Which place is cheaper, Istanbul or Varna?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Varna or Istanbul?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Varna and Istanbul can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Varna or Istanbul?
Varna
Varna is a coastal city on the Black Sea. It's the third largest city in Bulgaria and many people consider it the summer capital of the country. It's a major tourist destination and it can make for a relaxing escape at the beach if you're in Bulgaria during the summer. It is the only city in Bulgaria that cruises visit, and as such, it's tourist infrastructure has grown. In addition to being a tourist destination, Varna is also a business and university center, seaport, and the headquarters of the Bulgarian Navy and merchant marine.
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 10-Day Tours in Bulgaria, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Bulgaria, 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 dayVarna $65Istanbul $126
The average daily cost (per person) in Varna is $65, 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 Varna and Istanbul in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personVarna $35Istanbul $47
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomVarna $70Istanbul $94
Compare Hotels in Varna and Istanbul
Looking for a hotel in Varna 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: Varna Hotel Prices and Istanbul Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Varna $9.33Istanbul $55
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Varna
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Varna:
- Private Transfer from Varna (VAR) Airport to Varna City: $22
- Private Transfer from Varna (VAR) Airport to Saints Constantine and Helena: $25
- Private Transfer from Golden Sands to Varna (VAR) Airport: $35
- Private One-way Transfer Varna Airport to Hotel or vice versa: $53
- Private Transfer from Balchik to Varna (VAR) Airport: $58
- Private Transfer from Varna (VAR) Airport to Balchik: $58
- Private Transfer from Varna (VAR) Airport to Byala: $63
- Private Transfer from Albena to Varna (VAR) Airport : $65
- Private Transfer from Varna (VAR) Airport to Albena: $65
- Private Transfer from Varna Airport (VAR) to Burgas Cruise Port: $65
- Private Transfer from Varna (VAR) Airport to Obzor: $71
- Private Transfer from Sunny Beach to Burgas (BOJ) Airport: $72
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
- Istanbul Cruise Port(Galataport) Private Transfer Service: $35
- 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
- Airport transfer Istanbul: $46
- Arrival & Departure Private Transfer in Istanbul: $43
- 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 Varna or Istanbul?
Prices for flights to both Istanbul and Varna 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 dayVarna $23Istanbul $31
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
- Bosphorus Dinner Cruise & Show with Private Table: $17
- Dinner Cruise and Entertainment with Private Table: $17
- Bosphorus Dinner Cruise , Unlimited Drinks, & Show: $21
- Bosphorus Luxury Catamaran Cruise with Dinner Show: $25
- Bosphorus Dinner Cruise and Turkish Night Show: $26
- Bosphorus Boat Cruise with Dinner & Entertainment: $27
- Istanbul Bosphorus Dinner Cruise with Unlimited Drinks and Shows: $28
- Dinner Cruise Bosphorus with Hotel Transfer: $28
- Istanbul Bosphorus Dinner Cruise and Turkish Night Show: $29
- Half Day Sunset Luxury Yacht Dinner Cruise Tour in Istanbul: $29
- 3 Hour Ottoman Dinner Cruise in Istanbul : $29
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Varna $8.55Istanbul $79
Tours and Activities in Varna
Here are a few actual costs in Varna for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Self-guided tour in Varna Archaeological Museum + ticket: $11
- Archaeological Museum Ticket & E-Guide: $13
- Audio Guide for All Varna Sights, Attractions or Experiences: $15
- Pokémon GO Varna Private Tour: $19
- Action Aqua Park Entrance Ticket: $25
- Half Day Private Bicycle Tour in Varna: $29
- Private Virtual Tour in Varna with a Local Guide : $32
- Nessebar: Guided City Tour: $49
- Bulgaria Day Bike & E-bike Tours - country & sea: $63
- The OFFroad Adventure : $64
- The Ultimate Private Communist Tour of Varna: $64
- Half-Day Tsarev Brod Winery and Walking Tour: $64
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: $2.14
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.21
- City Tour with Audio Guide in your smartphone: $5.35
- Highlights Self Guided Scavenger Hunt & Tour: $5.35
- Hagia Sophia Exclusive Digital Audio Guided Tour: $5.35
- City Exploration Game and Tour: $6.42
- Istanbul Outdoor Escape Game: The Royal Adventure: $7.08
- Istanbul in a day: A Self-Guided Audio Tour in English: $7.87
- Daytime or Sunset Sightseeing Cruise & Audio Guide: $8.06
- Hippodrome and Blue Mosque Guided Tour: $8.73
- Bosphorus Sightseeing Cruise with Audio Guide: $9.62
- The Royal Adventure Highlights Exploration Game: $11
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayVarna $8.52Istanbul $15
Sample the Local Flavors in Varna
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Varna:
- Private Exploration: French Influence in Varna + Walking + Wine tasting tour: $53
- Bulgarian Wine Tasting & Art Gallery Experience in Varna: $53
- Varna Exquisite Wine Tasting: $64
- Private Varna Gourmet Tour with Superb Wine Tasting: $64
- The Ultimate Private Varna Walking, Culture & Wine Tasting Tour: $75
- E-bike & Wine Tour to the Bulgarian Coast: $104
- Varna Gourmet Tour including Wine Tasting: $127
Sample the Local Flavors in Istanbul
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Istanbul:
- Istanbul Pub Crawl Big Nightout . Rooftop parties,party Bus & Nightlife: $22
- Istanbul 7-Hour Pub Crawl: Big Night Out: $27
- Famous Istanbul Pub Crawl #1 Nightlife Experience: $27
- Party Pub Crawl with Party Bus: $29
- Wine Tasting Experience in Istanbul : $50
- Istanbul Wine Tasting at Home with Local Family: $80
- 2-Day Wine Tasting Tour along the Thracian Wine Route: $180
- Istanbul Private Wine Tasting Tour Through 3 City Wineries : $245
- Istanbul Private and Guided, Food and Wine Tasting Tour: $430
- Luxury Wine Tasting on a Private Yacht: $844
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Varna and Istanbul, we can see that Istanbul is more expensive. And not only is Varna much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Varna would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Varna 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 Varna.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Varna Expensive? and Is Istanbul Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Varna or Istanbul?
Istanbul has a larger population, and is about 40 times larger than the population of Varna. When comparing the sizes of Varna 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 Varna or Istanbul?
Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Varna or Istanbul in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Varna and Istanbul. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Istanbul because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Varna is around the same temperature as Istanbul. Typically, the summer temperatures in Varna in July average around 23°C (73°F), and Istanbul averages at about 24°C (74°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Istanbul this time of the year. In Varna, it's very sunny this time of the year. Varna usually receives less sunshine than Istanbul during summer. Varna gets 268 hours of sunny skies, while Istanbul receives 333 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Varna usually receives more rain than Istanbul. Varna gets 37 mm (1.5 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 JulyVarna 23°C (73°F)Istanbul 24°C (74°F)
Should I visit Varna or Istanbul in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Varna as well as Istanbul. Also, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Istanbul this time of year.
In October, Varna is generally cooler than Istanbul. Daily temperatures in Varna average around 14°C (57°F), and Istanbul fluctuates around 16°C (61°F).
In the autumn, Varna often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Istanbul. Varna gets 161 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Istanbul receives 169 hours of full sun.
Varna usually gets less rain in October than Istanbul. Varna gets 36 mm (1.4 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 OctoberVarna 14°C (57°F)Istanbul 16°C (61°F)
Should I visit Varna or Istanbul in the Winter?
Both Istanbul and Varna are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Also, many travelers come to Istanbul for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
It's quite cold in Varna in the winter. Varna is much colder than Istanbul in the winter. The daily temperature in Varna averages around 3°C (37°F) in January, and Istanbul fluctuates around 6°C (43°F).
Varna usually receives more sunshine than Istanbul during winter. Varna gets 83 hours of sunny skies, while Istanbul receives 75 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Varna usually receives less rain than Istanbul. Varna gets 38 mm (1.5 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 JanuaryVarna 3°C (37°F)Istanbul 6°C (43°F)
Should I visit Varna or Istanbul in the Spring?
Both Istanbul and Varna during the spring are popular places to visit. Furthermore, many visitors come to Istanbul in the spring for the activities around the city and the natural beauty.
In the spring, Varna is cooler than Istanbul. Typically, the spring temperatures in Varna in April average around 11°C (52°F), and Istanbul averages at about 13°C (55°F).
In the spring, Varna often gets less sunshine than Istanbul. Varna gets 156 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Istanbul receives 180 hours of full sun.
Varna usually gets less rain in April than Istanbul. Varna gets 44 mm (1.7 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 AprilVarna 11°C (52°F)Istanbul 13°C (55°F)
Typical Weather for Istanbul and Varna
| Varna | Istanbul | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 3°C (37°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) | 6°C (43°F) | 99 mm (3.9 in) |
| Feb | 3°C (37°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 6°C (44°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) |
| Mar | 6°C (43°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) | 8°C (47°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) |
| Apr | 11°C (52°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| May | 16°C (61°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) |
| Jun | 21°C (70°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) | 21°C (71°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) |
| Jul | 23°C (73°F) | 37 mm (1.5 in) | 24°C (74°F) | 19 mm (0.7 in) |
| Aug | 23°C (73°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) | 24°C (74°F) | 26 mm (1 in) |
| Sep | 19°C (66°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 20°C (69°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| Oct | 14°C (57°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) |
| Nov | 9°C (48°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 89 mm (3.5 in) |
| Dec | 5°C (41°F) | 42 mm (1.7 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.