Which place is cheaper, Istanbul or Luxor?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Luxor or Istanbul?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Luxor or Istanbul? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Luxor or Istanbul?
Luxor
Egypt is surely on the top of every history lover's bucket list. Nowhere is the history more engrossing than in Luxor. From amazing monuments dating back to ancient Thebes to rows of temples up the Nile, this remarkable city is full the stories of past greatness.
The East Bank – or the central part of Luxor Township – is the hotbed for tourism. This is where most of the hotels and resorts are, while the West Bank is home to the ancient ruins and archaeological wonders you'll want to explore.
Before traveling to Egypt, be sure to check on the current affairs and political climate. It could have a major effect on the amount of tourists visiting, and, if conditions are too dangerous, you may want to reschedule. Also note, ladies, to avoid any issues, dress modestly. This is a very conservative region of the world. The less skin showing, the better.
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Sightseeing Tours in Egypt, The Best Luxury Tours to Egypt, The Best Budget Tours to Turkey, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Turkey.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLuxor $17Istanbul $126
The average daily cost (per person) in Luxor is $17, while the average daily cost in Istanbul is $126. 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 Luxor and Istanbul in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLuxor $7.62Istanbul $47
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLuxor $15Istanbul $94
Compare Hotels in Luxor and Istanbul
Looking for a hotel in Luxor or Istanbul? 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: Luxor Hotel Prices and Istanbul Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Luxor $3.91Istanbul $55
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Luxor
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Luxor:
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Taxi Ride$0.42
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Luxor
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Luxor:
- Luxor Train Station Private Transfer to Your Hotel: $6.00
- Private Transfer from & to Luxor Airport from Any Hotel in Luxor: $6.00
- Private Arrival Transfer from Luxor Airport to Luxor Hotels: $6.40
- Departure Transfer from Luxor Hotels to Luxor airport: $6.40
- Private Transfer Luxor Airport to Hotel: $7.00
- Transfers from Luxor Airport to Hotels or to Nile Cruise: $7.00
- Luxor Airport Departure: Convenient Private Hotel Transfer: $7.02
- Luxor Airport Private Luxury Transfer (Arrival or Departure): $7.20
- Pick up Transfers From Luxor Airport To Luxor Hotels: $7.50
- Pickup Transfers And Taxi Services From Hotel In Luxor To Luxor Airport: $7.50
- Luxor Private Transfer East Bank hotels to Airport : $8.00
- Luxor Airport Transfer to Hotel: $8.00
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Istanbul
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Istanbul are as follows:
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Ferry$0.09
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Local Bus$0.09
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Istanbul
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Istanbul:
- Istanbul Airport Transfer by Private Minivan + Meet & Greet Service: $85
- Istanbul Cruise Port(Galataport) Private Transfer Service: $35
- Private Airport Transfer in Istanbul: $109
- Saw Sabiha Gokcen Airport Transfers for Old City & Taksim Hotels: $54
- 1-Way Private Transfer to/from Sabiha Gokcen Airport: $75
- Airport - Otel Transfer and City Tours: $20
- Airport Istanbul Private Transfer IST or SAW Airport : $34
- Airport Transfer: $58
- Arrival Private Transfer IST or SAW Airport to Istambul, Levent or Taksim by Bus: $65
- Arrival Private Transfer: New Airport IST to Istanbul in Business Car: $54
- Best VIP Istanbul Luxury Transfer: $65
- Bursa Uludağ Mountain Tour From Istanbul w/Lunch & Hotel Transfer: $35
Is it cheaper to fly into Luxor or Istanbul?
Prices for flights to both Istanbul and Luxor 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 dayLuxor $5.83Istanbul $31
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Luxor
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Luxor.
- Dinner on the River Nile with Belly Dancing: $35
- Eat Like a Local:Traditional Egyptian Food / Dinner at Local Family Home - Luxor: $36
- Luxor Sunset Felucca Ride and Banana Island with Lunch or Dinner: $38
- Dinner Cruise on the Nile River: $43
- Luxor Sunset Felucca Ride and Banana Island with Lunch or Dinner : $50
- Private Half Day Felucca Ride and Banana Island with Lunch or Dinner From Luxor: $52
- Luxor Nile Cruise Dinner: $60
- Karnak Sound And Light Show With Dinner, Felucca : $64
- Luxor & Mummification Museums & City Tour by H. Carriage & Dinner: $70
- private day in west bank & dendera with dinner on boat: $86
- Enjoy Half Day Sunset Felucca Ride and Banana Island with Lunch or Dinner: $90
Typical Food Prices in Istanbul
Some typical examples of dining costs in Istanbul are as follows:
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Juice$0.06
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Turkish Delight$0.02
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Dessert$0.26
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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
- Dinner Cruise and Entertainment with Private Table: $17
- Bosphorus Dinner Cruise & Show with Private Table: $17
- Bosphorus Dinner Cruise Tour With Turkish Night Show: $21
- 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
- Istanbul Bosphorus Dinner Cruise: $28
- Istanbul Bosphorus Dinner Cruise and Turkish Night Show: $28
- 3 Hour Ottoman Dinner Cruise in Istanbul : $29
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Luxor $6.74Istanbul $79
Typical Entertainment Prices in Luxor
Here are a few typical costs in Luxor for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Boat Ride (for 2)$0.57
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Temple Karnak for Two$2.74
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Camel Ride for Two$1.26
Tours and Activities in Luxor
Here are a few actual costs in Luxor for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Entry Ticket To Valley of the Queens: $4.60
- Valley Of The Kings Entry Ticket: $4.60
- Private Tour Shopping in Luxor City : $6.00
- Half Day East Bank Tour to Luxor and Karnak Temples: $6.40
- Private Tour Shopping in Luxor: $7.00
- Luxor Museum Entry Ticket: $7.60
- See the Valley of the Kings & More: Shared Tour (All-Inclusive): $8.80
- Karnak Temple And Luxor Temple Private Day Tour : $8.98
- Mummification Museum Private Guided Tour: $9.00
- Explore Luxor temple and City Private Tour by Flucca: $9.00
- Temple Of Queen Hatshepsut Entry Ticket: $9.20
- Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut Entry Ticket: $9.20
Typical Entertainment Prices in Istanbul
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Istanbul are as follows:
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Bosphurus Boat (for 2)$0.62
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Yerebatan Cistern for Two$0.62
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Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts for Two$0.31
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Hagia Sofia entrance$0.93
Tours and Activities in Istanbul
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Istanbul are as follows:
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.20
- Hagia Sophia Exclusive Digital Audio Guided Tour: $5.33
- Highlights Self Guided Scavenger Hunt & Tour: $5.33
- City Tour with Audio Guide in your smartphone: $5.33
- Istanbul Sites: Peel back the layers of Turkish history a self-guided audio tour: $5.40
- Self Guided City Audio Tour of Istanbul: $5.44
- Kadikoy's history, theatres and sweet shops: a self-guided audio tour: $5.99
- City Exploration Game and Tour: $6.39
- Istanbul Outdoor Escape Game: The Royal Adventure: $7.06
- Istanbul in a day: A Self-Guided Audio Tour in English: $7.81
- Istanbul Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.00
- App self-guided tours Istanbul with multilingual audioguide: $9.59
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLuxor $2.26Istanbul $15
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
- Party Pub Crawl with Party Bus: $29
- Wine Tasting Experience in Istanbul : $45
- Istanbul Wine Tasting at Home with Local Family: $83
- 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: $841
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Luxor and Istanbul, we can see that Istanbul is more expensive. And not only is Luxor much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Luxor is in Africa and Istanbul is in Europe, 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 Luxor would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Luxor 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 Luxor.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Luxor Expensive? and Is Istanbul Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Luxor or Istanbul?
Istanbul has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Luxor. When comparing the sizes of Luxor and Istanbul, 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.
When is the best time to visit Luxor or Istanbul?
Istanbul has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Luxor experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Luxor or Istanbul in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Luxor and Istanbul. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Luxor year-round. Furthermore, many visitors come to Istanbul in the summer for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.
Luxor can become quite hot in the summer. In July, Luxor is generally a little warmer than Istanbul. Daily temperatures in Luxor average around 33°C (91°F), and Istanbul fluctuates around 24°C (74°F).
In July, Luxor usually receives less rain than Istanbul. Luxor gets 0 mm (0 in) of rain, while Istanbul receives 19 mm (0.7 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyLuxor 33°C (91°F)Istanbul 24°C (74°F)
Should I visit Luxor or Istanbul in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Luxor as well as Istanbul. Luxor attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, most visitors come to Istanbul for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months.
Luxor is much warmer than Istanbul in the autumn. The daily temperature in Luxor averages around 25°C (77°F) in October, and Istanbul fluctuates around 16°C (61°F).
Luxor usually gets less rain in October than Istanbul. Luxor gets 1 mm (0 in) of rain, while Istanbul receives 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberLuxor 25°C (77°F)Istanbul 16°C (61°F)
Should I visit Luxor or Istanbul in the Winter?
Both Istanbul and Luxor are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Luxor throughout the year. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Istanbul because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
In the winter, Luxor is much warmer than Istanbul. Typically, the winter temperatures in Luxor in January average around 14°C (57°F), and Istanbul averages at about 6°C (43°F).
In January, Luxor usually receives less rain than Istanbul. Luxor gets 0 mm (0 in) of rain, while Istanbul receives 99 mm (3.9 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryLuxor 14°C (57°F)Istanbul 6°C (43°F)
Should I visit Luxor or Istanbul in the Spring?
Both Istanbul and Luxor during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Luxor because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Also, the activities around the city and the natural beauty are the main draw to Istanbul this time of year.
In April, Luxor is generally much warmer than Istanbul. Daily temperatures in Luxor average around 25°C (77°F), and Istanbul fluctuates around 13°C (55°F).
Luxor usually gets less rain in April than Istanbul. Luxor gets 0 mm (0 in) of rain, while Istanbul receives 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilLuxor 25°C (77°F)Istanbul 13°C (55°F)
Typical Weather for Istanbul and Luxor
| Luxor | Istanbul | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 14°C (57°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 6°C (43°F) | 99 mm (3.9 in) |
| Feb | 15°C (59°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 6°C (44°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) |
| Mar | 20°C (68°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 8°C (47°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) |
| Apr | 25°C (77°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| May | 30°C (86°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) |
| Jun | 32°C (90°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 21°C (71°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) |
| Jul | 33°C (91°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 24°C (74°F) | 19 mm (0.7 in) |
| Aug | 31°C (88°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 24°C (74°F) | 26 mm (1 in) |
| Sep | 30°C (86°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 20°C (69°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| Oct | 25°C (77°F) | 1 mm (0 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) |
| Nov | 20°C (68°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 89 mm (3.5 in) |
| Dec | 15°C (59°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 9°C (47°F) | 122 mm (4.8 in) |
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.