Which place is cheaper, Istanbul or Moshi?
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 Moshi or Istanbul?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Moshi or Istanbul, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Moshi or Istanbul?
Moshi
Moshi is a town in northern Tanzania, near the Kenyan border. It’s known as a gateway to Kilimanjaro National Park, home to Africa’s highest mountain, Mount Kilimanjaro. Trails run up the mountain's cloud-ringed, snow-capped dome, through alpine forests and meadows home to elephants and leopards. The noticeably clean capital of the densely populated Kilimanjaro region sits at the foot of Mt Kilimanjaro and makes a good introduction to the splendors of the north. It's a low-key place with an appealing blend of African and Asian influences and a self-sufficient, prosperous feel, due in large part to its being the center of one of Tanzania's major coffee-growing regions. Virtually all visitors are here to climb Mt Kilimanjaro or to recover after having done so. Yet there’s much more to do, including cultural tours and hikes on the mountain’s lower slopes.
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 Wildlife Tours to Tanzania, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Tanzania, The Best 2-Week Tours in Turkey, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Turkey.
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Moshi Prices
Tanzania PricesIstanbul Prices
Turkey Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMoshi $89Istanbul $179
The average daily cost (per person) in Moshi is $89, while the average daily cost in Istanbul is $179. 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 Moshi and Istanbul in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMoshi $39Istanbul $83
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMoshi $78Istanbul $166
Compare Hotels in Moshi and Istanbul
Looking for a hotel in Moshi 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: Moshi Hotel Prices and Istanbul Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Moshi $18Istanbul $39
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Moshi
Also for Moshi, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Airport Transfer From Kilimanjaro International Airport 7 Seater: $42
- Airport transfer: $45
- Private Transfer from Kilimanjaro Airport to Moshi: $47
- Kilimanjaro Airport Private Transfer from/to Moshi : $49
- Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) Transfer/Taxi Services: $53
- Airport Transfer between Moshi and Kilimanjaro International Airport: $54
- Private Kilimanjaro Airport Transfer to or from Tanzania: $55
- Kilimanjaro Airport Transfer: $60
- Kilimanjaro Airport (JRO) Private Transfer to Mount Kilimanjaro: $78
- Kilimanjaro Airport Transfer to Moshi/Arusha: $107
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Istanbul
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Istanbul:
- İstanbul Private Airport Transfer: $90
- istanbul Airport Transfer: $39
- VIP Transfer: $52
- Turkish Night Tour with Meyhane Experience and Transfer: $119
- Try find your better than us! Airport transfer service in Istanbul APT-HTL (IST): $43
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer in Istanbul HTL-APT (SAW): $52
- Troy Full-Day Guided Tour incl. Transfer, Ferry Tickets w/Lunch : $138
- Transfer from Istanbul Port to Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen Airport(SAW: $44
- Transfer from Hotels to Airports in Istanbul by Private Luxury Sedan: $144
- Transfer Istanbul City Center to Istanbul Ataturk Airport: $29
- Transfer Istanbul Ataturk Airport (ISL) to City Center: $29
- Sapanca and Masukiye Day Trip with Lunch and Hotel Transfer: $23
Is it cheaper to fly into Moshi or Istanbul?
Prices for flights to both Istanbul and Moshi 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 dayMoshi $36Istanbul $66
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Moshi
For Moshi, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Kili View Tanzanian Cooking Class: $26
- Private Market Tour and Tanzanian Cooking Class in Moshi: $86
- 3 Days Chaga Culture: Cooking, NGO Projects, Banana Beer, Hiking: $207
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 with Turkish Night Show: $24
- Bosphorus Dinner Cruise with Show and Private Table: $30
- Bosphorus Night Cruise with Dinner, Shows and Party : $30
- Budget Evening Cruise: Dinner, Live Shows & Party: $30
- Bosphorus Dinner Cruise & Turkish Dance Shows with Private Table: $31
- Istanbul Bosphorus Cruise Dinner, Drinks & Show with Pickup: $32
- Dinner Cruise On The Bosphorus with Turkish night show: $34
- Bosphorus Dinner Cruise & Entertaintment & Private Table & Wi-Fi: $36
- Bosphorus Evening Cruise: Dinner, Live Shows & Private Table: $36
- Luxury Bosphorus Dinner Cruise & Shows Private Table & Free Wi-Fi: $36
- Istanbul Bosphorus Dinner Cruise with Drinks and Shows: $41
- Bosphorus Dinner Cruise with Folk Dance and Live Performances: $42
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Moshi $20Istanbul $43
Tours and Activities in Moshi
For Moshi, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Moshi sunset experience : $20
- City tour and local food : $20
- Private guided tour to the night lifestyle of Moshi town: $30
- Materuni Waterfall Hike + Coffee tour and chemka Hot Spring : $30
- Moshi city tour : $30
- Day Tour Around Moshi Town in Tanzania: $33
- Materuni Waterfall , Coffee Tour and Hotsprings (Chemka): $40
- Materuni Waterfall and Coffee Plantation Half Day Tour: $40
- 1-Day Moshi Villages bike tour: $50
- Bodaboda Experience to Materuni Waterfall and Coffee Tour : $52
- Marangu & Chagga - Cultural Day Tour form Moshi: $59
- Chemka Hot Springs Tour from Moshi: $59
Tours and Activities in Istanbul
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Istanbul are as follows:
- All in One Day Istanbul - Historical Tour of Istanbul with Bosphorus Cruise: $180
- Bosphorus Cruise And Asia Minor Tour: $220
- Bosphorus Morning or Sunset Guided Cruise Tour: $26
- Digital Experience Museum Skip the Line Entry: $35
- Discover the Magic of Old City – A Walking Tour Through Time: $60
- Full day old city tour (LT1): $179
- Istanbul Half Day City Tour (Ottoman Relics): $95
- Istanbul Self Guided Walking Tour : $5.00
- Istanbul Wonders FullDay Skipping Lines Private Guided City Tour: $128
- Istanbul's Hidden Gems Private Walking City Tour: $144
- Private Guided Istanbul Walking Tour: $170
- "Classic Wonders" Tour: $120
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMoshi $3.59Istanbul $12
Sample the Local Flavors in Istanbul
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Istanbul:
- Famous Istanbul Pub Crawl #1 Nightlife Experience: $28
- Istanbul Nightlife Pub Crawl Pub and İstanbul Club Adventure: $30
- Pub Crawl Istanbul / Rooftop Clubs & Party Bus: $30
- Istanbul Pub Crawl: Adults-Only Nightlife Adventure: $31
- Istanbul Wine Tasting at Home with Local Family: $78
- Istanbul Private Wine Tasting Tour Through 3 City Wineries : $210
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Moshi and Istanbul, we can see that Istanbul is more expensive. And not only is Moshi much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Moshi 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 Moshi would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Moshi 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 Moshi.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Moshi Expensive? and Is Istanbul Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Moshi or Istanbul?
Istanbul has a larger population, and is about 70 times larger than the population of Moshi. When comparing the sizes of Moshi 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.