When we first came to Istanbul years ago, many prices felt noticeably cheaper than today. By now we've been there roughly 15 or 16 times – and yes, Istanbul has gotten more expensive.
Has Istanbul gotten expensive? My experience after many trips: street food, hotels, transfers, markets, shopping and where I deliberately spend money.
But "Istanbul is expensive" still feels too broad to me. You can spend a lot of money. But you can also eat, travel and experience fantastically without booking high-end every day.
- Public transport instead of taxis: tram, metro and ferry are the sensible basis for many routes.
- Street food and local restaurants instead of high class every evening.
- Compare weekly markets before you buy at the first bazaar.
- Factor in the hotel's location: a cheap hotel in the wrong place quickly becomes expensive.
- Only book passes and tours if you combine enough paid sights.
- Sort out internet in advance so that roaming doesn't become a cost trap.
What Does a Holiday in Istanbul Cost?
In short: That depends mainly on accommodation, food and transport. Flat daily rates help little because prices and exchange rates change quickly. That's why you should plan your budget by category – that way you see where you can save and where you'd like to treat yourself.
How you pay and where you exchange money is in Money in Istanbul. How to eat cheaply is in Eating Cheaply in Istanbul: Kent Lokantaları, how to get around without a taxi in Istanbulkart and Transport, and which neighbourhood suits you in Where to Stay in Istanbul.
Istanbul has gotten more expensive – but you control a lot of it yourself
On our first trips, a lot was noticeably cheaper. Today I look much more closely at prices. Still, I think you can experience Istanbul very differently – from cheap street food to a luxury restaurant with a Bosphorus view.
Food: we once did almost an entire trip as a street food test
One of our trips was almost a culinary experiment: a lot of street food, fewer classic restaurants. That was really interesting. Some things were incredibly good. With other things we knew afterward: nice that we met, but that's it. That's food. Taste is personal.
Especially with a family, I find it nice not to book the most expensive restaurant every day. You can eat very well on little money if you know where to go.
High class: treat yourself, yes, but not every day
Of course I also love beautiful restaurants. Bosphorus view, great ambience, good food – that's allowed on vacation. But I don't need it every evening. As a family of four, you notice very quickly what adds up.
As a family of four I plan budget differently than as a couple
With four people, everything adds up faster: hotel, transfer, food, admission fees. That's why we don't save across the board. For example, I'm happy to pay for a comfortable private transfer with kids if it saves us stress after a long flight. In return, dinner doesn't need to be high class every day.
- Spend money where it really makes the trip better – not where you just think it has to be expensive.
Hotels: location is a huge cost factor
Galata, Sultanahmet, a Bosphorus location or the luxury segment can cost noticeably more than less touristy areas. At the same time, a cheap hotel can get expensive if you then need a taxi every day, or hate a steep walk with kids and suitcases.
Transport: I don't save at any cost
The metro, tram and ferry are incredibly reasonable for many routes. But for the airport transfer with kids, I'd rather pay for a comfortable private transfer if it spares me stress after a flight.
For me, that's what budgeting means: not making everything cheap, but spending money where it really improves my trip.
Shopping: the first bazaar isn't automatically the best price
I know that feeling: you enter the Grand Bazaar, everything glitters, bags, spices, textiles everywhere, and suddenly you want to buy half the trunk of a delivery van. Still, I wouldn't fill five bags on day one.
We also look at other bazaars and especially weekly markets where a lot of locals shop. We've sometimes found unbeatable prices there. The result has already been huge shopping bags for us – and yes, also new suitcases that flew back to Austria.
Sights: think in advance about what matters to you
Passes and tours can be worth it, but don't have to be. If you only want to see two things, a huge city pass might be unnecessary. If you combine many paid experiences, it can in turn make a lot of sense.
Which places are worthwhile for you can be pinned down along a fixed route: 3 days, 4 days or 5 days.
Where I personally wouldn't save
- Safety and reputable transfers.
- Comfortable shoes.
- Enough mobile internet.
- Accommodation whose location truly fits.
- Experiences that matter to us as a family.
Where I can easily save
- Public transport instead of an unnecessary taxi.
- Street food and local restaurants.
- Comparing weekly markets.
- A regular ferry instead of a tour, when I just want to get from A to B.
- Not visiting every sight just because it's on a list.
How to build a realistic Istanbul budget
Blanket statements like "Istanbul costs 80 euros a day" don't help me much. Exchange rates and prices change quickly. A budget by category makes more sense.
1. Accommodation
The biggest block. Location, season, weekend, view and hotel standard change the price a lot. A more central hotel can be pricier, but save daily transport costs and time.
2. Food
Plan separately: breakfast, quick meal/street food, restaurant evening, coffee/sweets. This way you see where you deliberately want to spend money.
3. Transport
Public transport is the base for many routes. Add possibly the airport transfer and occasional taxi rides. Anyone taking a taxi daily shifts their budget significantly.
4. Sights
Admission prices can be high relative to the rest of your daily budget. So mark in advance which paid places are truly a priority, and only then check pass offers.
5. Shopping
My most dangerous budget item. If you love bazaars, give yourself your own shopping budget. Then the extra suitcase at least feels planned.
6. eSIM and other travel helpers
Small fixed costs before the trip: internet, insurance, possibly transfer, power bank or other things. These costs belong in the overall plan, not just once you're in Istanbul.
Cash or card?
I use a mix. Card works fine in many restaurants, hotels and shops. Cash is practical for smaller shops, markets, tips and some everyday situations.
Exchange rate risk
With high inflation and changing rates, concrete lira prices age quickly. That's why I'd always give current examples with a date and additionally explain how to compare.
Example budget by travel style
Instead of made-up daily figures, I go by three patterns that should be updated regularly:
- Budget: cheap accommodation, a lot of public transport, street food, selected admissions
- Mid-range: good central hotel, a mix of restaurants/street food, a few paid highlights
- Comfort: private transfer, higher-quality hotel, tours, several restaurant evenings
Where I save and where I don't
I like to save on things that don't make my trip worse: an unnecessary taxi, an overpriced tourist SIM, a random restaurant. On the other hand, I'm happy to pay more for location, a comfortable transfer with kids, or an experience we really want.
Budget trap: "It's cheap, so I'll take it"
Many small purchases add up. Bazaar, coffee, taxi, souvenir, snack – harmless individually, surprising together. I'd rather plan roughly per day, without counting every single lira.
My conclusion
Istanbul can be expensive. But Istanbul can also be very reasonable. It depends a lot on how you stay, eat, travel and shop. And honestly: sometimes the best saving measure is simply not buying 37 pairs of socks on day one.
– Amra
