Which place is cheaper, Ephesus or Kos?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Kos or Ephesus?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Kos and Ephesus can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Kos or Ephesus?
Kos
Kos is a Greek island and third largest island of the Dodecanese group, located near the Turkish coast in the southeast Aegean Sea. It is best known for its beautiful sandy beaches, which make it a popular tourist destination, as well as its ancient Greek and Roman landmarks.
Ephesus
The ancient city of Ephesus was famed for the Temple of Artemis (completed around 550 BC). It is one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The temple was destroyed in 401 AD and rebuilt by Emperor Constantine I along with new public baths. The town was again partially destroyed by an earthquake in 614 AD. The city's importance as a commercial center declined as the harbor was slowly silted up by the Cayster River (Kucuk Menderes).
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from Athens, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Greece, The Best Cultural Tours in Turkey, and The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Turkey.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKos €134Ephesus €134
The average daily cost (per person) in Kos is €134, while the average daily cost in Ephesus is €134. 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 Kos and Ephesus in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKos €62Ephesus €65
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKos €124Ephesus €130
Compare Hotels in Kos and Ephesus
Looking for a hotel in Kos or Ephesus? 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: Kos Hotel Prices and Ephesus Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kos €37Ephesus €48
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kos
Also for Kos, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Kos transfer services, Kos - Airport - Kos: $107
- Private arrival Transfer from Kos Airport to any resort in the island: $84
- Departure transfer to Kos Airport : $68
- Kos Airport to Kos Hotels Private One–Way Transfer: $64
- Artemis Hamam and Spa with Hotel Transfers Kos Island: $59
- Kos Hotels to Kos Airport Private One–Way Transfer: $59
- Kalymnos, Pserimos & Plati Island Cruise with Hotel Transfer: $59
- From Kalymnos Self-Guided Day Trip with Hotel Transfer: $59
- Kos - Airport Private Transfer: $55
- Kos Private Transfer Services: $52
- Private Transfer from Kos Airport to Resorts: $30
- Kos Town: Kalymnos & Pserimos Day Cruise & Optional Transfer: $30
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ephesus
Also for Ephesus, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- VIP Transfer Kusadasi From/To Bodrum Airport: $128
- Transfer izmir Adnan Menderes Airport to/from Kusadasi Davutlar: $98
- Scuba Diving Experience in Kusadasi with Instructor and Transfer: $60
- Private Transfers İzmir City or Adnan Menderes Airport to/from Kusadasi Town: $131
- Private Transfers İzmir City Adnan Menderes Apt to/from Selçuk, Ephesus, Şirince: $131
- Private Transfers From Kusadasi: $173
- Private Transfer | KUSADASI - IZMIR Airport: $120
- Private Transfer from Kusadasi hotels to Kusadasi Cruise Port: $22
- Private Transfer from Kusadasi hotels to Kusadasi Cruise Port: $24
- Private Transfer from Kusadasi Cruise Port to Kusadasi hotels: $24
- Private Transfer from Kusadasi Cruise Port to Kusadasi Hotels: $22
- Private Transfer from Kusadasi Cruise Port to Izmir Airport (ADB): $58
Is it cheaper to fly into Kos or Ephesus?
Prices for flights to both Ephesus and Kos 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 dayKos €43Ephesus €31
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kos
For Kos, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Greek Dinner with Music, Dancing, and Unlimited Wine: $43
- Kefalos Sunset Cruise from Kos with Dinner: $61
- Sunset Cruise with Swimming and BBQ Dinner: $62
- Tavern Dinner Experience with Greek Dancing and Wine: $65
- Kos Cooking Classes by Mama Contessa: $86
- Private Greek Cooking Class in Kos with Lunch: $90
- Sunset Safari Tour with Dinner: $95
- Private Cooking Class in Kos, Local Recipes: $97
- Half Day Wine Tasting with Dinner in Kos: $117
Typical Food Prices in Ephesus
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Ephesus:
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Sandwiches€0.14
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Dessert€0.16
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Lunch at Beach (for 2)€0.55
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Snacks€0.23
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ephesus
For Ephesus, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Cooking Class in Kusadasi Ephesus: $110
- Ephesus Tour with Cooking Class in the Village: $149
- Taste of Traditional Turkish Cuisine | Small Group Kusadasi Food Tour: $211
- Cooking Class in Ephesus Selcuk Town: $228
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kos €33Ephesus €55
Tours and Activities in Kos
For Kos, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Dory's Glass Bottom Boat Adventure in Pserimos and Pserimos Beach: $29
- From Boat Tour to the Volcanic Island of Nisyros: $37
- From Cruise to Kalymnos, Pserimos, and Plati with Lunch: $41
- From Kalymnos, Pserimos and Plati Day Cruise: $32
- From Nissyros guided island tour and volcano: $57
- From Pserimos Island Snorkeling Cruise by Diving Boat: $53
- From Zia Sunset Tour: $27
- From the Port of Full Day Boat Cruise to 3 Islands: $32
- Full Day 3-Island Boat Cruise from Port of Kos: $38
- Full Day Boat Cruise to 3 Islands with optional pickup: $33
- Full-Day 3 Island Cruise Tour in Kos Island: $37
- Full-Day Tour to Nisyros The Volcano Island: $33
Tours and Activities in Ephesus
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Ephesus.
- Ephesus Half Day Small Group Tour: $40
- Ephesus Shared Tour from Kuşadası Port: $130
- Ephesus Tour With Small Group From Kusadasi: $76
- Ephesus Tour from Kusadası Port: $44
- Ephesus small groups Tour For Cruisers (skip the line): $100
- Ephesus tours Sirince Village from Kusadasi Port with lunch: $63
- Ephesus tours and Virgin Mary's House Temple Artemis tours : $67
- Private Tour Ephesus for Cruise Guests : $250
- Private Tour to Ephesus, Virgin Mary, and Artemis Temple From Cruise Ship/Hotel: $120
- Small Group Pamukkale Day Tour from Selcuk or Kusadası : $93
- "Ephesus Tours" Port Kusadasi lunch guide bus shopping Caravanserai artemis : $58
- "No Better Way to Explore History - Affordable Ephesus Tour": $30
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKos €19Ephesus €14
Sample the Local Flavors in Kos
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Kos:
- Wineries Tour w/ Wine Tastings, Lunch & Transportation: $59
- From Tour of 2 Wineries with Wine Tasting & Small Bites: $63
- Kos Island: Wine Tasting & Zia Village Visit for Sunset: $150
Typical Alcohol Prices in Ephesus
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Ephesus from other travelers:
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Beer€0.12
Sample the Local Flavors in Ephesus
Also in Ephesus, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Skip-the-line Ephesus & Wine Tasting Tour From Kusadasi Port: $53
- Ephesus port tours and Wine Tasting Tours : $70
- Ephesus&Sirince Village with Wine Tasting Shore Ex: $100
- Ephesus and Sirince with Wine tasting Private Half Day Shore Excursion: $100
- Ancient Ephesus tour with Wine Tasting in the village and visit to Mother's Mary House: $130
- Private Ephesus Tour with Wine Tasting: $134
- Virgin Mary Bread and Wine Tour included Lunch: $300
When comparing the travel costs between Kos and Ephesus, we can see that Ephesus is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Europe, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Kos Expensive? and Is Ephesus Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kos or Ephesus?
Ephesus has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Kos. When comparing the sizes of Kos and Ephesus, 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.