Which place is cheaper, Podgorica or Istanbul?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Istanbul or Podgorica?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Istanbul or Podgorica, 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 Podgorica?
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.
Podgorica
Podgorica is Montenegro's capital city, and also its largest. Dating back to the Ottoman Empire, World War II destroyed much of this history, but there are a few Turkish remnants worth visiting. Podgorica's central location often makes the city a good starting point for day trips to coastal cities or mountain resorts.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Turkey, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Turkey, The Best Budget Tours to Montenegro, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Montenegro.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayIstanbul $126Podgorica $112
The average daily cost (per person) in Istanbul is $126, while the average daily cost in Podgorica is $112. 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 Podgorica in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personIstanbul $47Podgorica $49
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomIstanbul $94Podgorica $98
Compare Hotels in Istanbul and Podgorica
Looking for a hotel in Istanbul or Podgorica? 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 Podgorica Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Istanbul $55Podgorica $21
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Istanbul
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Istanbul are as follows:
-
Ferry$0.09
-
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 Podgorica
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Podgorica:
- Private transfer from Podgorica airport to Podgorica city: $26
- Private Transfer to Budva: $39
- Podgorica Airport (TGD) to Kotor Cruise Port - Arrival Private Transfer: $47
- Private transfer to Tivat: $53
- Private transfer to Kotor: $53
- From One-Way Private Transfer to/from Virpazar: $57
- Private Transfer from Podgorica Airport (TGD) to Petrovac : $58
- Private Airport Transfer from Podgorica airport to Budva: $68
- Podgorica airport: Private Transfer to/from Budva: $75
- Private transfers from Podgorica Airport and city to Budva: $75
- Private transfers from Podgorica Airport and city to Bar: $75
- Transfer from Podgorica Airport to Budva: $87
Is it cheaper to fly into Istanbul or Podgorica?
Prices for flights to both Podgorica 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
-
Food Meals for one dayIstanbul $31Podgorica $43
Typical Food Prices in Istanbul
Some typical examples of dining costs in Istanbul are as follows:
-
Juice$0.06
-
Turkish Delight$0.02
-
Dessert$0.26
-
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
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Istanbul $79Podgorica $22
Typical Entertainment Prices in Istanbul
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Istanbul are as follows:
-
Bosphurus Boat (for 2)$0.62
-
Yerebatan Cistern for Two$0.62
-
Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts for Two$0.31
-
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 Podgorica
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Podgorica are as follows:
- Skip The Line: National Park Skadar Lake - Tickets: $8.17
- Skadar lake - Falcon kayak tour: $13
- Lake Skadar: Guided Sightseeing Boat Tour with Refreshments: $16
- Two Hours Sightseeing Lake Cruise at Montenegro National Park: $16
- Podgorica City Walking Tour: $22
- Lake Skadar: Guided Panoramic Boat Tour to Kom Monastery : $22
- Lake Skadar: Early-morning Birdwatching and Photography Tour: $27
- From Virpazar: Guided Lake Skadar cruise and Crnojevića River: $33
- Book Your Tour Podgorica by walk: $36
- Book Your Donkey Farm Tour: $57
- Book Your Tour Ostrog Monastery: $65
- Cultural Bike Tour of Podgorica;Discovering the Ancient Treasures: $71
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayIstanbul $15Podgorica $21
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 Podgorica
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Podgorica:
- Private Wine Tasting Activity at Lipovac Winery: $27
- Book Your Wine Tour: $77
- Podgorica Car Trip - Architecture, History, Wine tasting, Churches, Doclea city: $93
- Podgorica Car Trip, Doclea city, Wine tasting, Niagara falls: $106
- Wine tasting in the family winery, feel the spirit: $120
- Montenegro: Nature, Locals & Wine Tour: $128
- Skadar lake boat ride through "Montenegrin Amazon", wine tasting & Niagara falls: $196
When comparing the travel costs between Istanbul and Podgorica, we can see that Istanbul 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.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Istanbul Expensive? and Is Podgorica Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Istanbul or Podgorica?
Istanbul has a larger population, and is about 80 times larger than the population of Podgorica. When comparing the sizes of Istanbul and Podgorica, 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 Podgorica?
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 Podgorica in the Summer?
Both Podgorica and Istanbul are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The summer months attract visitors to Istanbul because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.
Istanbul is cooler than Podgorica in the summer. The daily temperature in Istanbul averages around 24°C (74°F) in July, and Podgorica fluctuates around 26°C (80°F).
It's quite sunny in Podgorica. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Istanbul. Istanbul usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Podgorica during summer. Istanbul gets 333 hours of sunny skies, while Podgorica receives 341 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Istanbul usually receives less rain than Podgorica. Istanbul gets 19 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Podgorica receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain each month for the summer.
-
Summer Average Temperatures JulyIstanbul 24°C (74°F)Podgorica 26°C (80°F)
Should I visit Istanbul or Podgorica in the Autumn?
Both Podgorica and Istanbul during the autumn are popular places to visit. The city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Istanbul this time of year.
In the autumn, Istanbul is around the same temperature as Podgorica. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Istanbul in October average around 16°C (61°F), and Podgorica averages at about 17°C (63°F).
In Podgorica, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the autumn, Istanbul often gets less sunshine than Podgorica. Istanbul gets 169 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Podgorica receives 203 hours of full sun.
Podgorica gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Istanbul usually gets less rain in October than Podgorica. Istanbul gets 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Podgorica receives 166 mm (6.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberIstanbul 16°C (61°F)Podgorica 17°C (63°F)
Should I visit Istanbul or Podgorica in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Istanbul and Podgorica. Many travelers come to Istanbul for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
In January, Istanbul is generally around the same temperature as Podgorica. Daily temperatures in Istanbul average around 6°C (43°F), and Podgorica fluctuates around 6°C (42°F).
Istanbul usually receives less sunshine than Podgorica during winter. Istanbul gets 75 hours of sunny skies, while Podgorica receives 121 hours of full sun in the winter.
Podgorica receives a lot of rain in the winter. In January, Istanbul usually receives less rain than Podgorica. Istanbul gets 99 mm (3.9 in) of rain, while Podgorica receives 192 mm (7.6 in) of rain each month for the winter.
-
Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryIstanbul 6°C (43°F)Podgorica 6°C (42°F)
Should I visit Istanbul or Podgorica in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Istanbul as well as Podgorica. Many visitors come to Istanbul in the spring for the activities around the city and the natural beauty.
Istanbul is cooler than Podgorica in the spring. The daily temperature in Istanbul averages around 13°C (55°F) in April, and Podgorica fluctuates around 14°C (58°F).
In the spring, Istanbul often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Podgorica. Istanbul gets 180 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Podgorica receives 194 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Podgorica. Istanbul usually gets less rain in April than Podgorica. Istanbul gets 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Podgorica receives 144 mm (5.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Spring Average Temperatures AprilIstanbul 13°C (55°F)Podgorica 14°C (58°F)
Typical Weather for Podgorica and Istanbul
| Istanbul | Podgorica | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 6°C (43°F) | 99 mm (3.9 in) | 6°C (42°F) | 192 mm (7.6 in) |
| Feb | 6°C (44°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 167 mm (6.6 in) |
| Mar | 8°C (47°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 159 mm (6.3 in) |
| Apr | 13°C (55°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 144 mm (5.7 in) |
| May | 17°C (63°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 19°C (67°F) | 89 mm (3.5 in) |
| Jun | 21°C (71°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
| Jul | 24°C (74°F) | 19 mm (0.7 in) | 26°C (80°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Aug | 24°C (74°F) | 26 mm (1 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) |
| Sep | 20°C (69°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) |
| Oct | 16°C (61°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 166 mm (6.5 in) |
| Nov | 12°C (54°F) | 89 mm (3.5 in) | 11°C (53°F) | 239 mm (9.4 in) |
| Dec | 9°C (47°F) | 122 mm (4.8 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 217 mm (8.5 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.