A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Turku vs. Kathmandu for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Turku or Kathmandu?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Turku or Kathmandu, 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: Turku or Kathmandu?

Turku

Turku, a city on the southwest coast of Finland, straddles the Aura River. Dating from the 13th century, it's known for Turku Castle, a medieval fortress with a history museum, perched at the river mouth. Restaurants line the cobbled riverside streets. On the eastern bank lies the Old Great Square, a former trade hub, surrounded by grand buildings. The nearby Turku Cathedral houses a royal tomb and a museum. The historic castle and cathedral point to the city's rich cultural history when it was the Finnish capital, and contemporary Turku is full of experimental art and vibrant festivals, thanks in part to its spirited university population (the country's second largest), who make Turku's nightlife young and fun. As the first city many visitors encounter arriving by ferry from Sweden and Aland, it's a splendid introduction to the Finnish mainland.

Kathmandu

Kathmandu is the capital and largest city in the country of Nepal. Its metropolitan area forms one large urban area that includes the area of Patan to the south. As of 2011 there were 2.5 million residents in the Kathmandu metropolis and over 3 million in the entire metropolitan area. Kathmandu is likely to be your entry point into Nepal and is a great place to pick up supplies and arrange the details for any treks you hope to do. Many travelers rush through Kathmandu, turned off by the pollution and crowds, but to skip Kathmandu is to miss a major cultural, financial, and influential part of what defines the country of Nepal. The city itself is quite fun to explore if you allow it enough time and an open mind.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Finland, The Best Budget Tours to Finland, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Nepal, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Nepal.


Which place is cheaper, Kathmandu or Turku?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Turku is €159, while the average daily cost in Kathmandu is €49. 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 Turku and Kathmandu in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Turku 76
    Kathmandu 31
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Turku 152
    Kathmandu 62
Compare Hotels in Turku and Kathmandu

Looking for a hotel in Turku or Kathmandu? 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.

Hotels in Turku


Hotels in Kathmandu


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: Turku Hotel Prices and Kathmandu Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Turku 44
    Kathmandu 5.35

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Turku

Also for Turku, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Turku Private Transfer from Turku (TKU) Airport to City centre: $94
  • Turku Private Transfer from Turku city centre to Turku airport: $94

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Kathmandu

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Kathmandu:


  • Taxi Ride
    1.16

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kathmandu

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kathmandu:

  • Trishuli River Rafting Day Trip from Kathmandu with Transfers: $279
  • Lukla Flight Ticket with Sharing Transfer Service: $270
  • Private Transfer by Car from Kathmandu to Pokhara: $210
  • Private Transfer: Kathmandu to Chitwan Hotels: $210
  • Kathmandu to Chitwan Transfer by Luxury Private Car: $200
  • Buddha Air Mount Everest Experience with Transfers: $193
  • Mount Everest Scenic Flight by Buddha Air with Free Transfers: $182
  • Private Transfer to Syabrubesi from Kathmandu or Pokhara: $170
  • Yoga Experience Day Trip with Private Transfer From Kathmandu: $152
  • Kathmandu VIP Airport Arrival Meet & Greet with Private Transfer: $150
  • Private Sunrise or Sunset Tour of Dhulikhel with return transfers from Kathmandu: $144
  • Pokhara:Paragliding & River Rafting Adventure with Transfers: $139

Is it cheaper to fly into Turku or Kathmandu?

Prices for flights to both Kathmandu and Turku 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Turku 56
    Kathmandu 12

Typical Food Prices in Kathmandu

Some typical examples of dining costs in Kathmandu are as follows:


  • Dessert
    1.04
  • Dinner for Two
    2.31

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kathmandu

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Kathmandu.

  • Dinner with Cultural Show Kathmandu: $17
  • Cultural Stay in Kathmandu and experience dinner with family: $18
  • Home Made Authentic Nepali Dinner (veg/non vegg): $18
  • Local Women Lead Nepali Cooking & Momo-Making Class: $20
  • Cook and Eat: Cooking Class in Kathmandu near Thamel: $24
  • Local Women Lead Nepali Cooking Class: $30
  • Best Nepali Cooking Class in Thamel with Local Market Trip: $30
  • Secret Food Tour - Food Bites and Sights Kathmandu 14+ Tastings: $35
  • Momo Cooking Class -The Art Of Making MoMo with Home Chef: $35
  • Patan Food Tour Walking and Food Testing: $35
  • Walking Food Tour in Hidden Local Eateries of Kathmandu: $36
  • Everest Eats Kathmandu Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $39

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Turku 22
    Kathmandu 6.18

Tours and Activities in Turku

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Turku.

  • Järvelä Sauna Experience in the Turku Archipelago: $19
  • Experience Turku with a local guide: $278

Typical Entertainment Prices in Kathmandu

Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Kathmandu are as follows:


  • Monkey Temple for Two
    1.16
  • Patan Durbar Square Entrance for Two
    2.89
  • Swayambhunath Stupa
    1.16

Tours and Activities in Kathmandu

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Kathmandu are as follows:

  • 1 Day Gay Tour Nepal: $155
  • 1 Day Kathmandu Heritage 4 UNESCO Tour with Lunch: $99
  • 1 Day Kathmandu Valley Sightseeing Tour: $35
  • 1 Night 2 Days Chitwan Jungle Safari Tour from Pokhara or Kathmandu: $141
  • 1 Nights 2 Days Private Nagarkot Tour Package from Kathmandu: $150
  • 2 Day Kathmandu City with Nagarkot Sunrise, Changu Narayan and Bhaktapur Tour: $236
  • 2 Day Kathmandu Sightseeing with Panauti, Namobuddha Tour from Kathmandu: $163
  • 2 Day Poon Hill Trek with 2 Day Chitwan Jungle Safari Tour: $731
  • 2 Days Hindu Pilgrimage Tour in Nepal: $146
  • 2 Days and 1 Night Chitwan Safari Tour: $125
  • 2 Nights 3 Days Chitwan Safari Tour from Kathmandu or Pokhara: $254
  • 2 Nights 3 Days Chitwan Tour from Kathmandu: $294

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Turku 12
    Kathmandu 4.41

Sample the Local Flavors in Kathmandu

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Kathmandu:

  • Bar Tour & Pub Crawl -Sip, Stroll, Repeat Thamel's Night: $75


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Turku and Kathmandu, we can see that Turku is more expensive. And not only is Kathmandu much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Turku is in Europe and Kathmandu is in Asia, 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 Kathmandu would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Kathmandu 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 Turku would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Turku than you might in Kathmandu.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Turku Expensive? and Is Kathmandu Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Turku or Kathmandu?

Kathmandu has a larger population, and is about 8 times larger than the population of Turku. When comparing the sizes of Turku and Kathmandu, 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.