Which place is cheaper, Ephesus or Tiberias?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Tiberias or Ephesus?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Tiberias or Ephesus? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Tiberias or Ephesus?
Tiberias
Tiberias is a major tourist destination in Israel. It's positioned on the western side of the Sea of Galilee and is a popular spot for Israeli and international tourists alike. The town itself offers great views of the beautiful blue waters and the surrounding green hills. Tiberias is also considered to be one of the Jewish Four Holy Cities. Many people also use Tiberias as a jumping off point to explore the Golan Heights area.
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 3-Day Tours from Jerusalem, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Jerusalem, The Best Cultural Tours in Turkey, and The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Turkey.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayTiberias $87Ephesus $143
The average daily cost (per person) in Tiberias is $87, while the average daily cost in Ephesus is $143. 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 Tiberias and Ephesus in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personTiberias $55Ephesus $70
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomTiberias $110Ephesus $140
Compare Hotels in Tiberias and Ephesus
Looking for a hotel in Tiberias 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: Tiberias Hotel Prices and Ephesus Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Tiberias $4.55Ephesus $51
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ephesus
Also for Ephesus, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Bodrum Scuba Diving tour with BBQ Lunch & Roundtrip Transfer: $74
- Didim (Altinkum) Hotels to Bodrum Airport BJV Transfers: $115
- Ephesus Private Guided Tour with Lunch and Transfers: $80
- From-to Izmir AirPort to-from Kusadası Private Airport Transfer: $75
- Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport (ADB) Transfer to OR from Kusadasi: $100
- Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport - Kusadasi Centrum (All hotels, home...) transfers: $66
- Kusadasi Boat Trip With Lunch And Hotel Transfer: $40
- Kusadasi Buggy Car Safari With Free Hotel Transfer Service: $40
- Kusadasi Half Day Quad Safari Experience With Free Hotel Transfer: $50
- Kusadasi Hotels to Bodrum Airport BJV Transfers: $169
- Kusadasi Hotels to Izmir Airport ADB Transfers: $93
- Kusadasi International Golf Hotels to Izmir Airport ADB Transfers: $93
Is it cheaper to fly into Tiberias or Ephesus?
Prices for flights to both Ephesus and Tiberias 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 dayTiberias $28Ephesus $33
Typical Food Prices in Tiberias
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Tiberias:
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Lunch for Two$5.30
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Pastry$1.86
Typical Food Prices in Ephesus
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Ephesus:
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Sandwiches$0.15
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Dessert$0.17
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Lunch at Beach (for 2)$0.59
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Snacks$0.25
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: $110
- Taste of Traditional Turkish Cuisine | Small Group Kusadasi Food Tour: $211
- Cooking Class in Ephesus Selcuk Town: $228
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Tiberias $10Ephesus $59
Typical Entertainment Prices in Tiberias
Here are a few typical costs in Tiberias for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Two Bikes for Day$32
Tours and Activities in Tiberias
Here are a few actual costs in Tiberias for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Culinary Day Tour of the Galilee: $287
- Haifa Shore Excursion: Nazareth and the Galilee - for cruise ship guests only: $115
- Safed Wine & Cheese Tour: $250
- Shabbat Experience in Tzfat with Wine Pairing: $160
Tours and Activities in Ephesus
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Ephesus.
- Self-guided Virtual Tour of The Highlights: $6.53
- Entry Free: Drive by Ephesus and Ancient Wonder Tour: $12
- Self-guided Virtual Tour of the ancient pearl of the Mediterranean: $17
- Kusadasi Traditional Turkish Bath Hamam Experience : $18
- Half-Day Ancient City of Ephesus Tour from Kusadasi Port: $18
- Private Ephesus and Shopping Tour for Cruisers Only: $18
- Skip the Line:Private& Small Group Ephesus Tour For Cruise Guest : $19
- Skip the Line - Best of Ephesus: $19
- Time Travel in Affordable and Spectacular Experience: $20
- Kusadasi Quad Safari Adventure: $20
- Kusadasi Scuba Diving Tour By Local Experts: $20
- Best of Ephesus Guided Tour For Cruise Guest : $20
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayTiberias $17Ephesus $15
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$0.12
Sample the Local Flavors in Ephesus
Also in Ephesus, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Skip-the-line Ephesus & Wine Tasting Tour From Kusadasi Port: $54
- Ephesus port tours and Wine Tasting Tours : $70
- Ephesus and Sirince with Wine tasting Private Half Day Shore Excursion: $100
- Ancient Ephesus tour with Wine Tasting in the village and visit to Mother's Mary House: $131
- Private Ephesus Tour with Wine Tasting: $134
- Full-Day Private Ephesus Tour with Wine Tasting from Kusadasi: $149
- Ephesus and Wine Tasting Tour From Kusadasi with Private Guide and Van: $218
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Tiberias and Ephesus, we can see that Ephesus is more expensive. And not only is Tiberias much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Tiberias 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 Tiberias would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Tiberias 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 Ephesus would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Ephesus than you might in Tiberias.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Tiberias Expensive? and Is Ephesus Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Tiberias or Ephesus?
Ephesus has a larger population, and is about 59% larger than the population of Tiberias. When comparing the sizes of Tiberias 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 Tiberias or Ephesus?
Ephesus has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Tiberias experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Tiberias or Ephesus in the Summer?
Both Ephesus and Tiberias during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Tiberias because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In the summer, Tiberias is around the same temperature as Ephesus. Typically, the summer temperatures in Tiberias in July average around 28°C (82°F), and Ephesus averages at about 27°C (81°F).
In Ephesus, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Tiberias. In the summer, Tiberias often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Ephesus. Tiberias gets 364 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ephesus receives 378 hours of full sun.
Tiberias usually gets less rain in July than Ephesus. Tiberias 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 JulyTiberias 28°C (82°F)Ephesus 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Tiberias or Ephesus in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Tiberias and Ephesus. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Tiberias year-round.
In October, Tiberias is generally a little warmer than Ephesus. Daily temperatures in Tiberias average around 24°C (75°F), and Ephesus fluctuates around 19°C (66°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Ephesus this time of the year. In Tiberias, it's very sunny this time of the year. Tiberias usually receives more sunshine than Ephesus during autumn. Tiberias gets 274 hours of sunny skies, while Ephesus receives 232 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Tiberias usually receives less rain than Ephesus. Tiberias gets 12 mm (0.5 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 OctoberTiberias 24°C (75°F)Ephesus 19°C (66°F)
Should I visit Tiberias or Ephesus in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Tiberias as well as Ephesus. Tiberias attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Tiberias is a little warmer than Ephesus in the winter. The daily temperature in Tiberias averages around 14°C (57°F) in January, and Ephesus fluctuates around 10°C (50°F).
In the winter, Tiberias often gets more sunshine than Ephesus. Tiberias gets 184 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ephesus receives 131 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Ephesus. Tiberias usually gets less rain in January than Ephesus. Tiberias gets 41 mm (1.6 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 JanuaryTiberias 14°C (57°F)Ephesus 10°C (50°F)
Should I visit Tiberias or Ephesus in the Spring?
Both Ephesus and Tiberias are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Tiberias throughout the year.
In the spring, Tiberias is a little warmer than Ephesus. Typically, the spring temperatures in Tiberias in April average around 20°C (68°F), and Ephesus averages at about 15°C (59°F).
It's quite sunny in Ephesus. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Tiberias. Tiberias usually receives more sunshine than Ephesus during spring. Tiberias gets 269 hours of sunny skies, while Ephesus receives 231 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Tiberias usually receives less rain than Ephesus. Tiberias gets 26 mm (1 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 AprilTiberias 20°C (68°F)Ephesus 15°C (59°F)
Typical Weather for Ephesus and Tiberias
| Tiberias | Ephesus | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 14°C (57°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 149 mm (5.9 in) |
| Feb | 14°C (57°F) | 37 mm (1.5 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 103 mm (4.1 in) |
| Mar | 16°C (61°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) |
| Apr | 20°C (68°F) | 26 mm (1 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) |
| May | 23°C (73°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 19°C (67°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) |
| Jun | 27°C (81°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 1 mm (0 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (84°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 1 mm (0 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 7 mm (0.3 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 23 mm (0.9 in) |
| Oct | 24°C (75°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) |
| Nov | 20°C (68°F) | 22 mm (0.9 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
| Dec | 16°C (61°F) | 37 mm (1.5 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.