A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Istanbul vs. Costa Vicentina for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Istanbul or Costa Vicentina?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Istanbul or Costa Vicentina, 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: Istanbul or Costa Vicentina?

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.

Costa Vicentina

Costa Vicentina is the beautiful coastal area in southwest Portugal which runs through both the Algarve and Alentejo Regions along the southern coast. This is actually part of the longest stretch of protected coastline in Portugal, making it one of the best places to experience the unadulterated beauty and nature of the country. Costa Vicentina offers miles of some of the best Portugal beaches, fantastic hiking trails, and lovely old villages to explore. The area sees far more Portuguese tourists than international ones, so expect Portuguese to be the only language spoken by many people, especially in the smaller villages.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Turkey, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Turkey, The Best Walking Tours in Portugal, and The Best Luxury Tours to Portugal.


Which place is cheaper, Costa Vicentina or Istanbul?

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

  • Istanbul Prices
    Turkey Prices
    Costa Vicentina Prices
    Portugal Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Istanbul $179
    Costa Vicentina $176

The average daily cost (per person) in Istanbul is $179, while the average daily cost in Costa Vicentina is $176. 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 Istanbul and Costa Vicentina in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Istanbul $83
    Costa Vicentina $78
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Istanbul $166
    Costa Vicentina $156
Compare Hotels in Istanbul and Costa Vicentina

Looking for a hotel in Istanbul or Costa Vicentina? 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 Istanbul


Hotels in Costa Vicentina


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: Istanbul Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Istanbul $39
    Costa Vicentina $47

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Istanbul

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Istanbul:

  • Guided Private Istanbul Sultanahmet Old City Tour with Transfer: $215
  • Istanbul Airport Transfer by Private Minivan + Meet & Greet Service: $95
  • Istanbul Cruise Port(Galataport) Private Transfer Service: $35
  • Saw Sabiha Gokcen Airport Transfers for Old City & Taksim Hotels: $54
  • Airport Transfer: $66
  • Airport Transfer: $64
  • Airport Transfer: New Airport IST to Istanbul by Luxury Van: $78
  • Airport transfer Istanbul: $59
  • Arrival Private Transfer: New Airport IST to Istanbul in Business Car: $71
  • Arrival Private Transfer: New Airport IST to Istanbul in Luxury Van: $77
  • Arrival Transfer Istanbul New Airport(IST) to Istanbul European Side City Hotels: $43
  • Bosphorus Sunset Cruise on Luxury Yacht with Transfers: $60

Is it cheaper to fly into Istanbul or Costa Vicentina?

Prices for flights to both Costa Vicentina and Istanbul 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
    Istanbul $66
    Costa Vicentina $70

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: $27
  • Bosphorus Dinner Cruise with Show and Private Table: $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
  • Istanbul Bosphorus Dinner Cruise Turkish Show and Private Table: $35
  • Luxury Bosphorus Dinner Cruise & Shows Private Table & Free Wi-Fi: $36
  • Bosphorus Elite Dinner Cruise w/VIP Menu & Private Table Option: $42
  • Luxury Dinner & Traditional Dance Bosphorus Cruise: $42
  • Bosphorus Dinner Cruise with Folklore Show & Belly Dancers: $46
  • Bosphorus Tour Dinner Cruise with Turkish Night Show : $47
  • Bosphorus Dinner Cruise with Turkish Night Show Non-Alcoholic: $47

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Istanbul $43
    Costa Vicentina $20

Tours and Activities in Istanbul

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

  • Old Town Of Istanbul Orientation - Tip Based Walking Tour: $3.50
  • Istanbul Culture History and UNESCO Treasures Kickstart Tour: $3.57
  • Highlights of Istanbul Walking Tour: $3.58
  • Alternative Tour; Daily Life, Customs, Stories - Tip Based Tour: $5.00
  • Istanbul Sites: Peel back the layers of Turkish history a self-guided audio tour: $5.40
  • Istanbul The Sultan’s Secret: Exploration Game and Tour: $5.96
  • Bosphorus Explorer: 3-Hour Cruise with Asian Side Visit: $7.17
  • Istanbul Bosphorus Tour With Whirling Dervish Show: $7.50
  • Istanbul Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $8.98
  • Kadikoy's history, theatres and sweet shops: a self-guided audio tour: $8.99
  • Istanbul Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.00
  • 2 Hours Bosphorus Cruise Boat Tour in Istanbul: $9.56

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Istanbul $12
    Costa Vicentina $10

Sample the Local Flavors in Istanbul

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Istanbul:

  • Istanbul Nightlife Pub Crawl Pub and İstanbul Club Adventure: $19
  • 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 : $209


When comparing the travel costs between Istanbul and Costa Vicentina, we can see that Istanbul is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Europe, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

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