Is Istanbul expensive? What things really cost in 2026
Short answer
Istanbul is still cheaper than most Western European cities for food, transport and everyday costs, but it is no longer the bargain it was: high inflation has pushed up prices, and the major monuments now charge foreign visitors European-level tickets. A careful traveller can manage on about €80 a day, a mid-range trip is about €160, and tickets take a larger share than in most cities.
Daily budget: backpacker, mid-range, luxury
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing) | €35 | €70 | €160 |
| Food & drink | €15 | €35 | €80 |
| Sights & tickets | €25 | €50 | €70 |
| Local transport | €3 | €5 | €20 |
| Per person, per day | €78 | €160 | €330 |
Approximate 2026 prices, two people sharing a room. From our Istanbul day-cost table.
What things cost
| Item | Typical price* |
|---|---|
| Glass of Turkish tea | roughly 20–50 TL (≈€0.40–1) |
| Simit (sesame bread ring) | roughly 20–35 TL (≈€0.40–0.70) |
| Fish sandwich at Eminönü | roughly 200–350 TL (≈€4–7) |
| Istanbulkart ride (tram, metro, ferry) | well under €1 |
| Hagia Sophia (foreign visitors) | €25 |
| Bottle of beer in a bar | roughly €4–7 |
| Taxi from Istanbul Airport to Sultanahmet | roughly €30–45, depending on traffic |
| Meyhane dinner for two with rakı | roughly €50–80 |
| 3★ double room, high season | roughly €80–150 |
* Approximate prices, October 2026. They change with season and exchange rates.
Where the money goes
The bed is the largest single cost (about €35 per person sharing a budget double, €70 mid-range), and Sultanahmet hotels cost more than equivalent places in Karaköy, Beyoğlu or Kadıköy. Sights come second: since 2024 Hagia Sophia charges foreign visitors €25, and Topkapı with the Harem, the Basilica Cistern and the Archaeology Museums are each priced in euros, so the sights budget (about €25 a day even for careful travellers) is high compared with food. Eating stays cheap if you use lokantas, simit stalls and street food (about €15 a day on a budget), while transport is almost free with an Istanbulkart; drinks with alcohol are relatively expensive because of high taxes.
When it is cheaper
Hotel prices are usually lowest from November to March (outside Christmas, New Year and some holidays), often roughly 20–40% below summer rates; ticket prices for the monuments do not change by season. Because of inflation, lira prices rise during the year, so check current rates before you travel.
How to spend less
- Use an Istanbulkart for trams, metro, funiculars and ferries: one card can be shared by several people, and a ride costs well under €1.
- Take the commuter ferry across the Bosphorus (Eminönü or Karaköy to Kadıköy or Üsküdar) instead of a tourist cruise: same views for the price of a ride.
- Eat lunch at a lokanta (home-style stews from about €3–7 a dish) instead of terrace restaurants in Sultanahmet.
- Check whether the Museum Pass Istanbul pays off for your plan: it covers Topkapı and the Harem and several museums, but not Hagia Sophia's upper gallery or the Basilica Cistern.
- At fish restaurants that price by weight, ask the price per kilo and the total before ordering, and send back mezes you did not order.
- Pay in Turkish lira, not euros, and choose lira when a card machine offers to charge in your home currency.
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Common questions
How much money do I need per day in Istanbul?
About €80 per person on a budget (sharing a budget double), about €160 mid-range and about €330 for comfort, including tickets. Prices in lira rise often, so treat these as approximate.
Why are the museum tickets in Istanbul so expensive?
Major state sites now price tickets for foreign visitors in euros: Hagia Sophia charges €25 and Topkapı with the Harem costs more. Mosques remain free.
Should I pay in euros or lira in Istanbul?
Lira. Prices quoted in euros or dollars are usually rounded up, and paying in your home currency on a card machine gives a poor rate.