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

Should you visit Istanbul or Torun?

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

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

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.

Torun

Torun is a city in northern Poland, on the Vistula River. This magnificently walled Gothic town on the Vistula should be high on every traveler's list, possibly as its delights seem low on everyone else's, leaving visitors who make it here to revel unrestricted in its wealth of red-brick buildings, Unesco-listed sites and medieval city defenses, all of which WWII mercifully decided to ignore. Beyond architecture, Torun is also well known as the birthplace of Nicolaus Copernicus. His name is all over town, and you can even buy gingerbread shaped in his image. This other Torun icon - its pierniki (gingerbread) - is famous across Poland.

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 Poland, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Krakow.


Which place is cheaper, Torun or Istanbul?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Istanbul is $126, while the average daily cost in Torun is $31. 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 Torun in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Istanbul $47
    Torun $14
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Istanbul $94
    Torun $28
Compare Hotels in Istanbul and Torun

Looking for a hotel in Istanbul or Torun? 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.

Hotels in Istanbul


Hotels in Torun


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 Torun Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Istanbul $55
    Torun $4.87
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:

  • Private Bosphorus Tour on Luxury Yacht w/transfer: $749
  • From 2-Day Cappadocia Trip w/ Flight and Transfers: $466
  • From Pamukkale Day Tour With Flights and Transfers: $321
  • Istanbul Airport S-Class Premium Luxury Sedan Transfer: $287
  • Hagia Sophia, Topkapi & Mosque Tour with Transfer: $286
  • Private Guided Istanbul Luxury Tour (Tickets and Transfers): $282
  • Troy and Gallipoli Day Guided Tour with Transfer: $280
  • Private Transfer to Bursa Uludag Hotels from Sabiha Gokcen airport: $245
  • Istanbul Dolmabahçe Palace Private Tour with Transfers: $225
  • 3-Day Tours & Transfer Package: $225
  • Full-Day Old City Tour with Lunch and Transfers: $210
  • Layover Private Guided Istanbul City Tour with Transfers: $192

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Torun

Also for Torun, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Transfer from Torun to Gdansk or Airport Gdansk GDN: $291

Is it cheaper to fly into Istanbul or Torun?

Prices for flights to both Torun 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 $31
    Torun $9.72
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

Typical Food Prices in Torun

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Torun:


  • Ice Cream
    $0.65
  • Gingerbread
    $0.62
  • Sandwich
    $1.04

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Torun

For Torun, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Torun Private Traditional Polish Food Tour: $179
  • Torun Private Traditional Polish Food Tour: $179

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Istanbul $79
    Torun $4.50
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:

  • 4 Hours Private Highlights Tour Of Istanbul: $273
  • All in One Day Istanbul - Historical Tour of Istanbul with Bosphorus Cruise: $164
  • Full Day Private Guided Istanbul Tour: $42
  • Green Bursa ~ Uludag Mountain, private Tour;Solo ;Groups: $60
  • Hippodrome and Blue Mosque Guided Tour: $8.73
  • Istanbul Half Day City Tour (Ottoman Relics): $55
  • City Highlights Tour w/Hagia Sophia & Blue Mosque: $35
  • Must - See Istanbul Stops 1: Half Day Morning Tour: $139
  • 1 Day Private Istanbul Guided Tour: $68
  • 1-Day Best of Istanbul Private Tour with the Best Local Guides: $250
  • 2 Continents Tour incl. Beylerbeyi Palace [full-day]: $218
  • 2 Days Private Ephesus and Pamukkale Tour from Istanbul: $432

Typical Entertainment Prices in Torun

For Torun, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:


  • Gingerbread Cooking Class
    $2.36

Tours and Activities in Torun

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Torun.

  • Discover A Walking Adventure: $81
  • Romantic tour in Torun: $81
  • Private Walking Tour of a Medieval Town: $83
  • Torun Old Town Highlights Private Walking Tour: $99
  • Torun Old Town Highlights Private Walking Tour: $99
  • Walking Tour of the medieval Toruń : $100
  • Family-Friendly Historical Walking Tour: $119
  • Torun Living Museum of Gingerbread and Old Town Private Walking Tour: $125
  • Torun Copernicus Trail and Old Town Private Walking Tour: $125
  • Torun Copernicus Trail and Old Town Private Walking Tour: $125
  • Magic Christmas tour in Torun: $135
  • Torun Private Vodka Tasting Tour: $159

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Istanbul $15
    Torun $4.96

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


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

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


Which is Bigger, Istanbul or Torun?

Istanbul has a larger population, and is about 50 times larger than the population of Torun. When comparing the sizes of Istanbul and Torun, 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.