Should you visit Izmir or Cappadocia?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Izmir and Cappadocia. 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.
Where Should I go: Izmir or Cappadocia?
Izmir
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.
Cappadocia
Cappadocia is in Central Anatolia, between the mountains Erciyes, Melendiz and Hasan. It is famous for its underground cities, fairy chimneys, and caves. The landscape of the area is some of the most unique you'll ever see. The fairy chimneys are bizarrely shaped rock outcroppings that have evolved from the unique geography in the area. There are hiking trails through the series of valleys that make up the area. It's a great place to explore for outdoor enthusiasts and adventure seekers.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Turkey, The Best 3-Day Tours from Istanbul, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Istanbul, and The Best 10-Day Tours from Istanbul.
Which place is cheaper, Cappadocia or Izmir?
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 $114, while the average daily cost in Cappadocia is $175. 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 Cappadocia in more detail.
Accommodation
Looking for a hotel in Izmir or Cappadocia? 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:
Izmir Hotel Prices and
Cappadocia Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Izmir
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Izmir:
-
Private Transfer From Izmir Airport to Pamukkale :
$291
-
Private Transfer from Izmir Airport to Bodrum:
$290
-
Ayvalık to Izmir Airport (ADB) - Departure Private Transfer:
$269
-
Izmir Airport (ADB) to Ayvalık - Arrival Private Transfer:
$269
-
Transfer from Izmir to Didim:
$258
-
Izmir International Airport (ADB) to Ayvalık - Arrival Private Transfer:
$245
-
Ayvalık to Izmir International Airport (ADB) - Departure Private Transfer:
$244
-
Private Transfers İzmir City or Adnan Menderes Apt to/from Ayvalik Resort:
$242
-
Private Transfers From Izmir or Izmir Airport:
$214
-
Izmir Airport (ADB) to Çeşme, Alaçatı-Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$194
-
Izmir Airport ADB Transfers to Akbuk Hotels:
$194
-
Transfer from Izmir to Bodrum:
$188
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cappadocia
Also for Cappadocia, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
-
2 Hour Quad Bike Safari in Cappadocia ( Transfer Include ):
$32
-
Cappadocia Red Tour (Pro Guide, Tickets, Lunch, Transfer incl):
$64
-
Private Transfer Airport to Cappadocia or Airport to Cappadocia:
$45
-
2 Days 1 Night Cappadocia Tour (Airport Transfer, Hotel, Daily Tour And Atv):
$235
-
2 Hour Jeep Safari Tour in Cappadocia ( Transfer Include ):
$37
-
2 Hours Horse Riding Safari in Cappadocia ( Transfer Include ):
$21
-
Balloon Flight in Cappadocia / Goreme Flight ( Transfer Include ):
$74
-
Cappadocia Airport Shuttle Transfer to Your Hotel:
$13
-
Cappadocia Airport Transfer Safe and Comfortable :
$59
-
Cappadocia Airport Transfers to or from Kayseri and Nevşehir:
$129
-
Cappadocia Full Day Guided Red Tour with Lunch and Hotel Transfer:
$64
-
Cappadocia Green Tour (inc: Pro Guide, Transfers, Tickets, Lunch):
$86
Is it cheaper to fly into Izmir or Cappadocia?
Prices for flights to both Cappadocia 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.
Food
-
Food
Meals for one day
Izmir $39
Cappadocia $80
Typical Food Prices in Cappadocia
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Cappadocia:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cappadocia
For Cappadocia, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
-
Cappadocia Turkish Night With Unlimited Drinks And Dinner:
$30
-
Cappadocia traditional cooking with Chef:
$35
-
Cappadocia Traditional Turkish Night Show and Dinner :
$44
-
Cappadocia Turkish Night wTransfer,Dinner &Unlimited Drinks:
$48
-
Turkish Night with Dinner and Unlimited Drinks İn the Rock Cave:
$57
-
Turkish night show with dinner and unlimited free alcohol:
$58
-
Cappadocia Turkish Night Show with dinner, unlimited alcohol:
$58
-
Cappadocia Turkish Night Show with Dinner:
$59
-
Turkish Night Unlimited Drinks & Dinner in Cappadocia:
$62
-
Turkish Night Show With Dinner in a Cave Restaurant:
$64
-
Cappadocia Traditional Turkish Night with Dinner (in Authentic Cave Restaurant):
$69
-
Cappadocia Cave Restaurant for Dinner and Turkish Entertainments:
$70
Entertainment
Tours and Activities in Izmir
Here are a few actual costs in Izmir for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
-
Ephesus Small Group Tour From Izmir:
$106
-
Ephesus and Terrace houses Tour from Izmir / Cruisers only :
$54
-
From izmir Ephesus and House of the Virgin Mary tours :
$300
-
Small Group Ephesus Tour From Izmir Hotels:
$170
-
Small Group Pamukkale Tour from Izmir Hotels:
$166
-
2-Hour Private Guided The best of Izmir Walking Tour:
$167
-
5 Days Seven Churches Tour Turkey:
$1,056
-
Alaçatı And Çeşme Private Tour:
$120
-
Ancient Pergamon Tour From Izmir:
$255
-
Best Seller Ephesus Tour for Cruisers with lunch (skip the line):
$50
-
Biblical Ephesus, Mother Mary House, St John Basilica and Temple of Artemis Tour from Izmir with Private Guide:
$134
-
Budget - Friendly Ephesus Tour from Izmir:
$27
Typical Entertainment Prices in Cappadocia
For Cappadocia, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
-
Underground City Entrance for Two
$0.87
-
Hot Air Balloon Ride for Two
$17
-
Horseback Riding for Two
$3.31
-
Cappadocia Driving Tour
$3.53
-
Goreme Museum Entrance Fee
$0.43
-
Whirling Dervishes Show
$2.89
-
Turkish Bath
$2.02
-
Hot air ballooning
$12
-
Goreme open air museum
$0.58
-
Bellydancing Show
$3.75
Tours and Activities in Cappadocia
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Cappadocia.
-
Cappadocia Balloon Watching Tour:
$8.00
-
Sunrise Balloon Watching Tour:
$8.98
-
Horse Riding Tour with Sunrise or Sunset Options:
$13
-
CAPPADOCIA : Traditional Local Carpet Weaving Tour:
$13
-
Historical Pottery Experience Tour:
$15
-
Cappadocia Hot Air Balloon Watching Experience:
$15
-
Horseback Riding Experience in Beautiful Valleys of Cappadocia:
$16
-
Cappadocia ATV Tour (1 or 2 Hour Option):
$16
-
Cappadocia Horseback Riding Tour:
$16
-
Cappadocia ATV ( Quadbike ) Tour:
$16
-
Cappadocia Göreme Horse Riding Tour 1 or 2 Hours:
$17
-
Sunset or Daytime ATV Adventure Tour:
$17
Alcohol
Sample the Local Flavors in Izmir
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Izmir:
-
Wine Tasting Tour at Two Wineries in Urla Turkey:
$105
-
Wine Tour with Metropolis Ancient City:
$113
Sample the Local Flavors in Cappadocia
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Cappadocia:
-
Wine Tasting in Cappadocia Turkey - Introduction of local wines:
$27
-
Guided Bar Crawl with Hotel Pickup and Snack:
$32
-
Wine tasting in Cappadocia:
$63
-
SKIP-THE-LINE: Cappadocia Tour w/wine tasting and clay shaping :
$72
-
Cappadocia Private Wine Tasting Tour :
$107
-
Wine Tasting and Sunset in Cappadocia:
$193
-
Ancient Cappadocia's Wine Tasting - Private Tour:
$275
-
Private Tour: Best of Cappadocia with Wine Tasting:
$280
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Izmir and Cappadocia, we can see that Cappadocia is more expensive. And not only is Izmir much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Izmir would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Izmir 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 Cappadocia would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Cappadocia than you might in Izmir.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Izmir Expensive? and Is Cappadocia Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Izmir or Cappadocia?
Izmir has a larger population, and is about 390 times larger than the population of Cappadocia. When comparing the sizes of Izmir and Cappadocia, 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.
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