Should I Visit Istanbul or Srinagar for Vacation? Which is Better? Which is Cheaper? Which is More Expensive?

Should you visit Istanbul or Srinagar?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Istanbul or Srinagar, 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 Srinagar?

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.

Srinagar

Lying on the banks of the Jhelum River, Srinagar is the largest city and the summer capital of the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. It is best known for its gardens, waterfronts, and houseboats as well as local traditional Kashmiri handicrafts and dried fruits.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Turkey, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Turkey, The Best Luxury Tours to India, and The Best Budget Tours to India.

Which place is cheaper, Srinagar or Istanbul?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

Istanbul Prices
Turkey Prices

Srinagar Prices
India Prices
Average Daily Cost Per person, per day

Istanbul $136

Srinagar $29

The average daily cost (per person) in Istanbul is $136, while the average daily cost in Srinagar is $29. 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 Srinagar in more detail.

Accommodation

Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person

Istanbul $43

Srinagar $15
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room

Istanbul $86

Srinagar $30

Compare Hotels in Istanbul and Srinagar

Looking for a hotel in Istanbul or Srinagar? 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 Srinagar Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation

Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.

Istanbul $50

Srinagar $2.49

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Istanbul

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Istanbul are as follows:

Ferry

$0.08
Local Bus

$0.08

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Istanbul

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Istanbul:

Istanbul Airport Transfer by Private Minivan + Meet & Greet Service: $95
Istanbul Cruise Port(Galataport) Private Transfer Service: $35
Private Airport Transfer in Istanbul: $107
Saw Sabiha Gokcen Airport Transfers for Old City & Taksim Hotels: $64
1-Way Private Transfer to/from Sabiha Gokcen Airport: $79
Airport - Otel Transfer and City Tours: $35
Airport Transfer: $59
Airport Transfer 1 to 6 Passengers: $54
Airport transfer Istanbul: $45
Arrival Private Transfer from New Airport IST to Istanbul City in Van: $66
Arrival Private Transfer: New Airport IST to Istanbul in Luxury Van: $66
Arrival or Departure Private Transfer in Istanbul: $65

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Srinagar

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Srinagar:

Srinagar Airport Transfers Taxi Service: $16
A Private Airport Transfer in Srinagar: $26
Premium Srinagar Airport Transfer: Cheap & Comfort: $30
Private Round-trip Transfer from Srinagar to Gulmarg: $36
Private Transfer from Sheikh ul-Alam (SXR) Airport to Srinagar: $66
Private Transfer from Srinagar to Sheikh ul-Alam (SXR) Airport: $66
One-Way Transfer: Srinagar/Gulmarg/Sonamarg/Pahalgam: $87
Kashmir: 5-Day Tour with Houseboat Stay and Transfers: $232
Srinagar To Leh, Ladakh Taxi (One way Transfer): $237

Is it cheaper to fly into Istanbul or Srinagar?

Prices for flights to both Srinagar 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 day

Istanbul $49

Srinagar $8.68

Typical Food Prices in Istanbul

Some typical examples of dining costs in Istanbul are as follows:

Juice

$0.06
Turkish Delight

$0.02
Dessert

$0.24
Pastries

$0.04

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Istanbul

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Istanbul.

Bosphorus Dinner Cruise Incl. Drinks with Transfer: $16
Bosphorus Dinner Cruise & Show with Private Table: $16
Dinner Cruise & Turkish Night Show & Private Table: $16
Dinner Cruise and Entertainment with Private Table: $17
Bosphorus Dinner Cruise with Entertainment: $19
Bosphorus Dinner Cruise with Private Table: $22
Turkish Night on the Bosphorus Dinner Cruise: $23
Bosphorus Dinner Cruise with Hotel Transfers: $26
Istanbul Turkish Coffee Cooking and Tasting with Locals at Home: $26
Bosphorus Night Cruise with Dinner, Show and Private Table: $28
Dinner Cruise On The Bosphorus with Turkish night show: $29
All Inclusive; Istanbul Bosphorus Dinner Cruise with Live Shows&Unlimited Drinks: $30

Entertainment

Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.

Istanbul $72

Srinagar $9.94

Typical Entertainment Prices in Istanbul

Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Istanbul are as follows:

Bosphurus Boat (for 2)

$0.56
Yerebatan Cistern for Two

$0.56
Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts for Two

$0.28
Hagia Sofia entrance

$0.85

Tours and Activities in Istanbul

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Istanbul are as follows:

Private 1 - 2 or 3-Days Tour: $4.19
Private Guided Walking Tour: $5.25
Topkapi Palace & Harem with Skip-the-Line Ticket + Audio Guide: $5.35
Istanbul Sites: Peel back the layers of Turkish history a self-guided audio tour: $5.40
Kadikoy's history, theatres and sweet shops: a self-guided audio tour: $5.99
Bosphorus Sunset Cruise Tour: $6.30
The Royal Adventure Quest Experience in Istanbul: $6.94
Bosphorus Cruise from Europe or Asia & Audio Guide: $7.30
Topkapi Palace and Harem Guided Tour: $7.70
Hagia Sophia Guided Tour with Expert Guide: $7.70
Basilica Cistern Guided Tour: $7.70
Bosphorus Sunset Sightseeing Cruise & Audio Guide: $7.81

Tours and Activities in Srinagar

Here are a few actual costs in Srinagar for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

Srinagar : Old City Heritage Walking Tour: $23
Sonamarg Day Tour - The Golden Meadow Adventure: $55
Private Old City and Mughal Gardens Guided Tour: $58
Rah-e-Kashmir: ANCIENT SITES GUIDED TOUR: $58
Srinagar Splendors: A Private City Tour: $65
Gulmarg Adventure: A Thrilling Day Trip from Srinagar: $71
Enchanting Day Tour with Shikara Ride at Dal Lake: $84
Full day tour of Srinagar with Entrance Fee & Guide: $154
A Private Guided Walking Tour Of Old Srinagar With Lunch: $159
Full day tour of Srinagar with Entrance Fee, Guide, Shikara ride & Lunch: $195
Kashmir Houseboat Tour Package for 3 Days: $209
3 Days Kashmir Houseboat Tour in Srinagar: $272

Alcohol

Alcohol Drinks for one day

Istanbul $14

Srinagar $2.49

Sample the Local Flavors in Istanbul

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Istanbul:

Rooftop Pub Crawl with Party Bus: $22
Party Pub Crawl with Party Bus: $29

How are these travel costs calculated?

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Istanbul and Srinagar, we can see that Istanbul is more expensive. And not only is Srinagar much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Istanbul is in Europe and Srinagar is in Asia, 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 Srinagar would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Srinagar 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 Srinagar.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Istanbul Expensive? and Is Srinagar Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Istanbul or Srinagar?

Istanbul has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Srinagar. When comparing the sizes of Istanbul and Srinagar, 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.

A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Istanbul vs. Srinagar for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Istanbul or Srinagar?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Where Should I go: Istanbul or Srinagar?

Istanbul

Srinagar

Which place is cheaper, Srinagar or Istanbul?

Accommodation

Compare Hotels in Istanbul and Srinagar

Local Transportation

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Istanbul

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Istanbul

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Srinagar

Is it cheaper to fly into Istanbul or Srinagar?

Food

Typical Food Prices in Istanbul

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Istanbul

Entertainment

Typical Entertainment Prices in Istanbul

Tours and Activities in Istanbul

Tours and Activities in Srinagar

Alcohol

Sample the Local Flavors in Istanbul

Which is Bigger, Istanbul or Srinagar?

Related Articles for Istanbul

Related Articles for Srinagar

A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Istanbul vs. Srinagar for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Istanbul or Srinagar?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Where Should I go: Istanbul or Srinagar?

Istanbul

Srinagar

Which place is cheaper, Srinagar or Istanbul?

Accommodation

Compare Hotels in Istanbul and Srinagar

Local Transportation

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Istanbul

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Istanbul

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Srinagar

Is it cheaper to fly into Istanbul or Srinagar?

Food

Typical Food Prices in Istanbul

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Istanbul

Entertainment

Typical Entertainment Prices in Istanbul

Tours and Activities in Istanbul

Tours and Activities in Srinagar

Alcohol

Sample the Local Flavors in Istanbul

Which is Bigger, Istanbul or Srinagar?

Related Articles for Istanbul

Related Articles for Srinagar

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