Which place is cheaper, Ephesus or Petra?
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 Petra or Ephesus?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
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 Ephesus can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Petra or Ephesus?
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.
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 Historical Tours in Jordan, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Jordan, The Best Cultural Tours in Turkey, and The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Turkey.
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Petra Prices
Jordan PricesEphesus Prices
Turkey Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPetra $153Ephesus $116
The average daily cost (per person) in Petra is $153, while the average daily cost in Ephesus is $116. 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 Petra and Ephesus in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPetra $59Ephesus $48
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPetra $118Ephesus $96
Compare Hotels in Petra and Ephesus
Looking for a hotel in Petra 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: Petra Hotel Prices and Ephesus Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Petra $23Ephesus $35
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Petra
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Petra:
- Petra Private Transfer To Jerusalem: $290
- From Eilat: Petra Full-Day Guided Tour with Transfers: $219
- Fast and Reliable Private Transfer: Petra to Ma’in Hot Springs: $180
- Private Transfers from Petra Inside Jordan and Vice Versa: $176
- Comfort VIP Private Transfer: Petra to Aqaba South Beach Hotels: $140
- Private Transfer Amman Airport to Petra or vice versa via the King's Highway: $120
- Petra Private Transfer To Multiple Destinations: $115
- Petra Private Transfer To Aqaba: $100
- Comfortable and Reliable Private Transfer: Petra to Wadi Rum: $100
- Private Transfer From Petra to Amman or Airport With Optional: $99
- Private Departure Transfer: Petra Hotels to Amman Airport: $93
- Airport Transfer to and from Petra: $92
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ephesus
Also for Ephesus, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Kusadasi Quad Safari Adventure Included Transfer: $24
- Kusadasi Buggy Safari Adventure Included Transfer: $30
- Kuşadası: Turkish Bath Experience with Transfer: $37
- Kusadasi & National Park Boat Tours with Lunch and Transfer: $38
- Horse Riding Experience in Kusadasi for Everyone with Transfers: $45
- Kusadasi Half Day Quad Safari Experience With Free Hotel Transfer: $50
- Kuşadası Full Day Aegean Boat Cruise with Lunch and Transfers: $52
- Kusadasi Boat trip with Lunch & Roundtrip Transfer: $53
- Private Transfer from Kusadasi hotels to Kusadasi Cruise Port: $54
- Kusadasi Boat Trip With Lunch And Hotel Transfer: $55
- Kusadasi Buggy Adventure Tour with Hotel Transfer: $58
- Scuba Diving Experience in Kusadasi with Instructor and Transfer: $60
Is it cheaper to fly into Petra or Ephesus?
Prices for flights to both Ephesus 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.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayPetra $66Ephesus $40
Typical Food Prices in Petra
Some typical examples of dining costs in Petra are as follows:
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Dinner for Two$12
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Juice$1.76
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Petra
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Petra.
- Cooking outside in little Petra between the Mountains.: $50
- Private Outdoor bedouin Dinner in Petra: $150
Typical Food Prices in Ephesus
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Ephesus:
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Sandwiches$0.11
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Dessert$0.12
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Lunch at Beach (for 2)$0.40
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Snacks$0.17
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: $139
- Private Ephesus Tour & Cooking Experience with locals: $229
- Kusadasi Selcuk Ephesus Gourmet and Street Food Tour: $233
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Petra $47Ephesus $40
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 Petra
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Petra are as follows:
- 3 Hour Horse Riding Adventure around the Petra Area: $145
- 6 Hours Private Tour in Petra: $125
- Amman: Petra by Night Tour with Optional Day Visit: $99
- From Petra : Wadi Rum Private 8 - hours roundtrip tour .: $190
- Guided 3 Hour Tour of Petra's Iconic Landmarks: $60
- Half-Day Private Indiana Jones Petra Back Road Trial Tour: $200
- Literary tourism experience in Petra: $300
- Petra Highlight Tour with Private Guide Sami Nawafleh | 2.5 Hours: $120
- Petra Highlights Guided Golf Cart Tour with Hotel Pickup: $169
- Private 2-Day Jordan Tour: Petra, Wadi Rum & Dead Sea: $210
- Private 3-Day Jordan Tour: Petra, Wadi Rum & Dead Sea: $270
- Private 3-Hour Guided Tour of Petra with Hotel Pickup .: $75
Tours and Activities in Ephesus
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Ephesus.
- All inclusive: Exclusive Ephesus Tour from Kusadası Port: $5.00
- Skip-the-Line Ephesus Tour with Lunch: $6.99
- Private Ephesus Tour from Cruise Port - Lunch & Skip The Lines: $7.00
- Mini Group Ephesus & House of Virgin Mary Tour (Max. 10 guests): $9.90
- Small Group Tour Ephesus and House of Mary with Lunch: $10
- Ephesus and Sirince Village Tour For Cruisers: $11
- Ephesus Shopping Tour: $11
- Best Seller Ephesus Tour for Cruisers with lunch (skip the line): $12
- Best of Ephesus Tour for Cruisers (skip the line): $12
- Kusadasi Walking City and Shopping Tour from Kusadasi Port: $12
- Kusadasi Walking City Tour from Kusadasi Port Turkiye: $12
- Skip the Line: Ephesus Tour For Cruise Guest: $12
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPetra $15Ephesus $10
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$0.09
Sample the Local Flavors in Ephesus
Also in Ephesus, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- LGBTQ+ Friendly Ephesus Shore Excursion & Local Wine Tasting: $30
- Ephesus Shore Excursion & Wine Tasting + Lunch - Opt Turkish Bath: $35
- PRIVATE & GROUP: EPHESUS TOUR with Wine Tasting (SKIP-THE-LINE): $39
- FOR CRUISERS: Ephesus & Wine Tasting Tour From Kusadasi Port: $42
- FOR CRUISERS:Kusadasi Port Private Wine Tasting and Ephesus Tour: $45
- POTTERY PAINTING & WINE TASTING Tour from Kusadasi Port: $49
- Private Ephesus and Sirince Tour with Lunch and Wine Tasting: $92
- FOR CRUISERS: Ephesus Ruins & Sirince Village Wine Tasting Tour: $99
- Ephesus & Şirince Village with Lunch& Wine Tasting (Fixed Price): $115
- Ephesus Tour with Wine Tasting and Traditional Turkish Lunch: $130
- Private Ephesus Tour & Wine Tasting at Boutique Winery & Lunch: $149
- Ephesus and Sirince with Wine tasting Private Half Day Shore Excursion: $176
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Petra and Ephesus, we can see that Petra is more expensive. And not only is Ephesus much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Petra is in Middle East and Ephesus 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 Ephesus would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Ephesus 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 Ephesus.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Petra Expensive? and Is Ephesus Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Petra or Ephesus?
Ephesus has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Petra. When comparing the sizes of Petra 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.
When is the best time to visit Petra or Ephesus?
Ephesus has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Petra experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Petra or Ephesus in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Petra as well as Ephesus. Petra attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, many travelers come to Ephesus for the family-friendly experiences.
Petra can become quite hot in the summer. In July, Petra is generally a little warmer than Ephesus. Daily temperatures in Petra average around 33°C (91°F), and Ephesus fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Ephesus. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Petra this time of the year. In the summer, Petra often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Ephesus. Petra gets 384 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ephesus receives 378 hours of full sun.
Petra usually gets less rain in July than Ephesus. Petra gets 0 mm (0 in) of rain, while Ephesus receives 1 mm (0 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyPetra 33°C (91°F)Ephesus 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Petra or Ephesus in the Autumn?
Both Ephesus and Petra are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Petra throughout the year. Also, many visitors come to Ephesus in the autumn for the shopping scene.
Petra is a little warmer than Ephesus in the autumn. The daily temperature in Petra averages around 27°C (80°F) in October, and Ephesus fluctuates around 19°C (66°F).
It's quite sunny in Ephesus. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Petra. Petra usually receives more sunshine than Ephesus during autumn. Petra gets 295 hours of sunny skies, while Ephesus receives 232 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Petra usually receives less rain than Ephesus. Petra gets 2 mm (0.1 in) of rain, while Ephesus receives 29 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberPetra 27°C (80°F)Ephesus 19°C (66°F)
Should I visit Petra or Ephesus in the Winter?
Both Ephesus and Petra during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Petra because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Also, most visitors come to Ephesus for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.
In the winter, Petra is much warmer than Ephesus. Typically, the winter temperatures in Petra in January average around 15°C (59°F), and Ephesus averages at about 10°C (50°F).
It's quite sunny in Petra. In the winter, Petra often gets more sunshine than Ephesus. Petra gets 234 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ephesus receives 131 hours of full sun.
Ephesus gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Petra usually gets less rain in January than Ephesus. Petra gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Ephesus receives 149 mm (5.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryPetra 15°C (59°F)Ephesus 10°C (50°F)
Should I visit Petra or Ephesus in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Petra and Ephesus. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Petra year-round.
In April, Petra is generally much warmer than Ephesus. Daily temperatures in Petra average around 25°C (76°F), and Ephesus fluctuates around 15°C (59°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Ephesus this time of the year. In Petra, it's very sunny this time of the year. Petra usually receives more sunshine than Ephesus during spring. Petra gets 282 hours of sunny skies, while Ephesus receives 231 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Petra usually receives less rain than Ephesus. Petra gets 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain, while Ephesus receives 32 mm (1.3 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilPetra 25°C (76°F)Ephesus 15°C (59°F)
Typical Weather for Ephesus and Petra
| Petra | Ephesus | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 15°C (59°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 149 mm (5.9 in) |
| Feb | 17°C (62°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 103 mm (4.1 in) |
| Mar | 20°C (68°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) |
| Apr | 25°C (76°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) |
| May | 28°C (83°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 19°C (67°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) |
| Jun | 31°C (88°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Jul | 33°C (91°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 1 mm (0 in) |
| Aug | 32°C (90°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 1 mm (0 in) |
| Sep | 30°C (87°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 23 mm (0.9 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (80°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) |
| Nov | 21°C (70°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
| Dec | 16°C (62°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 164 mm (6.5 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.