Which place is cheaper, Istanbul or Manama?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Manama or Istanbul?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Manama and Istanbul 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: Manama or Istanbul?
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 2-Week Tours in Turkey, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Turkey.
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Manama Prices
Bahrain PricesIstanbul Prices
Turkey Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayManama $190Istanbul $157
The average daily cost (per person) in Manama is $190, while the average daily cost in Istanbul is $157. 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 Manama and Istanbul in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personManama $67Istanbul $73
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomManama $134Istanbul $146
Compare Hotels in Manama and Istanbul
Looking for a hotel in Manama 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: Manama Hotel Prices and Istanbul Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Manama $30Istanbul $34
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Istanbul
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Istanbul are as follows:
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Metro Cards$4.53
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Istanbul
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Istanbul:
- Fast & Luxury VIP Private Transfer | IST Airport & Hotel pickup: $8.16
- Istanbul VIP Shopping Experience with Transfers and Refreshments: $9.00
- Istanbul Princes Island Tour with Lunch & Hotel Transfer: $20
- Princes’ Islands Tour with Lunch and Transfers: $21
- Full Day Sapanca Tour with Lunch and Transfer From Istanbul: $23
- Narita Airport to Tokyo one way Transfer: $25
- Istanbul IST Airport Transfer to or from Old City & Taksim Hotels: $26
- Transfer Istanbul Ataturk Airport (ISL) to City Center: $28
- Transfer Istanbul City Center to Istanbul Ataturk Airport: $28
- Reliable & Safe Istanbul Airport Taxi Transfer – VIP Service: $30
- Istanbul Airport or Sabiha Gokcen Private Airport Transfers: $32
- Istanbul Airport Private Transfer: $32
Is it cheaper to fly into Manama or Istanbul?
Prices for flights to both Istanbul and Manama 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 dayManama $97Istanbul $58
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Istanbul
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Istanbul.
- Istanbul Bosphorus Dinner Cruise Tour: $26
- Istanbul Bosphorus Dinner Cruise: Live Folk Dance & DJ Experience: $28
- Bosphorus Dinner Cruise & Turkish Dance Shows with Private Table: $28
- Dinner and Turkish Night Show in Bosphorus Strait: $29
- Istanbul Bosphorus Dinner Cruise with Turkish Show Private Table: $29
- Bosphorus Dinner Cruise with Folk Dance and Live Performances: $29
- İstanbul Mega Lüfer Dinner Cruise Bosphorus and Show - Pvt. Table: $30
- Bosphorus Turkish Night Show and Dinner Cruise with Private Table: $30
- Istanbul Night Life : Bosphorus Dinner Cruise - Unlimited Drinks: $31
- Bosphorus Evening Cruise: Dinner, Live Shows & Private Table: $31
- Istanbul Bosphorus Cruise Dinner, Drinks & Show with Pickup: $32
- Bosphorus Dinner Cruise & Night Show: $33
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Manama $34Istanbul $38
Tours and Activities in Istanbul
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Istanbul are as follows:
- Istanbul Sites: Peel back the layers of Turkish history a self-guided audio tour: $5.40
- Walking Tour in Istanbul with Audio and Written Guide Old City: $8.00
- Istanbul's Old Town Through Time: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.99
- Sapanca and Masukiye Tour: $10
- Ihlamur Pavilion Skip-the-Line Ticket with Audio Guide: $10
- Istanbul Walking Tour with Audioguide on Your Smartphone: $12
- Enjoy Istanbul’s Bosphorus:2-Hour Daytime, Sunset & Night Cruises: $12
- 2-Hour Scenic Bosphorus Cruise in Istanbul Throughout the Day: $12
- 2 Hours Afternoon Bosphorus Cruise: $12
- TOP Istanbul : Private Guided Tour with your mobile: $12
- Istanbul's Golden Hour: Bosphorus Sunset Cruise By Boat: $12
- Bursa and Uludag Tour from Istanbul: $12
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayManama $11Istanbul $10
Sample the Local Flavors in Istanbul
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Istanbul:
- Istanbul Pub Crawl: Bars, Dancefloors, & Beyond: $17
- Pub Crawler VIP Entry Rooftop Bars&Clubs with Party Bus: $27
- Famous Istanbul Pub Crawl #1 Nightlife Experience: $28
- Istanbul Wine Tasting at Home with Local Family: $78
- Istanbul Private Wine Tasting Tour Through 3 City Wineries: $209
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Manama and Istanbul, we can see that Manama is more expensive. And not only is Istanbul much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Manama is in Middle East 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 Istanbul would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Istanbul 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 Manama would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Manama than you might in Istanbul.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Manama Expensive? and Is Istanbul Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Manama or Istanbul?
Istanbul has a larger population, and is about 80 times larger than the population of Manama. When comparing the sizes of Manama 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.
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.