What Do Things Cost in Istanbul? Istanbul Prices + Budget Travel Tips

Money in Istanbul

The official currency in Turkey is the Turkish lira (TRY), represented with the ₺ symbol and sometimes abbreviated to TL.

At the time of writing:

• 1 USD = 18.12 TRY
• 1 EUR = 18.17 TRY
• 1 GBP = 21.42 TRY
• 1 AUD = 12.49 TRY

Turkey uses both banknotes (5, 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200 lira) and coins called kurus (1, 5, 10, 25 and 50, plus 1 lira).

Budget traveller: 650 TRY / person / day

For 36 USD per person per day (or 252 USD per week), you can see Istanbul on a shoestring budget. Set aside 300 TRY/night for a bed in a hostel, leaving 350 TRY/day for expenses: Public transport, an easy street food breakfast, lunch and dinner at local restaurants (including a few draught beers), a trip to the public baths, and as many free activities as you fancy plus entrance to one ticketed attraction.

Mid-range traveller: 1500 TRY / person / day

A spend of 83 USD per person per day (or 580 USD/week) is ideal for mid-range travellers. This gives you 1000 TRY/night for a mid-range hotel (twin share) plus 500 TRY for your daily spending: Public transport and the occasional taxi ride, a traditional Turkish breakfast, street food snacks and dinner at a local restaurant with a bottle of wine, entrance to a few museums, and a special experience such as a street food tour or a Whirling Dervishes show.

High-end traveller: 5000 TRY / person / day

A generous budget of 276 USD per person per day (or 1932 USD/week) is more than enough for Istanbul. A boutique hotel costs around 2500 TRY/night (twin share), which leaves you with spending money of 2500 TRY/day: Use it for taxis, a fancy Turkish breakfast and other meals at higher-end or international restaurants, a private guided tour and fun experience such as a cooking class, a luxury hammam treatment, and a sunset cruise on the Bosphorus.

E-visa for Turkey

• 50-60 USD

While visa-free travel to Turkey is available to EU citizens and passport holders from many countries in Eastern Europe and the Middle East, 40+ other nationalities (including Americans, Canadians and Australians) need a tourist visa.

One of my biggest tips for Istanbul is to apply for a visa before you travel. Turkey’s online e-visa portal makes the application process easy. It’s much more efficient (and less costly) to apply before you leave home rather than waiting to get a VOA when you arrive. A standard visa grants you a stay of up to 90 days within a 180-day period, with multiple entries.

An e-visa for Turkey costs 50 USD for US citizens, or 60 USD for Canadians and Australians. Apply through the official e-visa portal.

Airport shuttle to Taksim Square

• 52.50 TRY / 2.90 USD

Havabus/Havaist is the official airport bus service in Istanbul and a terrific service for reliable, budget-friendly travel to and from the airport. It services both Istanbul Airport and Sabiha Gokcen 24-hours a day, ferrying passengers to Taksim Square.

Tickets are purchased from the attendant after you board the bus. Card is not accepted, so make sure you have the correct amount of lira on you.

Private airport transfer

• From 490 TRY / 27 USD

If you prefer having someone to meet you in the arrivals hall and take you directly to your accommodation, private airport transfers are very well-priced.

This private transfer from Istanbul Airport or Sabiha Gokcen starts from 27 USD.

Local SIM card

• 350 TRY / 19.30 USD

Tourists are somewhat limited when it comes to buying a SIM card in Turkey. There are several operators to choose from, but they only offer a standard ‘tourist package’ for non-residents.

I recommend picking up a SIM from Vodafone, which comes with 20GB of data, call and text credit, and unlimited use of Whatsapp, with 60 days validity.

Night in a hostel

• 300 TRY / 16.50 USD

Expect to pay around 300 TRY for a dorm bunk in a standard hostel with a central location. Hostel Le Banc in Beyoglu is the perfect choice for this price point, while more affordable options – with savings of up to 50% – can be found if you’re willing to stay further out or share a room with more people.

Night in a mid-range hotel

• 1000 TRY / 55 USD

A mid-range hotel in a central district should cost 1000 TRY on average, twin share. 38 Hotel in Sisli is a little bit pricer, but a great choice if you’re looking to stay in a local neighbourhood, close to public transport but some distance from the fray of Eminonu.

Night in a boutique hotel

• 2500 TRY / 140 USD

There are some truly special boutique accommodations in Istanbul, including the lovely Hotel Empress Zoe. With a budget of 2500 TRY per night, you can score some beautiful digs with a full Turkish breakfast and hammam-style ensuite included.

Night in a private Airbnb studio apartment

• 1600 TRY / 88 USD

The average price of an Airbnb in Istanbul (entire place) is 88 USD. You can find terrific studios and one-bedders for a lot less than that – I’ve seen plenty of quality listings for 40-50 USD/night. We recently paid 487 TRY (27 USD) per night for a 9-night stay in Sisli.

IstanbulKart transport card

• 50 TRY / 2.80 USD

A rechargeable transport card is an essential purchase if you plan to use public transport in Istanbul. It’s good for the metro, buses, dolmus vans, trams and most importantly, the local ferries. It also gives you access to lower fares compared with buying single or multi-journey electronic tickets.

Purchase a card for 50 TRY (non-refundable) from marked kiosks, newsstands, or ticket desks inside the metro. Up to five people can share the one card.

Single metro / bus / ferry fare

• 7.67 TRY / 0.40 USD

With the exception of the Metrobus, public transport fares in Istanbul are charged at a flat rate of 7.67 TRY one-way for IstanbulKart users (if you purchase a single electronic ticket, it will cost you almost double – 15 TRY).

If you have a multi-leg journey, transfer fares are charged at 5.49 TRY (0.30 USD) for the first transfer and decrease in price from there.

Taxi ride

• 30-80 TRY / 1.60-4.40 USD

Istanbul has three types of taxis: Yellow (standard), turquoise (premium, 20% more on average) and black (luxury, twice as expensive). Expect to spend 30-80 TRY for a yellow taxi to take you anywhere in the city (not including the airport).

Yellow taxis are priced at 6.30 TRY/km with a switch-on fee of 9.80 TRY. Daytime and nighttime fares are the same. Thus a taxi from Taksim to Balat, for example, should cost around 50 TRY.

Istanbul taxis are metered and generally reliable, but you might want to use an app for peace of mind. Uber, BiTaksi and Itaksi are the three most popular options.

Car rental per day

• From 365 TRY / 20 USD

Renting a car in Istanbul is unnecessary (and honestly a bad idea!), but when you’re ready to venture out of the city and explore more of Turkey, having your own wheels will pay dividends.

I recommend using Discover Cars to compare big-name rental companies including Hertz, Europcar, Sixt and Wish. For a budget-friendly alternative, Local Rent offers cars from local agents, with prices starting from as low as 20 USD per day.

Glass of tea

• 3 TRY / 0.15 USD

Start your morning in Istanbul the old-fashioned way with a tulip-shaped ince belli of strong, black cay. A single glass of tea costs around 3 TRY at a standard cafe and slightly less if you buy it from a street or market vendor. You can never stop at just one, though – budget for a minimum of three glasses.

Cup of Turkish coffee

• 7 TRY / 0.40 USD

The UNESCO-recognised ritual of kahve (Turkish coffee) is a priceless experience, especially if you’re lucky enough to be in the company of some friendly locals. Coffee is traditionally reserved for later in the day, while tea is sipped with breakfast.

Latte / iced Americano at a fancy cafe

• 35 TRY / 1.95 USD

If you prefer your coffee cold-poured or V60’d, there is certainly no shortage of uber-trendy cafes in Istanbul. An Italian-style milk coffee or iced Americano is around five-times the price of a Turkish coffee – more if the cafe is located in a particularly touristy area.

Traditional Turkish breakfast

• 90-150 TRY / 5-8.30 USD

A kahvalti Turkish traditional breakfast is a must when visiting Istanbul. There are thousands of options when it comes to eating a full kahvalti tabagi spread breakfast, ranging from the gourmet version at Velvet Cafe Balat (150 TRY per person), with incredible house-made condiments, to the more-local but just as excellent Van Kahvalti Evi (90 TRY per person).

Oftentimes when you order a kahvalti, you end up with way too much food. A pick-and-choose style breakfast, where you only order what you want, is lighter on the wallet and on the tum.

My favourite place for this is Besiktas ‘Breakfast Street’, where there are dozens of early morning cafes. Small plates at Cakmak Kahvalti Salonu range from 2-8 TRY each. Two things that are definitely worth splashing out on are the bal kaymak (clotted buffalo cream and honey) for 13 TRY and the tahin pekmez (tahini and grape molasses) for 10 TRY.

A local local quick breakfast of borek filled pastry and tea costs as little as 15 TRY (0.85 USD), while a humble simit bagel will only set you back 9 TRY (0.50 USD).

Meal for two in a mid-range Turkish restaurant

• 200-360 TRY / 11-20 USD

When in Istanbul, do as Istanbulites do – eat at local Turkish restaurants as often as possible. There is a huge price range here depending on the type of establishment and the location, but generally speaking, you can expect to spend somewhere in the neighbourhood of 200-360 TRY for a generous Turkish meal for two.

At cafeteria-style restaurants in Sisle, we paid as little as 140 TRY (7.70 USD) for a pair of kebabs, rice and ayran (a popular savoury yogurt drink). A worker’s lunch at a casual lokanta costs around 200 TRY, while you will pay 320-plus TRY for a seafood lunch at a fancier fish restaurant or a meze feast at a meyhane.

Meal for two in an international cafe/restaurant

• 350-500 TRY / 19-28 USD

As with most cities, international cuisine is priced higher compared with Turkish fare. Expect to pay more – up to twice as much – for sushi or pasta, depending on the location and the quality of the establishment.

Street food snack

• 40 TRY / 2.20 USD

A quick doner kebab, balik ekmek (grilled fish wrap) or icli kofte (stuffed kibbeh) to go costs around 40 TRY per piece. For the same price, you can get a more substantial sit-down street food meal, such as a heaving plate of tavuk pilav (chicken and rice).

Piece of Turkish baklava

• 14 TRY / 0.75 USD

Everyone’s favourite Turkish treat. A diamond of basic sade baklava somewhere like Karakoy Gulluoglu costs 14 TRY, while you’ll pay up to 150 TRY (8.30 USD) for the havuc dilimi (giant pistachio baklava with Turkish ice cream) at the historic cafe Hafız Mustafa 1864 (don’t fret, it’s plenty big enough to share!).

Chocolate bar

• 16 TRY / 0.90 USD

A pistachio milk chocolate from the supermarket (Damak brand or similar) costs 16 TRY, or you can fork out slightly more for an imported sweet. Notice how the little square chocolate blocks in Turkey are perfectly proportioned for one sitting!

Small bottle of fresh orange juice

• 15 TRY / 0.85 USD

Freshly squeezed orange juice (portakal suyu) and pomegranate juice (nar suyu) are a steal. Street vendors around Galata Tower and other touristy areas often overcharge – stick to juice bars or shops.

Small bottle of water

• 4 TRY / 0.20 USD

Whether or not you can drink the tap water in Istanbul is quite a controversial topic. If you prefer to drink bottled, try to buy larger bottles to cut down on plastic waste.

Glass of local draught beer

• 50 TRY / 2.75 USD

A tall glass of Efes Pilsen or similar starts from 50 TRY, while you’ll pay 30-50% more for a bottle of craft beer.

Bar of Turkish hammam soap

• 35 TRY / 1.95 USD

You can definitely find a lower price if you shop at a local market, but this is a ballpark figure when buying from the Grand Bazaar.

Mid-sized tube of sunscreen

• 170 TRY / 9.40 USD

Sunscreen is quite pricey and there isn’t a big range of brands – bring your own from home, especially if you’re visiting during summer.

Toothbrush

• 16.50 / 0.90 USD

I once read a scathing Istanbul trip report on a travel forum where the individual paid through the nose – double dollar figures – for a simple plastic toothbrush. Thank goodness this is no longer the case. Basic toiletries, over the counter medications and prescription medicines are all extremely affordable in Turkey.

Bottle of hand gel

• 9 TRY / 0.50 USD

Hand sanitiser is widely available in supermarkets and cosmetic stores.

Istanbul E-Pass

• 100 USD

A worthwhile investment if you plan on doing the rounds through Istanbul’s museums and landmarks, the Istanbul E-Pass includes entry to more than 40 of the city’s finest cultural institutions and most popular attractions.

Galata Tower (130 TRY), Topkapi Palace and the Harem (200 TRY), the Istanbul Archaeological Museum (60 TRY), Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts (60 TRY), and the Galata Mevlevihanesi Museum (25 TRY) are all included.

Choose from 2-7 days validity. And best of all, the digital pass allows you to skip the queue at most sites.

Buy the official Istanbul E-Pass here through Viator.

Entrance to Galata Tower

• 130 TRY / 7.20 USD

Istanbul’s most famous viewing deck now costs a pretty penny, but I still think it’s worth it. The new Galata Tower Museum inside the watchtower is quite interesting, too. Read my tips for visiting Galata Tower here.

Ticket to see the Whirling Dervishes

• 545 TRY / 30 USD

Yes, it’s one of the most touristy activities in Istanbul – but ‘authentic’ Mevlevi Sema ceremonies that take place in local mosques do exist. Read this article to learn about the best Whirling Dervish ceremony in Istanbul, and which commercial shows to avoid.

Luxe hammam treatment (private bath)

• 700-800 TRY / 40-44 USD

You can’t visit Istanbul without going to a hammam for an exfoliating scrub down and kopuk bubble wash. Fancier bathhouses charge around 700-800 TRY per person for a basic treatment, which normally includes unlimited time in the communal bathing area.

Aga Hamami off Taksim Square (which claims to be the oldest bathhouse in Istanbul) and Kilic Ali Pasha Hamami in Karakoy are both fine choices, with opulent facilities and quality service.

Remember the price is exclusive of service. It’s recommended to tip your natir or tellak therapist an additional 10-20%.

Hammam & peeling scrub (public bath)

• 125 TRY / 6.90 USD

A budget-friendly alternative is to visit a public hammam, where the communal rooms are divided into mens and women’s sections (the private hammams mentioned above are mixed).

You aren’t obliged to purchase a package treatment, you can simply steam and soak in the baths (usually for around 100 TRY) and add-on a peel or a foam massage for an additional 25 TRY if you wish.

There are dozens to choose from – Kadirga Hamami in Sultanahmet has good reviews, beautiful 18th-century marble rooms, and competitive prices.

Sunset cruise on the Bosphorus

• 1000 TRY / 55 USD

While the budget-conscious should stick to the local ferries, if you prefer champagne and yacht-level legroom with your water views, you can upgrade to a Bosphorus sunset cruise.

This 2.5-hour cruise has impeccable reviews.

Tips

• 10-20%

Tipping is customary in Istanbul, with 10% being the standard mark for restaurant and bar staff. For taxi drivers, it’s normal to round up to the nearest lira when paying in cash. Tipping is slightly higher for other service providers: 10-20% goes to staff at the Turkish baths, and to your hairdresser or barber.

ATM fees

• 0-4%

Majority of ATMs in Turkey charge a withdrawal fee, usually a percentage of the transaction rather than a flat fee. The only no-fee ATM I know of is Ziraat Bank.

Fee structures change regularly. Usually different ATMs are clustered together, so you can experiment with a few options.

Public restrooms

• 2 TRY / 0.10 USD

If you need a public restroom, head to the nearest mosque. Every mosque, it seems, has a bathroom that’s open to anyone and most of the time they are relatively clean. Many of the larger mosques offer facilities for free, but some request a coin.

Where to stay in Istanbul

Budget: Hostel Le Banc (⭐ 9.5) – This popular hostel in Beyoglu is footsteps from the Galata Tower and Sishane metro station. It features air-conditioned rooms (private doubles and mixed/all-female 4 and 10-bed dorms), a shared lounge and a terrace.

Mid-range: 38 Hotel (⭐ 8.6) – Located in Sisli, close to Osmanbey metro station, this hotel has compact, tidy double rooms and suites.

Boutique: Hotel Empress Zoe (⭐ 9.2) – This gorgeous boutique hotel is decorated with heritage flourishes and boasts hammam-like ensuites and private internal terraces. The location in Fatih, minutes from Sultan Ahmet Mosque and the Blue Mosque, is very central yet the hotel still feels secluded.

Luxury: Ecole St. Pierre Hotel (⭐ 9.5) – Located in Beyoglu close to Galata Tower, this boutique-luxury hotel offers high-end suites with private courtyards and terraces. The building, an old Italian Dominican school with remnants of the 13th-century Galata walls inside its courtyard, is dripping with history.