Which place is cheaper, Saint John 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 Saint John?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Istanbul or Saint John, 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 Saint John?
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.
Saint John
With the popularity of the Caribbean rising, many islands have become touristy and expensive – but not St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
At only nine miles long and five miles wide, St. John is the smallest of the Virgin Islands, and, many argue, the prettiest. It's the kind of place that has maintained it's cultural identity, but still welcomes visitors from all over the world. With a population of just 5,000, the residents of St. John know everyone and everything happening on the island.
This island is perfect for people who want an undisturbed island getaway at any price. Between resorts and campgrounds there is a spot for everyone on St. John.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Turkey, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Turkey.
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Istanbul Prices
Turkey PricesSaint John Prices
USVI Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayIstanbul $179Saint John $233
The average daily cost (per person) in Istanbul is $179, while the average daily cost in Saint John is $233. 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 Saint John in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personIstanbul $83Saint John $106
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomIstanbul $166Saint John $212
Compare Hotels in Istanbul and Saint John
Looking for a hotel in Istanbul or Saint John? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Istanbul $39Saint John $49
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Istanbul
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Istanbul:
- Full Day Sapanca Tour with Lunch and Transfer From Istanbul: $30
- Istanbul Airport Private Transfer from Fatih Taksim Beşiktas: $42
- Istanbul Airport Transfer by Private Minivan + Meet & Greet Service: $95
- Airport - Otel Transfer and City Tours: $35
- Airport Transfer: $66
- Airport Transfer Hotel Transfer Istanbul Transfer: $66
- Airport Transfer: Istanbul to New Airport IST by Business Car: $72
- Arrival Private Transfer: New Airport IST to Istanbul in Luxury Van: $78
- Arrival Transfer Istanbul New Airport(IST) to Istanbul European Side City Hotels: $43
- Bosphorus Sunset Cruise on Luxury Yacht with Transfers: $60
- Bursa Tour with Lunch, transfer and Cable Car: $45
- Bursa Uludağ Mountain Tour From Istanbul w/Lunch & Hotel Transfer: $29
Is it cheaper to fly into Istanbul or Saint John?
Prices for flights to both Saint John 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 $66Saint John $97
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.Istanbul $43Saint John $23
Tours and Activities in Istanbul
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Istanbul are as follows:
- Istanbul Culture History and UNESCO Treasures Kickstart Tour: $3.59
- Highlights of Istanbul Walking Tour: $3.61
- Istanbul Self Guided Walking Tour : $5.00
- 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
- Bosphorus Explorer: 3-Hour Cruise with Asian Side Visit: $7.21
- Bosphorus Boat Tour 3 Hour with Asian Side Stop in Istanbul: $7.21
- Istanbul Bosphorus Tour With Whirling Dervish Show: $7.55
- Kadikoy's history, theatres and sweet shops: a self-guided audio tour: $8.99
- Istanbul Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.00
- Istanbul Bosphorus Sightseeing Cruise with Audio Guide: $9.02
- Istanbul, Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Grand Bazaar Walk Tour: $9.61
Tours and Activities in Saint John
Here are a few actual costs in Saint John for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- St. John: A Private Island Adventure Tour & Trunk Bay Beach: $627
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayIstanbul $12Saint John $44
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 Istanbul and Saint John, we can see that Saint John is more expensive. And not only is Istanbul much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Istanbul is in Europe and Saint John is in Caribbean Islands, 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 Istanbul would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Istanbul 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 Saint John would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Saint John than you might in Istanbul.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Istanbul Expensive? and Is Saint John Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Istanbul or Saint John?
Istanbul has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Saint John experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Istanbul or Saint John in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Istanbul and Saint John. Many travelers come to Istanbul for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences. Saint John attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Istanbul is cooler than Saint John in the summer. The daily temperature in Istanbul averages around 24°C (74°F) in July, and Saint John fluctuates around 29°C (83°F).
In July, Istanbul usually receives less rain than Saint John. Istanbul gets 19 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Saint John receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyIstanbul 24°C (74°F)Saint John 29°C (83°F)
Should I visit Istanbul or Saint John in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Istanbul as well as Saint John. Many visitors come to Istanbul in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area. The warm climate attracts visitors to Saint John throughout the year.
In the autumn, Istanbul is much colder than Saint John. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Istanbul in October average around 16°C (61°F), and Saint John averages at about 28°C (82°F).
It's quite rainy in Saint John. Istanbul usually gets less rain in October than Saint John. Istanbul gets 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Saint John receives 146 mm (5.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberIstanbul 16°C (61°F)Saint John 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Istanbul or Saint John in the Winter?
Both Saint John and Istanbul are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Istanbul for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months. Plenty of visitors come to Saint John because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In January, Istanbul is generally much colder than Saint John. Daily temperatures in Istanbul average around 6°C (43°F), and Saint John fluctuates around 26°C (78°F).
In January, Istanbul usually receives more rain than Saint John. Istanbul gets 99 mm (3.9 in) of rain, while Saint John receives 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryIstanbul 6°C (43°F)Saint John 26°C (78°F)
Should I visit Istanbul or Saint John in the Spring?
Both Saint John and Istanbul during the spring are popular places to visit. The spring months attract visitors to Istanbul because of the activities around the city and the natural beauty. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Saint John year-round.
Istanbul is much colder than Saint John in the spring. The daily temperature in Istanbul averages around 13°C (55°F) in April, and Saint John fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).
Istanbul usually gets less rain in April than Saint John. Istanbul gets 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Saint John receives 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilIstanbul 13°C (55°F)Saint John 27°C (80°F)
Typical Weather for Saint John and Istanbul
| Istanbul | Saint John | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 6°C (43°F) | 99 mm (3.9 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) |
| Feb | 6°C (44°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| Mar | 8°C (47°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| Apr | 13°C (55°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) |
| May | 17°C (63°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) |
| Jun | 21°C (71°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) |
| Jul | 24°C (74°F) | 19 mm (0.7 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) |
| Aug | 24°C (74°F) | 26 mm (1 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 101 mm (4 in) |
| Sep | 20°C (69°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 127 mm (5 in) |
| Oct | 16°C (61°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 146 mm (5.7 in) |
| Nov | 12°C (54°F) | 89 mm (3.5 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 126 mm (4.9 in) |
| Dec | 9°C (47°F) | 122 mm (4.8 in) | 26°C (80°F) | 71 mm (2.8 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.