Which place is cheaper, Istanbul or Tiberias?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Tiberias or Istanbul?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Tiberias or Istanbul? 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 Istanbul?
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.
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 3-Day Tours from Jerusalem, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Jerusalem, The Best 2-Week Tours in Turkey, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Turkey.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayTiberias $89Istanbul $126
The average daily cost (per person) in Tiberias is $89, while the average daily cost in Istanbul is $126. 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 Istanbul in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personTiberias $56Istanbul $47
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomTiberias $112Istanbul $94
Compare Hotels in Tiberias and Istanbul
Looking for a hotel in Tiberias 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: Tiberias Hotel Prices and Istanbul Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Tiberias $4.61Istanbul $55
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Istanbul
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Istanbul are as follows:
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Ferry$0.09
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Local Bus$0.09
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Istanbul
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Istanbul:
- Istanbul Airport Transfer by Private Minivan + Meet & Greet Service: $85
- Private Airport Transfer in Istanbul: $109
- Saw Sabiha Gokcen Airport Transfers for Old City & Taksim Hotels: $55
- 1-Way Private Transfer to/from Sabiha Gokcen Airport: $75
- Airport - Otel Transfer and City Tours: $20
- Airport Istanbul Private Transfer IST or SAW Airport : $34
- Arrival & Departure Private Transfer in Istanbul: $43
- Arrival Private Transfer IST or SAW Airport to Istambul, Levent or Taksim by Bus: $65
- Arrival Private Transfer: New Airport IST to Istanbul in Luxury Van: $70
- Bursa Uludağ Mountain Tour From Istanbul w/Lunch & Hotel Transfer: $35
- CARPEDIEM : SABIHA GOKCEN AIRPORT LUXURY TRANSFER (Arrival/Departure): $45
- Daily Green Bursa Tour with Cable Car & Transfer from Istanbul: $73
Is it cheaper to fly into Tiberias or Istanbul?
Prices for flights to both Istanbul 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 $28Istanbul $31
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$5.38
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Pastry$1.88
Typical Food Prices in Istanbul
Some typical examples of dining costs in Istanbul are as follows:
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Juice$0.06
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Turkish Delight$0.02
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Dessert$0.26
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Pastries$0.05
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Istanbul
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Istanbul.
- Bosphorus Dinner Cruise with Turkish Night Show from Istanbul: $16
- Istanbul Bosphorus Dinner Cruise Turkish Night Show All inclusive: $16
- Dinner Cruise and Entertainment with Private Table: $17
- Bosphorus Dinner Cruise Tour With Turkish Night Show: $21
- Bosphorus Dinner Cruise , Unlimited Drinks, & Show: $22
- Bosphorus Luxury Catamaran Cruise with Dinner Show: $25
- Bosphorus Dinner Cruise and Turkish Night Show: $26
- Istanbul Bosphorus Cruise with All inclusive Dinner and Belly-Dancer Show : $27
- Bosphorus Boat Cruise with Dinner & Entertainment: $27
- Istanbul Bosphorus Dinner Cruise with Unlimited Drinks and Shows: $28
- Dinner Cruise Bosphorus with Hotel Transfer: $28
- 3 Hour Ottoman Dinner Cruise in Istanbul : $29
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Tiberias $11Istanbul $79
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:
- Haifa Shore Excursion: Nazareth and the Galilee - for cruise ship guests only: $115
- Shabbat Experience in Tzfat with Wine Pairing: $160
- Safed Wine & Cheese Tour: $250
- Culinary Day Tour of the Galilee: $287
Typical Entertainment Prices in Istanbul
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Istanbul are as follows:
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Bosphurus Boat (for 2)$0.62
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Yerebatan Cistern for Two$0.62
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Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts for Two$0.31
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Hagia Sofia entrance$0.93
Tours and Activities in Istanbul
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Istanbul are as follows:
- App self-guided tours Istanbul with multilingual audioguide: $2.15
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.23
- Highlights Self Guided Scavenger Hunt & Tour: $5.38
- City Tour with Audio Guide in your smartphone: $5.38
- Hagia Sophia Exclusive Digital Audio Guided Tour: $5.38
- City Exploration Game and Tour: $6.46
- Istanbul Outdoor Escape Game: The Royal Adventure: $7.09
- Daytime or Sunset Sightseeing Cruise & Audio Guide: $8.12
- Guided Boat Tour on the Bosphorus: $8.44
- Bosphorus Sightseeing Cruise with Audio Guide: $9.69
- Self Guided Virtual Tour of Hagia Sophia The Highlights: $9.82
- Hagia Sophia & Hippdrome Tour with Local Expert: $11
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayTiberias $17Istanbul $15
Sample the Local Flavors in Istanbul
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Istanbul:
- Istanbul 7-Hour Pub Crawl: Big Night Out: $27
- Party Pub Crawl with Party Bus: $29
- Wine Tasting Experience in Istanbul : $50
- Istanbul Wine Tasting at Home with Local Family: $84
- 2-Day Wine Tasting Tour along the Thracian Wine Route: $180
- Istanbul Private Wine Tasting Tour Through 3 City Wineries : $246
- Istanbul Private and Guided, Food and Wine Tasting Tour: $430
- Luxury Wine Tasting on a Private Yacht: $849
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Tiberias and Istanbul, we can see that Istanbul 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 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 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 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 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 Istanbul Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Tiberias or Istanbul?
Istanbul has a larger population, and is about 280 times larger than the population of Tiberias. When comparing the sizes of Tiberias 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.
When is the best time to visit Tiberias or Istanbul?
Istanbul 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 Istanbul in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Tiberias and Istanbul. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Tiberias year-round. Also, many visitors come to Istanbul in the summer for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.
Tiberias is a little warmer than Istanbul in the summer. The daily temperature in Tiberias averages around 28°C (82°F) in July, and Istanbul fluctuates around 24°C (74°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Istanbul this time of the year. In Tiberias, it's very sunny this time of the year. Tiberias usually receives more sunshine than Istanbul during summer. Tiberias gets 364 hours of sunny skies, while Istanbul receives 333 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Tiberias usually receives less rain than Istanbul. Tiberias gets 0 mm (0 in) of rain, while Istanbul receives 19 mm (0.7 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyTiberias 28°C (82°F)Istanbul 24°C (74°F)
Should I visit Tiberias or Istanbul in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Tiberias as well as Istanbul. Tiberias attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, most visitors come to Istanbul for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months.
In the autumn, Tiberias is a little warmer than Istanbul. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Tiberias in October average around 24°C (75°F), and Istanbul averages at about 16°C (61°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Tiberias this time of the year. In the autumn, Tiberias often gets more sunshine than Istanbul. Tiberias gets 274 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Istanbul receives 169 hours of full sun.
Tiberias usually gets less rain in October than Istanbul. Tiberias gets 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain, while Istanbul receives 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberTiberias 24°C (75°F)Istanbul 16°C (61°F)
Should I visit Tiberias or Istanbul in the Winter?
Both Istanbul and Tiberias are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Tiberias throughout the year. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Istanbul because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
In January, Tiberias is generally much warmer than Istanbul. Daily temperatures in Tiberias average around 14°C (57°F), and Istanbul fluctuates around 6°C (43°F).
Tiberias usually receives more sunshine than Istanbul during winter. Tiberias gets 184 hours of sunny skies, while Istanbul receives 75 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Tiberias usually receives less rain than Istanbul. Tiberias gets 41 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Istanbul receives 99 mm (3.9 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryTiberias 14°C (57°F)Istanbul 6°C (43°F)
Should I visit Tiberias or Istanbul in the Spring?
Both Istanbul and Tiberias during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Tiberias because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Furthermore, the activities around the city and the natural beauty are the main draw to Istanbul this time of year.
Tiberias is much warmer than Istanbul in the spring. The daily temperature in Tiberias averages around 20°C (68°F) in April, and Istanbul fluctuates around 13°C (55°F).
It's quite sunny in Tiberias. In the spring, Tiberias often gets more sunshine than Istanbul. Tiberias gets 269 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Istanbul receives 180 hours of full sun.
Tiberias usually gets less rain in April than Istanbul. Tiberias gets 26 mm (1 in) of rain, while Istanbul receives 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilTiberias 20°C (68°F)Istanbul 13°C (55°F)
Typical Weather for Istanbul and Tiberias
| Tiberias | Istanbul | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 14°C (57°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 6°C (43°F) | 99 mm (3.9 in) |
| Feb | 14°C (57°F) | 37 mm (1.5 in) | 6°C (44°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) |
| Mar | 16°C (61°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) | 8°C (47°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) |
| Apr | 20°C (68°F) | 26 mm (1 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| May | 23°C (73°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) |
| Jun | 27°C (81°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 21°C (71°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 24°C (74°F) | 19 mm (0.7 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (84°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 24°C (74°F) | 26 mm (1 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 7 mm (0.3 in) | 20°C (69°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| Oct | 24°C (75°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) |
| Nov | 20°C (68°F) | 22 mm (0.9 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 89 mm (3.5 in) |
| Dec | 16°C (61°F) | 37 mm (1.5 in) | 9°C (47°F) | 122 mm (4.8 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.