Which place is cheaper, Santo Domingo 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 Santo Domingo?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Istanbul or Santo Domingo, 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 Santo Domingo?
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.
Santo Domingo
Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic, is a vibrant city that seamlessly blends history, culture, and modernity. Known for being the oldest continuously inhabited European settlement in the Americas, Santo Domingo offers a wealth of experiences that cater to every type of traveler.
Traveling to Santo Domingo on a budget is entirely achievable with some strategic planning. Accommodations range from luxury hotels to budget-friendly hostels and guesthouses. The Zona Colonial, the historic district, offers several affordable lodging options that provide easy access to major attractions. Hostels offer comfortable accommodations and a chance to meet fellow travelers, too. Eating on a budget is also feasible in Santo Domingo. Local eateries, known as "comedores," serve traditional Dominican dishes at reasonable prices.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Turkey, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Turkey, The Best Adventure Tours to Dominican Republic, and The Best Adventure Tours to Dominican Republic.
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Istanbul Prices
Turkey PricesSanto Domingo Prices
Dominican Republic Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayIstanbul $159Santo Domingo $106
The average daily cost (per person) in Istanbul is $159, while the average daily cost in Santo Domingo is $106. 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 Santo Domingo in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personIstanbul $74Santo Domingo $43
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomIstanbul $148Santo Domingo $86
Compare Hotels in Istanbul and Santo Domingo
Looking for a hotel in Istanbul or Santo Domingo? 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 Santo Domingo Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Istanbul $35Santo Domingo $4.87
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Istanbul
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Istanbul are as follows:
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Metro Cards$4.59
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Istanbul
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Istanbul:
- Fast & Luxury VIP Private Transfer | IST Airport & Hotel pickup: $8.11
- Sapanca & Masukiye Day Tour from Istanbul with Lunch & Transfer: $15
- Istanbul Princes Island Tour with Lunch & Hotel Transfer: $20
- Full Day Sapanca Tour with Lunch and Transfer From Istanbul: $23
- Istanbul Airport or Sabiha Gokcen Private Airport Transfers: $25
- Istanbul Airport Private Arrival Transfer: $29
- Reliable & Safe Istanbul Airport Taxi Transfer – VIP Service: $30
- Istanbul Airport Private Departure Transfer: $31
- Istanbul Airport Private Transfer: $32
- Private Minivan Transfer from Istanbul Airport: $33
- Istanbul Airports Arrival or Departure Private Transfers: $34
- Istanbul to Istanbul Airport (IST) - Departure Private Transfer: $35
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santo Domingo
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Santo Domingo:
- Santo Domingo Airport (SDQ) Arrival Transfer (Airport to Santo Domingo City): $12
- Private Transfer from Santo Domingo Airport (SDQ): $15
- Santo Domingo Airport: One-Way or Round Trip Transfers: $20
- Experience at the Museo del Ron Dominicano, Private Transfer.: $28
- Santo Domingo to Santo Domingo Airport (SDQ) - Departure Transfer: $29
- Roundtrip Private Transfer from Santo Domingo Airport (SDQ): $29
- Santo Domingo Airport (SDQ) to Santo Domingo - Arrival Transfer: $36
- Santo Domingo to Santo Domingo Airport (SDQ) - Departure Transfer: $36
- Santo Domingo Airport (SDQ) to Puerto Plata - Private Transfer: $36
- Las Galeras / Samana to Santo Domingo Airport (SDQ) - Departure Private Transfer: $38
- Puerto Plata to Santo Domingo Airport (SDQ) - Private Transfer: $38
- Transfer SDQ and JBQ Airport to Santo Domingo City: $40
Is it cheaper to fly into Istanbul or Santo Domingo?
Prices for flights to both Santo Domingo 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 $59Santo Domingo $57
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Istanbul
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Istanbul.
- Istanbul Dinner Cruise Show: $20
- Istanbul Bosphorus Dinner Cruise Tour: $22
- Dinner and Turkish Night Show in Bosphorus Strait: $29
- Budget Evening Cruise: Dinner, Live Shows & Party: $29
- Istanbul Bosphorus Dinner Cruise with Turkish Show Private Table: $29
- Bosphorus Dinner Cruise with Shows and Drinks: $30
- Mega Lüfer Dinner Cruise Bosphorus and Show with Private Table: $30
- Bosphorus Turkish Night Show and Dinner Cruise with Private Table: $30
- Istanbul Night Life : Bosphorus Dinner Cruise - Unlimited Drinks: $31
- Bosphorus Evening Cruise: Dinner, Live Shows & Private Table: $31
- Bosphorus Dinner Cruise & Night Show: $32
- Istanbul Turkish Coffee Cooking and Tasting with Locals at Home: $33
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Santo Domingo
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Santo Domingo.
- Cooking Class in Santo Domingo:6 Recipes & Bottomless Drinks: $42
- Food Tour & Paradise Beach Day with Drinks: $140
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Istanbul $39Santo Domingo $15
Tours and Activities in Istanbul
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Istanbul are as follows:
- Istanbul Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $3.46
- Self Guided Walking Tour of Istanbul with Audio Guide: $4.64
- Daily Bursa and Uludag Tour from Istanbul with lunch: $5.00
- Istanbul Sites: Peel back the layers of Turkish history a self-guided audio tour: $5.40
- Princess Islands Tour With Lunch and Guide: $5.79
- Istanbul Self-Guided Audio Tour: $6.00
- Kadikoy's history, theatres and sweet shops: a self-guided audio tour: $6.31
- Istanbul Scavenger Hunt & Highlights Self-Guided Walking Tour: $6.94
- Walking Tour in Istanbul with Audio and Written Guide Balat&Asia: $8.00
- Walking Tour in Istanbul with Audio and Written Guide Pera: $8.00
- Istanbul's Old Town Through Time: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.99
- Enjoy Istanbul’s Bosphorus:2-Hour Daytime, Sunset & Night Cruises: $12
Typical Entertainment Prices in Santo Domingo
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Santo Domingo are as follows:
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Snorkeling Tour$44
Tours and Activities in Santo Domingo
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Santo Domingo are as follows:
- The Battle of Santo Domingo 4D Experience: $5.00
- The Battle of Santo Domingo 4D Experience: $5.00
- Tour a las Mejores Playas del Caribe: $5.00
- Tainos 4D Experience in Santo Domingo's Colonial City: $6.00
- Taínos 4D Experience Discover the Legacy of the Caribbean: $6.00
- Colonial Zone Walking Tour with Coffee: $20
- Colonial Zone Tour with tasting: $20
- Ron Barcelo Anejo Experience Factory Tour: $20
- Colonial Zone Walking Tour with Tastings: $20
- Chocolate Tour + Optional Workshops: $21
- Santo Domingo Tuk Tuk Experience: $25
- Zona Colonial Hictorical Tour with a local artist: $30
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayIstanbul $11Santo Domingo $8.02
Sample the Local Flavors in Istanbul
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Istanbul:
- Istanbul Party Pub Crawl with Party Bus in Sultanahmet and Taksim: $30
- Pub Crawl Original Istanbul Pub Crawl with Party Bus: $30
- Istanbul Private Wine Tasting Tour Through 3 City Wineries: $207
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Istanbul and Santo Domingo, we can see that Istanbul is more expensive. And not only is Santo Domingo much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Istanbul is in Europe and Santo Domingo 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 Santo Domingo would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Santo Domingo 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 Santo Domingo.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Istanbul Expensive? and Is Santo Domingo Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Istanbul or Santo Domingo?
Istanbul has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Santo Domingo. When comparing the sizes of Istanbul and Santo Domingo, 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.
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.