Which place is cheaper, Plzen or Istanbul?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Istanbul or Plzen?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Istanbul or Plzen, 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 Plzen?
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.
Plzen
Renowned as the home of the pilsner beer, Plzen is a city located in the West Bohemia region of the Czech Republic. Beyond beer, it also features a number of impressive landmarks some of which include St. Bartholomew's Cathedral and the Great Synagogue.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Turkey, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Turkey, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Czech Republic, and The Best Cultural Tours in Czech Republic.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayIstanbul $126Plzen $101
The average daily cost (per person) in Istanbul is $126, while the average daily cost in Plzen is $101. 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 Plzen in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personIstanbul $47Plzen $61
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomIstanbul $94Plzen $122
Compare Hotels in Istanbul and Plzen
Looking for a hotel in Istanbul or Plzen? 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 Plzen Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Istanbul $55Plzen $8.27
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:
- Princes' Islands Tour with Lunch and Transfers: $13
- Private Transfer from Istanbul Hotels to Istanbul Cruise Port: $19
- Istanbul City to Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen Airport (SAW)-Departure Private Transfer: $20
- Airport - Otel Transfer and City Tours: $20
- Private One-Way New Istanbul Airport Transfer To/From Istanbul: $21
- Istanbul Hotels to Istanbul Ataturk Airport (ISL) - Departure Private Transfer: $22
- Istanbul Airport (SAW) to Istanbul - Arrival Private Transfer: $22
- Istanbul to Istanbul Airport (SAW) - Departure Private Transfer: $22
- Istanbul Airport Private Transfers: $22
- Princes' Islands Cruise w/Music, Lunch & Transfer: $24
- Istanbul Airport VIP/ULTRA VIP Transfer, Free WIFI: $25
- Private Transfer from Istanbul Hotels to Istanbul Cruise Port: $26
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Plzen
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Plzen:
- Private Transfer from Pilsen to Prague: $87
- Private Transfer from Pilsen to Prague with 2 hours for sightseeing: $116
- Private Transfer from Pilsen(Plzen) to Prague: $271
Is it cheaper to fly into Istanbul or Plzen?
Prices for flights to both Plzen 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 $31Plzen $31
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
- Bosphorus Dinner Cruise & Show with Private Table: $17
- Dinner Cruise and Entertainment with Private Table: $17
- Bosphorus Dinner Cruise , Unlimited Drinks, & Show: $21
- Bosphorus Luxury Catamaran Cruise with Dinner Show: $25
- Bosphorus Dinner Cruise and Turkish Night Show: $26
- Bosphorus Boat Cruise with Dinner & Entertainment: $27
- Istanbul Bosphorus Dinner Cruise with Unlimited Drinks and Shows: $28
- Dinner Cruise Bosphorus with Hotel Transfer: $28
- Istanbul Bosphorus Dinner Cruise and Turkish Night Show: $29
- Half Day Sunset Luxury Yacht Dinner Cruise Tour in Istanbul: $29
- 3 Hour Ottoman Dinner Cruise in Istanbul : $29
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Istanbul $79Plzen $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:
- App self-guided tours Istanbul with multilingual audioguide: $2.14
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.21
- City Tour with Audio Guide in your smartphone: $5.35
- Highlights Self Guided Scavenger Hunt & Tour: $5.35
- Hagia Sophia Exclusive Digital Audio Guided Tour: $5.35
- City Exploration Game and Tour: $6.42
- Istanbul Outdoor Escape Game: The Royal Adventure: $7.08
- Istanbul in a day: A Self-Guided Audio Tour in English: $7.87
- Daytime or Sunset Sightseeing Cruise & Audio Guide: $8.06
- Hippodrome and Blue Mosque Guided Tour: $8.73
- Bosphorus Sightseeing Cruise with Audio Guide: $9.62
- The Royal Adventure Highlights Exploration Game: $11
Tours and Activities in Plzen
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Plzen are as follows:
- Pilsen: Historic Underground Tour with a Glass of Beer: $8.56
- Pilsen Historic Underground Tour with a Glass of Beer: $8.74
- Pilsen: Old Town Gastronomy Tour: $32
- Pilsen Private Walking Tour: $201
- Experience Best Prague Tandem Skydiving : $250
- Private Tour to Pilsner Urquell from Prague: $272
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayIstanbul $15Plzen $23
Sample the Local Flavors in Istanbul
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Istanbul:
- Istanbul Pub Crawl Big Nightout . Rooftop parties,party Bus & Nightlife: $22
- Istanbul 7-Hour Pub Crawl: Big Night Out: $27
- Famous Istanbul Pub Crawl #1 Nightlife Experience: $27
- Party Pub Crawl with Party Bus: $29
- Wine Tasting Experience in Istanbul : $50
- Istanbul Wine Tasting at Home with Local Family: $80
- 2-Day Wine Tasting Tour along the Thracian Wine Route: $180
- Istanbul Private Wine Tasting Tour Through 3 City Wineries : $245
- Istanbul Private and Guided, Food and Wine Tasting Tour: $430
- Luxury Wine Tasting on a Private Yacht: $844
Sample the Local Flavors in Plzen
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Plzen:
- Brewery Museum Entrance including a Glass of Beer: $6.55
- Pilsen: Pilsner Urquell Brewery Tour with Beer Tasting: $17
- Pilsner Urquell Brewery Tour with Beer Tasting: $17
- Pilsen Highlights Small-Group Tour and Pilsner Brewery Tour including Lunch and Beer Tasting: $108
- Pilsner brewery tour incl beer tasting & Czech town Pilsen: $140
- Day trip to Pilsner Urquell brewery and Bohemian glassworks: $207
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Istanbul and Plzen, we can see that Istanbul is more expensive. And not only is Plzen much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Plzen would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Plzen 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 Plzen.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Istanbul Expensive? and Is Plzen Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Istanbul or Plzen?
Istanbul has a larger population, and is about 70 times larger than the population of Plzen. When comparing the sizes of Istanbul and Plzen, 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 Plzen?
Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Istanbul or Plzen in the Summer?
Both Plzen and Istanbul are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The city activities and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Istanbul this time of year.
Istanbul is a little warmer than Plzen in the summer. The daily temperature in Istanbul averages around 24°C (74°F) in July, and Plzen fluctuates around 20°C (67°F).
It's quite sunny in Plzen. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Istanbul. Istanbul usually receives more sunshine than Plzen during summer. Istanbul gets 333 hours of sunny skies, while Plzen receives 212 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Istanbul usually receives less rain than Plzen. Istanbul gets 19 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Plzen receives 81 mm (3.2 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyIstanbul 24°C (74°F)Plzen 20°C (67°F)
Should I visit Istanbul or Plzen in the Autumn?
Both Plzen and Istanbul during the autumn are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Istanbul for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
In the autumn, Istanbul is a little warmer than Plzen. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Istanbul in October average around 16°C (61°F), and Plzen averages at about 11°C (51°F).
In the autumn, Istanbul often gets more sunshine than Plzen. Istanbul gets 169 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Plzen receives 120 hours of full sun.
Istanbul usually gets more rain in October than Plzen. Istanbul gets 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Plzen receives 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberIstanbul 16°C (61°F)Plzen 11°C (51°F)
Should I visit Istanbul or Plzen in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Istanbul and Plzen. Many visitors come to Istanbul in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Plzen can be very cold during winter. In January, Istanbul is generally much warmer than Plzen. Daily temperatures in Istanbul average around 6°C (43°F), and Plzen fluctuates around -1°C (31°F).
Istanbul usually receives more sunshine than Plzen during winter. Istanbul gets 75 hours of sunny skies, while Plzen receives 45 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Istanbul usually receives more rain than Plzen. Istanbul gets 99 mm (3.9 in) of rain, while Plzen receives 25 mm (1 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryIstanbul 6°C (43°F)Plzen -1°C (31°F)
Should I visit Istanbul or Plzen in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Istanbul as well as Plzen. Most visitors come to Istanbul for the activities around the city and the natural beauty during these months.
Istanbul is a little warmer than Plzen in the spring. The daily temperature in Istanbul averages around 13°C (55°F) in April, and Plzen fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).
In the spring, Istanbul often gets more sunshine than Plzen. Istanbul gets 180 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Plzen receives 164 hours of full sun.
Istanbul usually gets more rain in April than Plzen. Istanbul gets 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Plzen receives 35 mm (1.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilIstanbul 13°C (55°F)Plzen 11°C (51°F)
Typical Weather for Plzen and Istanbul
| Istanbul | Plzen | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 6°C (43°F) | 99 mm (3.9 in) | -1°C (31°F) | 25 mm (1 in) |
| Feb | 6°C (44°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) | 2°C (35°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Mar | 8°C (47°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) | 6°C (42°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) |
| Apr | 13°C (55°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) |
| May | 17°C (63°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| Jun | 21°C (71°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Jul | 24°C (74°F) | 19 mm (0.7 in) | 20°C (67°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Aug | 24°C (74°F) | 26 mm (1 in) | 19°C (67°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) |
| Sep | 20°C (69°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) |
| Oct | 16°C (61°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Nov | 12°C (54°F) | 89 mm (3.5 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) |
| Dec | 9°C (47°F) | 122 mm (4.8 in) | 1°C (34°F) | 23 mm (0.9 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.