to fly into Istanbul or Montevideo?
Prices for flights to both Montevideo 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 $31Montevideo $14
Typical Food Prices in Istanbul
Some typical examples of dining costs in Istanbul are as follows:
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Juice$0.06
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Turkish Delight$0.02
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Dessert$0.26
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Pastries$0.05
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Istanbul
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Istanbul.
- Bosphorus Dinner Cruise with Turkish Night Show from Istanbul: $16
- Istanbul Bosphorus Dinner Cruise Turkish Night Show All inclusive: $16
- Dinner Cruise and Entertainment with Private Table: $17
- Bosphorus Dinner Cruise Tour With Turkish Night Show: $21
- Bosphorus Dinner Cruise , Unlimited Drinks, & Show: $22
- Bosphorus Luxury Catamaran Cruise with Dinner Show: $25
- Bosphorus Dinner Cruise and Turkish Night Show: $26
- Istanbul Bosphorus Cruise with All inclusive Dinner and Belly-Dancer Show : $27
- Bosphorus Boat Cruise with Dinner & Entertainment: $27
- Istanbul Bosphorus Dinner Cruise with Unlimited Drinks and Shows: $28
- Dinner Cruise Bosphorus with Hotel Transfer: $28
- 3 Hour Ottoman Dinner Cruise in Istanbul : $29
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Montevideo
For Montevideo, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- The best Montevideo Dinner Show. Tango and Candombe. El Milongon.: $85
- El Milongon Dinner & Show: Candombe, Tango and Folklore: $98
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Istanbul $79Montevideo $21
Typical Entertainment Prices in Istanbul
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Istanbul are as follows:
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Bosphurus Boat (for 2)$0.62
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Yerebatan Cistern for Two$0.62
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Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts for Two$0.31
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Hagia Sofia entrance$0.93
Tours and Activities in Istanbul
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Istanbul are as follows:
- 2 Hours Ultimate Kebab Experience in Galata, Istanbul: $160
- 4 Hours Private Highlights Tour Of Istanbul: $273
- All in One Day Istanbul - Historical Tour of Istanbul with Bosphorus Cruise: $164
- Bosphorus Cruise And Asia Minor Tour: $220
- Dolmabace Palace, Bosphorus Boat Tour , Eyüp Sultan Mosque Tour: $150
- Highlights of Cappadocia with Mehmet ( Private Tour ): $95
- Istanbul Half Day City Tour (Ottoman Relics): $55
- City Highlights Tour w/Hagia Sophia & Blue Mosque: $35
- Must - See Istanbul Stops 1: Half Day Morning Tour: $139
- 1 Day Private Istanbul Guided Tour: $75
- 1,2 or 3 DAY: Private Guided Istanbul Tour from CRUISE SHIP or HOTEL: $75
- 1-Day Best of Istanbul Private Tour with the Best Local Guides: $250
Tours and Activities in Montevideo
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Montevideo.
- Montevideo's Culture and History: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.20
- Museo Andes 1972 / Crash Memorial Admission Ticket: $8.00
- Palacio Salvo Official Ticket with Guided Tour: $13
- Tourist Bus "Discover Montevideo": $25
- Half-day Regular City Tour at Montevideo : $25
- Audio Guided Tour in Montevideo City for Cruisers: $26
- Montevideo City Tour for Cruisers - AudioGuided: $26
- City tour Montevideo: $27
- Half-Day Sightseeing Tour: $28
- Shared Montevideo Tour for Cruisers: $30
- Old City Walking Tour with Private Photographer: $30
- Walking Tour with Photographer and Audioguide: $31
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayIstanbul $15Montevideo -
Sample the Local Flavors in Istanbul
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Istanbul:
- Istanbul 7-Hour Pub Crawl: Big Night Out: $27
- Party Pub Crawl with Party Bus: $29
- Wine Tasting Experience in Istanbul : $50
- Istanbul Wine Tasting at Home with Local Family: $84
- 2-Day Wine Tasting Tour along the Thracian Wine Route: $180
- Istanbul Private Wine Tasting Tour Through 3 City Wineries : $246
- Istanbul Private and Guided, Food and Wine Tasting Tour: $430
- Luxury Wine Tasting on a Private Yacht: $849
Sample the Local Flavors in Montevideo
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Montevideo:
- Half Day Tour at Pizzorno Winery with Lunch and Wine Tasting: $120
- The best wine tour: $140
- Wine tour - Lunch & Tasting with Wine Explorers: $198
- Wine Tasting & Countryside Lunch Experience: $210
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Istanbul and Montevideo, we can see that Istanbul is more expensive. And not only is Montevideo much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Istanbul is in Europe and Montevideo is in South America, 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 Montevideo would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Montevideo 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 Montevideo.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Istanbul Expensive? and Is Montevideo Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Istanbul or Montevideo?
Istanbul has a larger population, and is about 9 times larger than the population of Montevideo. When comparing the sizes of Istanbul and Montevideo, 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.
When is the best time to visit Istanbul or Montevideo?
Even though both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, they experience these seasons at different times of the year. Montevideo is in the southern hemisphere and summer is in January and winter is in July, but Istanbul has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].
Should I visit Istanbul or Montevideo in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Istanbul as well as Montevideo. The city activities and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Istanbul this time of year.
In July, Istanbul is generally around the same temperature as Montevideoin January. Daily temperatures in Istanbul average around 24°C (74°F), and Montevideo fluctuates around 24°C (75°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Montevideo. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Istanbul this time of the year. In the summer, Istanbul often gets more sunshine than Montevideoin January. Istanbul gets 333 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Montevideo receives 296 hours of full sun.
Istanbul usually gets less rain in July than Montevideoin January. Istanbul gets 19 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Montevideo receives 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryIstanbul 24°C (74°F)Montevideo 24°C (75°F)
Should I visit Istanbul or Montevideo in the Autumn?
Both Montevideo and Istanbul are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Istanbul for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
Istanbul is around the same temperature as Montevideo in the autumn. The daily temperature in Istanbul averages around 16°C (61°F) in October, and Montevideo fluctuates around 17°C (63°F)in April.
Istanbul usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Montevideo during autumn. Istanbul gets 169 hours of sunny skies, while Montevideo receives 171 hours of full sun in the autumn.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Montevideo. In October, Istanbul usually receives less rain than Montevideoin April. Istanbul gets 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Montevideo receives 100 mm (3.9 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilIstanbul 16°C (61°F)Montevideo 17°C (63°F)
Should I visit Istanbul or Montevideo in the Winter?
Both Montevideo and Istanbul during the winter are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Istanbul in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
In the winter, Istanbul is much colder than Montevideo. Typically, the winter temperatures in Istanbul in January average around 6°C (43°F), and Montevideo averages at about 11°C (52°F)in July.
In the winter, Istanbul often gets less sunshine than Montevideoin July. Istanbul gets 75 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Montevideo receives 135 hours of full sun.
Istanbul usually gets more rain in January than Montevideoin July. Istanbul gets 99 mm (3.9 in) of rain, while Montevideo receives 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyIstanbul 6°C (43°F)Montevideo 11°C (52°F)
Should I visit Istanbul or Montevideo in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Istanbul and Montevideo. Most visitors come to Istanbul for the activities around the city and the natural beauty during these months.
In April, Istanbul is generally cooler than Montevideoin October. Daily temperatures in Istanbul average around 13°C (55°F), and Montevideo fluctuates around 17°C (63°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Montevideo this time of the year. Istanbul usually receives less sunshine than Montevideo during spring. Istanbul gets 180 hours of sunny skies, while Montevideo receives 248 hours of full sun in the spring.
Montevideo receives a lot of rain in the spring. In April, Istanbul usually receives less rain than Montevideoin October. Istanbul gets 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Montevideo receives 100 mm (3.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberIstanbul 13°C (55°F)Montevideo 17°C (63°F)
Typical Weather for Montevideo and Istanbul
| Istanbul | Montevideo | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 6°C (43°F) | 99 mm (3.9 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) |
| Feb | 6°C (44°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Mar | 8°C (47°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
| Apr | 13°C (55°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) |
| May | 17°C (63°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Jun | 21°C (71°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| Jul | 24°C (74°F) | 19 mm (0.7 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Aug | 24°C (74°F) | 26 mm (1 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Sep | 20°C (69°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Oct | 16°C (61°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) |
| Nov | 12°C (54°F) | 89 mm (3.5 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) |
| Dec | 9°C (47°F) | 122 mm (4.8 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) |
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.