Which place is cheaper, Funchal or Istanbul?
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 Istanbul or Funchal?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Istanbul or Funchal, 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 Funchal?
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.
Funchal
Funchal is the capital city of the autonomous region of Madeira on the island of Madeira. The city is located to the south between the cities of Santa Cruz and Camara de Lobos. It is actually named for the fennel plant which grows liberally on the island. The city was most significant as a shipping center between the 15th and 17th centuries. Today it has a population of over 100,000 people and is, arguably, one of the most picturesque cities in Portugal. It's appeal as a tourist destination has made it the leading Portuguese port for cruise line dockings.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Turkey, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Turkey, The Best Tours for Seniors to Portugal, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Portugal.
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Istanbul Prices
Turkey PricesFunchal Prices
Portugal Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayIstanbul $179Funchal $136
The average daily cost (per person) in Istanbul is $179, while the average daily cost in Funchal is $136. 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 Funchal in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personIstanbul $83Funchal $61
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomIstanbul $166Funchal $122
Compare Hotels in Istanbul and Funchal
Looking for a hotel in Istanbul or Funchal? 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: Istanbul Hotel Prices and Funchal Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Istanbul $39Funchal $12
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Istanbul
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Istanbul:
- Istanbul Private Cultural Tours, Hotel Transfers Including: $299
- Miniatürk Istanbul Private Guided Tour & Optional Transfers: $249
- Istanbul Airport Transfer: Istanbul to New Airport IST in Luxury Car: $246
- Private Transfer to Bursa Uludag Hotels from Sabiha Gokcen airport: $245
- Istanbul Airport to Sabiha Airport Private Transfer or Vice Versa (1-10pax): $232
- Private Transfer from Sabiha Gökcen Airport (SAW) to Istanbul Airport (IST) : $191
- Istanbul Layover Tour: Private & Personalized with Transfers: $190
- Istanbul Private Guided Tour for Cruise Layovers. Transfers incl.: $180
- Istanbul Private Tour Designed for Layover Flight, Transfer incl.: $175
- Istanbul to Truva Troy Guided Day Tour with Lunch and Transfers: $172
- Istanbul NEW Airport Private Transfer: $165
- Istanbul Airport to Sabiha Airport Private Transfer or Vice Versa (1-6pax): $162
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Funchal
Also for Funchal, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Arrival and departure transfers to Funchal and Airport: $18
- Transfer Privado e Confiável: Aeroporto → Funchal (ou vice-versa): $21
- Private Transfer Madeira Airport: $30
- Funchal Airport(FNC) to Funchal hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $32
- Madeira: PR8 -Ponta de São Lourenço Natural Reserve Transfer: $33
- Caniçal Transfer for PR8 Hike São Lourenco: $33
- Airport Transfers Funchal Airport: $35
- Transfer to Pico do Arieiro Self-Guided Hike (Morning slot): $36
- Self Guided Transfer to Ponta de São Lourenço Natural Reserve: $36
- Transfer to PR1 Pico do Arieiro & Pico Ruivo Trail: $38
- Pico do Arieiro Sunrise Hiking Transfer: $39
- Transfer Sunrise Self-Guided Hike Pico do Arieiro : $39
Is it cheaper to fly into Istanbul or Funchal?
Prices for flights to both Funchal 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
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Food Meals for one dayIstanbul $66Funchal $64
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
Typical Food Prices in Funchal
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Funchal:
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Coffee$1.64
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Funchal
For Funchal, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Private Walking Food Tour Around Funchal: $33
- Madeiran Traditional Dinner: $95
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Istanbul $43Funchal $18
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
Tours and Activities in Funchal
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Funchal.
- Sacred Art Museum of Funchal Entry Ticket: $18
- Old Funchal Walking Tour: $20
- Quick & Fun 30-Minute Tuk Tuk Tour with Local Guide: $23
- KAYAK Rental or Guided tour with snorkeling: $29
- Funchal Walking Tour: Tradition, History and Flavor: $29
- City Sightseeing Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: $29
- Nun's Valley Tour: $32
- SUP Rental or Guided tour with snorkeling: $34
- Nun's Valley & Pico dos Barcelos Madeira Island Tour: $35
- Tour to Nun's Valley, Pico dos Barcelos and Eira do Serrado: $36
- Santana / Typical Houses Tour: $36
- Amazing East Tour : $36
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayIstanbul $12Funchal $18
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
Sample the Local Flavors in Funchal
Also in Funchal, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Portuguese Wine Tasting with Sommelier: $40
- Half day jeep Wine tour and tasting, & sea cliff adventure: $62
- Bestselling Wine Tour, Tasting Experience & Skywalk 4x4 Adventure: $63
- Half-Day Wine Tour- Shared: $89
- Shore Excursion: Private Madeira Tour & Wine Tasting: $93
- Guided Toboggan Ride and Madeira Wine Tasting Tour: $107
- Tuk Tuk Wine Tour - Madeira Island: $112
- Weekends Madeira Wine Tasting São Vicente: $119
- Visiting local Vineyard With Wine Tasting & Lunch included: $208
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Istanbul and Funchal, we can see that Istanbul is more expensive. And not only is Funchal much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Funchal would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Funchal 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 Funchal.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Istanbul Expensive? and Is Funchal Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Istanbul or Funchal?
Istanbul has a larger population, and is about 110 times larger than the population of Funchal. When comparing the sizes of Istanbul and Funchal, 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 Istanbul or Funchal?
Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Istanbul or Funchal in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Istanbul as well as Funchal. Many visitors come to Istanbul in the summer for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Istanbul is around the same temperature as Funchal. Typically, the summer temperatures in Istanbul in July average around 24°C (74°F), and Funchal averages at about 22°C (72°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Funchal. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Istanbul this time of the year. In the summer, Istanbul often gets more sunshine than Funchal. Istanbul gets 333 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Funchal receives 227 hours of full sun.
Istanbul usually gets more rain in July than Funchal. Istanbul gets 19 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Funchal receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyIstanbul 24°C (74°F)Funchal 22°C (72°F)
Should I visit Istanbul or Funchal in the Autumn?
Both Funchal and Istanbul are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. 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 October, Istanbul is generally cooler than Funchal. Daily temperatures in Istanbul average around 16°C (61°F), and Funchal fluctuates around 21°C (70°F).
Istanbul usually receives less sunshine than Funchal during autumn. Istanbul gets 169 hours of sunny skies, while Funchal receives 183 hours of full sun in the autumn.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Funchal. In October, Istanbul usually receives less rain than Funchal. Istanbul gets 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Funchal receives 100 mm (3.9 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberIstanbul 16°C (61°F)Funchal 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Istanbul or Funchal in the Winter?
Both Funchal and Istanbul during the winter are popular places to visit. The winter months attract visitors to Istanbul because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Istanbul is much colder than Funchal in the winter. The daily temperature in Istanbul averages around 6°C (43°F) in January, and Funchal fluctuates around 16°C (61°F).
In the winter, Istanbul often gets less sunshine than Funchal. Istanbul gets 75 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Funchal receives 141 hours of full sun.
Funchal gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Istanbul usually gets less rain in January than Funchal. Istanbul gets 99 mm (3.9 in) of rain, while Funchal receives 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryIstanbul 6°C (43°F)Funchal 16°C (61°F)
Should I visit Istanbul or Funchal in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Istanbul and Funchal. The activities around the city and the natural beauty are the main draw to Istanbul this time of year.
In the spring, Istanbul is cooler than Funchal. Typically, the spring temperatures in Istanbul in April average around 13°C (55°F), and Funchal averages at about 17°C (63°F).
Istanbul usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Funchal during spring. Istanbul gets 180 hours of sunny skies, while Funchal receives 182 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Istanbul usually receives less rain than Funchal. Istanbul gets 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Funchal receives 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilIstanbul 13°C (55°F)Funchal 17°C (63°F)
Typical Weather for Funchal and Istanbul
| Istanbul | Funchal | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 6°C (43°F) | 99 mm (3.9 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
| Feb | 6°C (44°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Mar | 8°C (47°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| Apr | 13°C (55°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| May | 17°C (63°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Jun | 21°C (71°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Jul | 24°C (74°F) | 19 mm (0.7 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Aug | 24°C (74°F) | 26 mm (1 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Sep | 20°C (69°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Oct | 16°C (61°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) |
| Nov | 12°C (54°F) | 89 mm (3.5 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) |
| Dec | 9°C (47°F) | 122 mm (4.8 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 90 mm (3.5 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.