Should you visit Petra or Antalya?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Petra and Antalya can help you decide which place is right for you.
Petra
Whether you're checking off the Seven Wonders of the World, or you're just a huge Indiana Jones fan, the city of Petra must be on your bucket list. The "rose red city, half as old as time," was the capital of the Nabataean kingdom in the 6th century BC. It was the center for trade and commerce until an earthquake took out buildings and destroyed their water management system. After this destruction, the city of Petra seemed to be lost to western civilization.
Antalya
Antalya is the largest city along Turkey's Mediterranean coast and the eighth largest city in the country with over one million people in the metropolitan area. The city dates back to about 200 BC when it was settled by the Attalid Dynasty of Pergamon and soon conquered by the Romans. The city was ruled by several different groups and most recently was transferred to Italian suzerainty following World War I. It became part of Turkey following the War of Independence. The city has seen an influx of development in recent years and it has grown into a tourism mecca with more than 12 million visitors in 2014.
Which city is cheaper, Antalya or Petra?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Petra is $100, while the average daily cost in Antalya is $46. 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Petra and Antalya in more detail.
Accommodation
Petra's average price for two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room is $94. A typical place to stay for one person, per day is $47.
An average hotel room with basic furnishings costs about $44 in Antalya For the most convenient locations and nicer amenities you can expect to pay a bit more.
Food
While meal prices in Petra can vary, the average travelers spends about $30 per day on food. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out, an average meal in Petra should cost around $12 per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Petra is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
On average, meal and food prices in Antalya cost around $15 per person, per day. While this price can vary widely by location, the type of restaurant, and the amount of food ordered, a typical meal often costs around $6.00.
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Food
Meals for one day
Petra $30
Antalya $15
Typical Food prices in Petra
Some typical examples of dining costs in Petra are as follows:
-
Dinner for Two
$12
-
Juice
$1.76
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Antalya
For Antalya, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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Giza Pyramids Sound and Light Show with Dinner:
$83
Local Transportation
While taxis and private drivers typically cost much more than public transportation, people usually spend around $18 per day to get around in Petra.
Antalya's transportation costs can vary by the type of transport chosen by visitors. Naturally, taxis and private drivers cost much more than public transportation options. On average, visitors spend $7.41 per person, per day on transportation in Antalya.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Antalya
Also for Antalya, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Transfers:
$5.00
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One-Way Shared Transfer: Antalya City & Beach to Antalya Airport:
$9.95
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One-Way Shared Transfer: Antalya Airport to Belek:
$11
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Private Airport Transfer: from Antalya Airport (AYT) to Antalya:
$13
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Private Airport Transfer: from Antalya to Antalya Airport (AYT):
$13
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One-Way Shared Transfer: Antalya Airport to Kemer:
$14
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One-Way Shared Transfer: Antalya Airport to Side:
$14
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One-Way Shared Transfer: Antalya Airport to Alanya:
$14
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Antalya Airport - Antalya City Hotels Private Transfers (Lara, Kundu, Old Town):
$17
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Private Departure Transfer: Kundu / Lara Region Hotels to Antalya Airport:
$22
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Private Departure Transfer from Antalya, Kundu or Lara to Antalya Airport:
$22
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Private Arrival Transfer: Antalya Airport to Antalya, Kundu or Lara:
$22
Is it cheaper to fly into Petra or Antalya?
Prices for flights to both Antalya and Petra 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.
Entertainment
Activities, things to do, and other forms of entertainment usually cost around $38 per person, per day in Petra. This cost includes the price of admission tickets to attractions and museums as well as daily tours.
Sightseeing, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in Antalya can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around $12 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
Typical Entertainment prices in Petra
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Petra are as follows:
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Entry to Petra for One
$71
Tours and Activities in Antalya
For Antalya, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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Skip the Line: Yoruk Parki Kemer Admission Ticket:
$5.75
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Admission Ticket to Sandland Antalya:
$7.46
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Shopping Tour From Kemer:
$10
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Sapadere Canyon Full-Day Sightseeing Tour from Alanya:
$28
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Canyoning and Rafting Tours from Antalya:
$29
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Antalya Rafting Tour:
$31
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Antalya Local Bazaar Tour:
$33
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Koprulu Canyon Water Rafting Adventure with Lunch from Antalya:
$34
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Turkey: Day Tour of Ancient Lycia:
$36
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Day Tour to Xanthos City, Saklikent Canyon and Patara Beach:
$36
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Antalya Rafting Tour:
$37
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Rafting Tour:
$44
Alcohol
The average person spends about $12 on alcoholic beverages in Petra per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
Typically, people visiting Antalya spend on average $6.88 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Petra and Antalya, we can see that Petra is more expensive. And not only is Antalya much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Petra is in Middle East and Antalya 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 Antalya would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Antalya 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 Petra would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Petra than you might in Antalya.
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