Which place is cheaper, Istanbul or Diyarbakir?
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 Diyarbakir or Istanbul?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Diyarbakir and Istanbul. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Diyarbakir or Istanbul?
Diyarbakir
Diyarbakır is the largest city in Southeastern Turkey, located on the banks of Tigris River, which is one of two great rivers of the Middle East. The city is known especially for its old city, housed within ancient fortress walls that have been designated an UNESCO World Heritage Site. Within this fortress is a glimpse into the city's ancient history and traditional customs that remain alive today.
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 Budget Tours to Turkey, The Best Tours for Seniors to Turkey, The Best G Adventures Tours to Turkey, and The Best 3-Day Tours from Istanbul.
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Diyarbakir Prices
Turkey PricesIstanbul Prices
Turkey Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDiyarbakir $103Istanbul $179
The average daily cost (per person) in Diyarbakir is $103, while the average daily cost in Istanbul is $179. 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 Diyarbakir and Istanbul in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDiyarbakir $60Istanbul $83
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDiyarbakir $120Istanbul $166
Compare Hotels in Diyarbakir and Istanbul
Looking for a hotel in Diyarbakir 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: Diyarbakir Hotel Prices and Istanbul Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Diyarbakir $24Istanbul $39
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Istanbul
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Istanbul:
- İstanbul Private Airport Transfer: $90
- istanbul Airport Transfer: $39
- VIP Transfer: $52
- Turkish Night Tour with Meyhane Experience and Transfer: $119
- Try find your better than us! Airport transfer service in Istanbul APT-HTL (IST): $43
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer in Istanbul HTL-APT (SAW): $52
- Troy Full-Day Guided Tour incl. Transfer, Ferry Tickets w/Lunch : $138
- Transfer from Istanbul Port to Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen Airport(SAW: $44
- Transfer from Hotels to Airports in Istanbul by Private Luxury Sedan: $144
- Transfer Istanbul City Center to Istanbul Ataturk Airport: $29
- Transfer Istanbul Ataturk Airport (ISL) to City Center: $29
- Sapanca and Masukiye Day Trip with Lunch and Hotel Transfer: $23
Is it cheaper to fly into Diyarbakir or Istanbul?
Prices for flights to both Istanbul and Diyarbakir 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 dayDiyarbakir $27Istanbul $66
Typical Food Prices in Diyarbakir
For Diyarbakir, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Dessert$0.15
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Lunch for Two$0.46
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 with Turkish Night Show: $24
- Bosphorus Dinner Cruise with Show and Private Table: $30
- Bosphorus Night Cruise with Dinner, Shows and Party : $30
- Budget Evening Cruise: Dinner, Live Shows & Party: $30
- Bosphorus Dinner Cruise & Turkish Dance Shows with Private Table: $31
- Istanbul Bosphorus Cruise Dinner, Drinks & Show with Pickup: $32
- Dinner Cruise On The Bosphorus with Turkish night show: $34
- Bosphorus Dinner Cruise & Entertaintment & Private Table & Wi-Fi: $36
- Bosphorus Evening Cruise: Dinner, Live Shows & Private Table: $36
- Luxury Bosphorus Dinner Cruise & Shows Private Table & Free Wi-Fi: $36
- Istanbul Bosphorus Dinner Cruise with Drinks and Shows: $41
- Bosphorus Dinner Cruise with Folk Dance and Live Performances: $42
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Diyarbakir $16Istanbul $43
Tours and Activities in Diyarbakir
For Diyarbakir, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- All-inclusive Private Guided Tour of Diyarbakir City: $297
Tours and Activities in Istanbul
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Istanbul are as follows:
- All in One Day Istanbul - Historical Tour of Istanbul with Bosphorus Cruise: $180
- Bosphorus Cruise And Asia Minor Tour: $220
- Bosphorus Morning or Sunset Guided Cruise Tour: $26
- Digital Experience Museum Skip the Line Entry: $35
- Discover the Magic of Old City – A Walking Tour Through Time: $60
- Full day old city tour (LT1): $179
- Istanbul Half Day City Tour (Ottoman Relics): $95
- Istanbul Self Guided Walking Tour : $5.00
- Istanbul Wonders FullDay Skipping Lines Private Guided City Tour: $128
- Istanbul's Hidden Gems Private Walking City Tour: $144
- Private Guided Istanbul Walking Tour: $170
- "Classic Wonders" Tour: $120
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDiyarbakir $14Istanbul $12
Sample the Local Flavors in Istanbul
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Istanbul:
- Famous Istanbul Pub Crawl #1 Nightlife Experience: $28
- Istanbul Nightlife Pub Crawl Pub and İstanbul Club Adventure: $30
- Pub Crawl Istanbul / Rooftop Clubs & Party Bus: $30
- Istanbul Pub Crawl: Adults-Only Nightlife Adventure: $31
- Istanbul Wine Tasting at Home with Local Family: $78
- Istanbul Private Wine Tasting Tour Through 3 City Wineries : $210
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Diyarbakir and Istanbul, we can see that Istanbul is more expensive. And not only is Diyarbakir much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Diyarbakir would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Diyarbakir 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 Diyarbakir.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Diyarbakir Expensive? and Is Istanbul Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Diyarbakir or Istanbul?
Istanbul has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Diyarbakir. When comparing the sizes of Diyarbakir 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.