Which place is cheaper, Bodrum or Izmir?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Izmir and Bodrum. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Izmir is a metropolitan city of Turkey and the second most populous city on the Aegean Sea after Athens, Greece. Known as Smyrna in antiquity, it was founded by the Greeks, taken over by the Romans, and rebuilt by Alexander the Great before becoming part of the Ottoman Empire in the 15th century. Most remnants of this past are gone; however, there are a few archaeological sites in addition to beaches, bustling city streets, and colorful markets.
Bodrum is a city on the Bodrum Peninsula, stretching from Turkey's southwest coast into the Aegean Sea. The city features twin bays with views of Bodrum Castle. This medieval fortress was built partly with stones from the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, completed in the 4th century B.C. The city is also a gateway for nearby beach towns and resorts. Although more than a million tourists flock to its beaches, boutique hotels, trendy restaurants, and clubs each summer, the town of Bodrum (ancient Halicarnassus) never seems to lose its cool. More than any other Turkish seaside getaway, it has an enigmatic elegance that pervades it. The evocative castle and the ancient ruins around town also help keep Bodrum a discerning step above the rest.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Turkey, The Best Tours for Seniors to Turkey, The Best 3-Day Tours from Istanbul, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Istanbul.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
The average daily cost (per person) in Izmir is $116, while the average daily cost in Bodrum is $87. 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 Izmir and Bodrum in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Izmir or Bodrum? 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.
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Izmir:
Also for Bodrum, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Prices for flights to both Bodrum and Izmir 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.
For Bodrum, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
Here are a few actual costs in Izmir for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Bodrum.
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Izmir:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Izmir and Bodrum, we can see that Izmir is more expensive. And not only is Bodrum much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Bodrum would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Bodrum 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 Izmir would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Izmir than you might in Bodrum.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Izmir Expensive? and Is Bodrum Expensive?.
Izmir has a larger population, and is about 60 times larger than the population of Bodrum. When comparing the sizes of Izmir and Bodrum, 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.
Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Both Bodrum and Izmir during the summer are popular places to visit.
In the summer, Izmir is around the same temperature as Bodrum. Typically, the summer temperatures in Izmir in July average around 28°C (82°F), and Bodrum averages at about 27°C (81°F).
Izmir usually gets more rain in July than Bodrum. Izmir gets 2 mm (0.1 in) of rain, while Bodrum receives 1 mm (0 in) of rain this time of the year.
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Izmir and Bodrum.
In October, Izmir is generally around the same temperature as Bodrum. Daily temperatures in Izmir average around 19°C (67°F), and Bodrum fluctuates around 19°C (66°F).
In October, Izmir usually receives more rain than Bodrum. Izmir gets 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Bodrum receives 29 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
The winter brings many poeple to Izmir as well as Bodrum.
Izmir is cooler than Bodrum in the winter. The daily temperature in Izmir averages around 9°C (48°F) in January, and Bodrum fluctuates around 10°C (50°F).
It's quite rainy in Bodrum. Izmir receives a lot of rain in the winter. Izmir usually gets less rain in January than Bodrum. Izmir gets 132 mm (5.2 in) of rain, while Bodrum receives 149 mm (5.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
Both Bodrum and Izmir are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities.
In the spring, Izmir is around the same temperature as Bodrum. Typically, the spring temperatures in Izmir in April average around 16°C (61°F), and Bodrum averages at about 15°C (59°F).
In April, Izmir usually receives more rain than Bodrum. Izmir gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Bodrum receives 32 mm (1.3 in) of rain each month for the spring.
Izmir | Bodrum | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 9°C (48°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 149 mm (5.9 in) |
Feb | 10°C (50°F) | 99 mm (3.9 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 103 mm (4.1 in) |
Mar | 12°C (54°F) | 76 mm (3 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) |
Apr | 16°C (61°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) |
May | 21°C (69°F) | 24 mm (0.9 in) | 19°C (67°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) |
Jun | 25°C (77°F) | 9 mm (0.4 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 1 mm (0 in) |
Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 1 mm (0 in) |
Sep | 24°C (75°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 23 mm (0.9 in) |
Oct | 19°C (67°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) |
Nov | 15°C (58°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
Dec | 11°C (52°F) | 153 mm (6 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |