Which place is cheaper, Saint Croix or Istanbul?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Istanbul or Saint Croix?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Istanbul or Saint Croix, 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 Saint Croix?
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.
Saint Croix
Sometimes all you want out of a vacation is the warmth of the sun, the sound of the waves and the taste of a cold drink. No more. No less. That's exactly what you can expect in St. Croix.
The largest of the U.S. Virgin Islands, St. Croix is a place of our leisure and relaxation. It's a bit of an expensive lifestyle for its 50,000 residents and daily visitors, but when you're living on island time, money is never a worry. There are no worries on island time.
This once volcanic island is covered in incredible beaches, stunning mountains, palm tress in the wind and historic colonial towns. While they may be a bit old and rundown, the Danish architecture still stands as a unique part of this island's legacy. Don't expect much window-shopping, though. That was not a feature incorporated in this style of architecture. If you want to know if a store is open, just step on in, but remember, shop hours are also running on island time.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Turkey, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Turkey.
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Istanbul Prices
Turkey PricesSaint Croix Prices
USVI Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayIstanbul $179Saint Croix $277
The average daily cost (per person) in Istanbul is $179, while the average daily cost in Saint Croix is $277. 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 Saint Croix in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personIstanbul $83Saint Croix $149
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomIstanbul $166Saint Croix $298
Compare Hotels in Istanbul and Saint Croix
Looking for a hotel in Istanbul or Saint Croix? 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 Saint Croix Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Istanbul $39Saint Croix $35
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Istanbul
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Istanbul:
- Istanbul Princes Island Tour with Lunch and Transfer: $19
- Sapanca and Masukiye Day Trip with Lunch and Hotel Transfer: $23
- Princes' Islands Cruise with Lunch and Transfer Full-Day Tour: $25
- Narita Airport to Tokyo one way Transfer : $28
- Transfer Istanbul City Center to Istanbul Ataturk Airport: $29
- Transfer Istanbul Ataturk Airport (ISL) to City Center: $29
- Bursa Uludağ Mountain Tour From Istanbul w/Lunch & Hotel Transfer: $29
- Private Istanbul Cruise Port(Galataport) Transfer hotel-airport: $30
- Istanbul Airport (IST) Private Arrival and Departure Transfer: $30
- Galataport Private Transfer to Blue Mosque & Hagia Sophia: $30
- Guided Byzantine & Bosphorus Tour with Transfer In Istanbul: $30
- Private Istanbul Airport Transfer to Blue Mosque Sultan Ahmet: $30
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Saint Croix
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Saint Croix:
- St. Croix to Henry E. Rohlsen Airport (STX) - Departure Transfer: $84
- Private Transfer from St. Croix Airport to St. Croix Cruise Port : $87
- Private Transfer from St. Croix Port to St. Croix Airport (STX): $87
- St. Croix to St. Croix Airport (STX) - Departure Private Transfer: $91
- St.Croix Airport (STX) to St.Croix - Arrival Private Transfer: $91
- Henry E. Rohlsen Airport (STX) to St.Croix - Round-Trip Transfer: $167
- Private Transfer from St.Croix hotels to St. Croix Cruise Port : $175
- Private Transfer from St.Croix Cruise Port to St.Croix hotels: $175
- Private Transfer from St. Croix Henry E. Rohlsen Airport (STX) to St. Croix : $180
Is it cheaper to fly into Istanbul or Saint Croix?
Prices for flights to both Saint Croix 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 $66Saint Croix $97
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Istanbul
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Istanbul.
- Istanbul Bosphorus Dinner Cruise with Turkish Night Show: $24
- Bosphorus Dinner Cruise with Show and Private Table: $30
- Bosphorus Night Cruise with Dinner, Shows and Party : $30
- Budget Evening Cruise: Dinner, Live Shows & Party: $30
- Bosphorus Dinner Cruise & Turkish Dance Shows with Private Table: $31
- Istanbul Bosphorus Cruise Dinner, Drinks & Show with Pickup: $32
- Dinner Cruise On The Bosphorus with Turkish night show: $34
- Bosphorus Dinner Cruise & Entertaintment & Private Table & Wi-Fi: $36
- Bosphorus Evening Cruise: Dinner, Live Shows & Private Table: $36
- Luxury Bosphorus Dinner Cruise & Shows Private Table & Free Wi-Fi: $36
- Istanbul Bosphorus Dinner Cruise with Drinks and Shows: $41
- Bosphorus Dinner Cruise with Folk Dance and Live Performances: $42
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Saint Croix
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Saint Croix.
- A Evening Cultural Experience Through Food Cooking Class St. Croix: $90
- A Morning Cultural Experience Through Food Cooking Class St. Croix: $90
- C'sted Sip & Savor Mixology Class with VI Food Tours: $131
- Taste of Twin City Food Tour with VI Food Tours: $145
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Istanbul $43Saint Croix $58
Tours and Activities in Istanbul
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Istanbul are as follows:
- Istanbul Culture History and UNESCO Treasures Kickstart Tour: $3.59
- Highlights of Istanbul Walking Tour: $3.61
- Istanbul Self Guided Walking Tour : $5.00
- Alternative Tour; Daily Life, Customs, Stories - Tip Based Tour: $5.00
- Istanbul Sites: Peel back the layers of Turkish history a self-guided audio tour: $5.40
- Bosphorus Explorer: 3-Hour Cruise with Asian Side Visit: $7.21
- Bosphorus Boat Tour 3 Hour with Asian Side Stop in Istanbul: $7.21
- Istanbul Bosphorus Tour With Whirling Dervish Show: $7.55
- Kadikoy's history, theatres and sweet shops: a self-guided audio tour: $8.99
- Istanbul Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.00
- Istanbul Bosphorus Sightseeing Cruise with Audio Guide: $9.02
- Istanbul, Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Grand Bazaar Walk Tour: $9.61
Tours and Activities in Saint Croix
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Saint Croix are as follows:
- Christiansted's Artisan Shopping Tour: $33
- St. Croix Ghost Tour of Historic Christiansted: $45
- Frederiksted Moke Tour: $75
- The Frederiksted St. Croix Sea Turtles Snorkeling Tour: $89
- Guided Kayak Tour of Salt River Bay Ecology and History: $115
- St Croix Island Tour: $118
- Parasail Experience in St Croix: $132
- Horseback Riding Experience: $160
- Private Sailing Tour of Pirate Waters and Shipwrecks: $175
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayIstanbul $12Saint Croix $27
Sample the Local Flavors in Istanbul
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Istanbul:
- Famous Istanbul Pub Crawl #1 Nightlife Experience: $28
- Istanbul Nightlife Pub Crawl Pub and İstanbul Club Adventure: $30
- Pub Crawl Istanbul / Rooftop Clubs & Party Bus: $30
- Istanbul Pub Crawl: Adults-Only Nightlife Adventure: $31
- Istanbul Wine Tasting at Home with Local Family: $78
- Istanbul Private Wine Tasting Tour Through 3 City Wineries : $210
Sample the Local Flavors in Saint Croix
Also in Saint Croix, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Farm to Bottle Tour at Prosperity Farm Distillery: $35
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Istanbul and Saint Croix, we can see that Saint Croix is more expensive. And not only is Istanbul much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Istanbul is in Europe and Saint Croix is in Caribbean Islands, 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 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 Saint Croix would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Saint Croix than you might in Istanbul.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Istanbul Expensive? and Is Saint Croix Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Istanbul or Saint Croix?
Istanbul has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Saint Croix experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Istanbul or Saint Croix in the Summer?
Both Saint Croix and Istanbul are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Istanbul in the summer for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences. Plenty of visitors come to Saint Croix because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In the summer, Istanbul is cooler than Saint Croix. Typically, the summer temperatures in Istanbul in July average around 24°C (74°F), and Saint Croix averages at about 29°C (83°F).
In July, Istanbul usually receives less rain than Saint Croix. Istanbul gets 19 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Saint Croix receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyIstanbul 24°C (74°F)Saint Croix 29°C (83°F)
Should I visit Istanbul or Saint Croix in the Autumn?
Both Saint Croix and Istanbul during the autumn are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Istanbul for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Saint Croix year-round.
In October, Istanbul is generally much colder than Saint Croix. Daily temperatures in Istanbul average around 16°C (61°F), and Saint Croix fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
Saint Croix gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Istanbul usually gets less rain in October than Saint Croix. Istanbul gets 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Saint Croix receives 146 mm (5.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberIstanbul 16°C (61°F)Saint Croix 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Istanbul or Saint Croix in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Istanbul and Saint Croix. The winter months attract visitors to Istanbul because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Saint Croix attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Istanbul is much colder than Saint Croix in the winter. The daily temperature in Istanbul averages around 6°C (43°F) in January, and Saint Croix fluctuates around 26°C (78°F).
In January, Istanbul usually receives more rain than Saint Croix. Istanbul gets 99 mm (3.9 in) of rain, while Saint Croix receives 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryIstanbul 6°C (43°F)Saint Croix 26°C (78°F)
Should I visit Istanbul or Saint Croix in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Istanbul as well as Saint Croix. The activities around the city and the natural beauty are the main draw to Istanbul this time of year. The warm climate attracts visitors to Saint Croix throughout the year.
In the spring, Istanbul is much colder than Saint Croix. Typically, the spring temperatures in Istanbul in April average around 13°C (55°F), and Saint Croix averages at about 27°C (80°F).
Istanbul usually gets less rain in April than Saint Croix. Istanbul gets 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Saint Croix receives 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilIstanbul 13°C (55°F)Saint Croix 27°C (80°F)
Typical Weather for Saint Croix and Istanbul
| Istanbul | Saint Croix | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 6°C (43°F) | 99 mm (3.9 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) |
| Feb | 6°C (44°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| Mar | 8°C (47°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| Apr | 13°C (55°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) |
| May | 17°C (63°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) |
| Jun | 21°C (71°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) |
| Jul | 24°C (74°F) | 19 mm (0.7 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) |
| Aug | 24°C (74°F) | 26 mm (1 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 101 mm (4 in) |
| Sep | 20°C (69°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 127 mm (5 in) |
| Oct | 16°C (61°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 146 mm (5.7 in) |
| Nov | 12°C (54°F) | 89 mm (3.5 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 126 mm (4.9 in) |
| Dec | 9°C (47°F) | 122 mm (4.8 in) | 26°C (80°F) | 71 mm (2.8 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.