Which place is cheaper, Istanbul or Tel Aviv?
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 Tel Aviv or Istanbul?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Tel Aviv 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: Tel Aviv or Istanbul?
Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv is the second largest city in Israel and is situated on the Mediterranean coast 60 kilometers north of Jerusalem. It's a rapidly growing city and is one of the most modern and cosmopolitan cities in Israel. The official name is Tel Aviv-Yafo because the city has grown to include the ancient port city of Yafo. If you're looking for an embassy, you are likely to find it in Tel Aviv, despite Jerusalem being the official capital of Israel.
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 Tours for Seniors to Israel, The Best 3-Day Tours from Jerusalem, The Best 2-Week Tours in Turkey, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Turkey.
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Tel Aviv Prices
Israel PricesIstanbul Prices
Turkey Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayTel Aviv $201Istanbul $159
The average daily cost (per person) in Tel Aviv is $201, while the average daily cost in Istanbul is $159. 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 Tel Aviv and Istanbul in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personTel Aviv $109Istanbul $74
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomTel Aviv $218Istanbul $148
Compare Hotels in Tel Aviv and Istanbul
Looking for a hotel in Tel Aviv 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: Tel Aviv Hotel Prices and Istanbul Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Tel Aviv $11Istanbul $35
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Tel Aviv
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Tel Aviv are as follows:
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Local Bus to Central Bus Station$1.99
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Taxi to Airport$51
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tel Aviv
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Tel Aviv:
- Private Arrival Transfer: From Ben Gurion Airport to Tel Aviv City Center: $48
- Private Departure Transfer: From Tel Aviv City Center to Ben Gurion Airport: $48
- Tel Aviv to Tel Aviv Airport (TLV) - Departure Private Transfer: $51
- Tel Aviv Airport (TLV) to Tel Aviv - Arrival Private Transfer: $52
- Tel Aviv to Tel Aviv Ben Gurion Airport (TLV) - Departure Private Transfer: $52
- Tel Aviv Airport (TLV) to Tel Aviv Hotels - Private Transfer: $55
- Herzliya to Tel Aviv Ben Gurion Airport Private Departure Transfer: $56
- Tel Aviv Airport (TLV) to Jerusalem Hotels - Private Transfer: $85
- suv BG airport transfer to tlv 4 people: $85
- Tel Aviv Airport (TLV) to Jerusalem Hotels - Private Transfer: $90
- Tel Aviv Airport TLV to Jerusalem city - Arrival Private Transfer: $93
- Fast and Reliable Airport Transfers to Tel Aviv Hotels (or back): $94
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Istanbul
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Istanbul are as follows:
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Metro Cards$4.59
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Istanbul
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Istanbul:
- Airport Transfer 1 to 6 Passengers: $58
- Airport Transfer Hotel Transfer Istanbul Transfer: $64
- Airport Transfer: Istanbul to New Airport IST by Business Car: $70
- Airport Transfer: Istanbul to New Airport IST by Luxury Van: $76
- Airport Transfer: Istanbul to Sabiha Airport SAW by Luxury Van: $75
- Airport Transfer: New Airport IST to Istanbul by Business Car: $70
- Airport transfer Istanbul: $58
- Arrival Transfer: New Airport IST to Istanbul by Business Car: $69
- Best Airport Transfer Company Istanbul Meet Transfer: $52
- Best of Istanbul City Full-Day Tour with Transfers: $49
- Departure Transfer: Istanbul to New Airport IST by Business Car: $69
- Departure Transfer: Istanbul to New Airport IST by Luxury Van: $75
Is it cheaper to fly into Tel Aviv or Istanbul?
Prices for flights to both Istanbul and Tel Aviv 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 dayTel Aviv $61Istanbul $59
Typical Food Prices in Tel Aviv
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Tel Aviv:
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Dinner for Two$28
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Dinner for 2 at Vatroshka$164
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Lunch at Segev Sarona$43
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Aroma Iced Coffee$4.73
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Lunch at the airport$40
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: $23
- Bosphorus Sightseeing Cruise with Optional 4 Course Dinner: $25
- Istanbul Bosphorus Dinner Cruise: Live Folk Dance & DJ Experience: $28
- Istanbul Bosphorus Dinner Cruise with Turkish Show Private Table: $29
- Mega Lüfer Dinner Cruise Bosphorus and Show with Private Table: $30
- Bosphorus Dinner Cruise with Turkish Night Show in Istanbul: $30
- Istanbul Night Life : Bosphorus Dinner Cruise - Unlimited Drinks: $31
- Bosphorus Evening Cruise: Dinner, Live Shows & Private Table: $31
- Bosphorus Dinner Cruise & Night Show: $33
- Istanbul Turkish Coffee Cooking and Tasting with Locals at Home: $33
- Luxury Bosphorus Dinner Cruise with Turkis Night Show in Istanbul: $34
- Istanbul Bosphorus Dinner Cruise with Turkish Night Show: $34
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Tel Aviv $29Istanbul $39
Typical Entertainment Prices in Tel Aviv
Here are a few typical costs in Tel Aviv for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Masada tour from Tel Aviv$100
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Etzel museum$5.07
Tours and Activities in Tel Aviv
Here are a few actual costs in Tel Aviv for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- A Self-Guided Walking Tour of Israel’s Neve Tzedek: $7.99
- Trail of Independence Quest Experience: $8.15
- Jaffa Gatekeeper’s Secret: Exploration Game and Tour: $9.33
- The White City: A Self-Guided Audio Tour of the History of the Bauhaus Style: $9.99
- The Story of Gan HaHashmal: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.99
- 30-minute Sightseeing Cruise of Tel Aviv and Jaffa Skyline: $29
- Tel Aviv Street Art Tour (Graffiti): $35
- Jaffa Walking Tour - Half-Day: $49
- Discover Jaffa in a Guided Walking Tour: $50
- Carmel Market Vegetarian Food, History & Culture Tour: $50
- Highlights of Central Tel Aviv Walking Tour: $50
- Tel Aviv; Jaffa Old City, Port & Shuk Hapishpishim Walking Tour: $60
Tours and Activities in Istanbul
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Istanbul are as follows:
- Daily Bursa and Uludag Tour from Istanbul with lunch: $2.50
- Highlights of Istanbul Walking Tour: $3.50
- Istanbul Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $4.46
- Istanbul Self-Guided Audio Tour: $6.00
- Kadikoy's history, theatres and sweet shops: a self-guided audio tour: $6.31
- Istanbul Audio Guided Walking Tour 3h and 22 audio reviews: $6.63
- Istanbul Scavenger Hunt & Highlights Self-Guided Walking Tour: $6.99
- Walking Tour in Istanbul with Audio and Written Guide Balat&Asia: $8.00
- Walking Tour in Istanbul with Audio and Written Guide Pera: $8.00
- Walking Tour in Istanbul with Audio and Written Guide Old City: $8.00
- Istanbul Highlights Self guided scavenger hunt and Walking Tour: $8.15
- Sapanca and Masukiye Tour from Istanbul with Optional Activities: $10
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayTel Aviv $27Istanbul $11
Sample the Local Flavors in Tel Aviv
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Tel Aviv:
- Tel Aviv Pub Crawl: $26
- Guided Pub Crawl Night Tour at Tel Aviv: $29
Sample the Local Flavors in Istanbul
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Istanbul:
- Istanbul Pub Crawl: Bars, Dancefloors, & Beyond: $18
- Pub Crawler VIP Entry Rooftop Bars&Clubs with Party Bus: $27
- Famous Istanbul Pub Crawl #1 Nightlife Experience: $28
- Istanbul Party Pub Crawl with Party Bus in Sultanahmet and Taksim: $30
- 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 Tel Aviv and Istanbul, we can see that Tel Aviv is more expensive. And not only is Istanbul much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Tel Aviv 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 Tel Aviv would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Tel Aviv 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 Tel Aviv Expensive? and Is Istanbul Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Tel Aviv or Istanbul?
Istanbul has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Tel Aviv. When comparing the sizes of Tel Aviv 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.