Which place is cheaper, Chennai or Izmir?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Izmir or Chennai?
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 Chennai. 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 Chennai?
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.
Chennai
Formerly known as Madras from its colonial history, Chennai today is one of India's largest cities and capital of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is located on the Bay of Bengal in southeastern India with an extensive stretch of sandy beaches, plenty of dining and shopping, a number of historic temples, monuments, and churches, plus amusement parks and more.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Turkey, The Best 3-Day Tours from Istanbul, The Best Adventure Tours to India, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in India.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayIzmir $105Chennai $29
The average daily cost (per person) in Izmir is $105, while the average daily cost in Chennai 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 Izmir and Chennai in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personIzmir $60Chennai $15
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomIzmir $120Chennai $30
Compare Hotels in Izmir and Chennai
Looking for a hotel in Izmir or Chennai? 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 Chennai Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Izmir $30Chennai $2.61
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Izmir
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Izmir:
- Private Transfer From Izmir Airport to Pamukkale : $295
- Private Transfer from Izmir Airport to Bodrum: $295
- Fethiye-Oludeniz Hotels to Antalya Airport AYT Transfers: $241
- Antalya Airport AYT Transfers to Fethiye-Oludeniz Hotels: $230
- Izmir Airport ADB Transfers to Bozbuk Bay (Akbuk) Hotels: $213
- Izmir Airport (ADB) to Ayvalık - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $177
- Izmir International Airport (ADB): Private Transfer to Çeşme: $168
- Bodrum Akyaka Hotels to Bodrum Airport BJV Transfers: $147
- Private Transfers İzmir City or Adnan Menderes Apt to/from Gümüldür, Seferihisar: $131
- Private Transfers İzmir City or Adnan Menderes Airport to/from Manisa City: $131
- Private Transfers İzmir City or Adnan Menderes Apt to/from Gümüldür, Seferihisar: $131
- Private Transfers İzmir City or Adnan Menderes Airport to/from Manisa City: $131
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Chennai
Also for Chennai, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Affordable Chennai Airport Transfer: $24
- Bangalore - private departure transfer from Hotel to Airport : $35
- Chennai - Private Arrival Transfer - From Airport to Hotel: $20
- Chennai - Private Departure Transfer from Hotel to Airport : $19
- Chennai Airport Transfers : Budget Sedan and SUV Cabs: $15
- Chennai Airport to Hotel Transfer: $13
- Chennai International Airport to Hotel-Private Arrival transfer: $25
- Departure Transfer from Chennai Hotels to Chennai airport: $20
- Departure transfer: Chennai hotels to Chennai International Airport: $19
- Full Day Tour to Kanchipuram and UNESCO's Mahabalipuram with Private Transfer: $246
- Private Arrival Transfer: Chennai Airport (MAA) to Pondicherry Hotels: $145
- Private Arrival Transfer: Chennai International Airport to Hotel: $40
Is it cheaper to fly into Izmir or Chennai?
Prices for flights to both Chennai 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
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Food Meals for one dayIzmir $24Chennai $6.40
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Chennai
For Chennai, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- 2 Hour Street Food Tour in Sowcarpet Chennai : $37
- Private In-Home Vegetarian Cooking Class and Meal in Chennai: $46
- Private Vegetarian South Indian Cooking Class in Chennai : $48
- South Indian Cooking Class in Chennai with a Passionate Baker: $48
- South Indian Vegetarian Cooking Class in Chennai with Menna: $54
- South Indian Vegetarian Cooking Class Near the Chennai airport: $62
- Traditional Tamil Brahmin Vegetarian Cooking Lesson with a Local in Her Home: $74
- Private Authentic Indian Cooking Class in Chennai with a Local: $76
- Private 3-Hour Cooking Lesson and Meal in Chennai: $100
- Authentic South Indian Cooking Class and Vegetarian Meal with a Local in Chennai: $122
- Food Trail In Sowcarpet With Transport And Dinner - Chennai: $216
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Izmir $21Chennai $2.77
Tours and Activities in Izmir
Here are a few actual costs in Izmir for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Small Group Ephesus Tour From Izmir Hotels: $100
- Small Group Pamukkale Tour from Izmir Hotels: $126
- 1 Day Ephesus And Pamukkale Tour From Izmir By A Local Expert: $300
- 5 Days Seven Churches Tour Turkey: $1,075
- Alaçatı And Çeşme Private Tour: $100
- Ancient Pergamon Tour From Izmir: $283
- Aphrodisias&Pamukkale Tour from Izmir: $280
- Best Seller Private Ephesus Tour for Cruisers : $70
- Biblical Ephesus, Mother Mary House, St John Basilica and Temple of Artemis Tour from Izmir with Private Guide: $272
- Cesme-Alacati Tour from Izmir: $175
- Customized Ephesus Private Tour / FOR CRUISE GUESTS ONLY: $150
- Daily Ephesus & Virgin Mary House Tour from Izmir: $147
Tours and Activities in Chennai
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Chennai.
- Chennai Heritage Trails (2 Hour Guided Walking Tour): $13
- Explore Chennai in Nightlights (2 Hour Guided Walking Tour): $13
- Spiritual Trails of Chennai (2 Hour Guided Walking Tour): $13
- Walking Tour Chennai: $14
- Chennai Night Walk Tour ( 2 hours guided walking tour): $16
- Chennai Walking Tour ( 2 hours guided tour): $16
- Magical Chennai Markets Tour (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $17
- Chennai Walk of Divinity (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $17
- 2 Hour Street Food Walking Tour: $22
- Chennai Cultural Walking Tour: $26
- Night Walking Tour of Chennai: $26
- Chennai Food Tasting Trails (2 Hour Guided Tour Experience): $26
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayIzmir $8.86Chennai $3.08
Sample the Local Flavors in Izmir
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Izmir:
- Wine Tasting Tour at Two Wineries in Urla Turkey: $98
- Ancient Ephesus tour with Mother's Mary House and visit to old village Sirince with wine tasting: $152
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Izmir and Chennai, we can see that Izmir is more expensive. And not only is Chennai much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Izmir is in Europe and Chennai 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 Chennai would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Chennai 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 Chennai.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Izmir Expensive? and Is Chennai Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Izmir or Chennai?
Chennai has a larger population, and is about 73% larger than the population of Izmir. When comparing the sizes of Izmir and Chennai, 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.