Cost of Traveling in Istanbul 2025: Budget Travel Guide

Cost of Traveling in Istanbul 2025: Budget Travel Guide

Istanul isn’t the same city it was a few years ago. Prices have gone up with inflation. Tourism has exploded. And if you haven’t been here recently, you might be shocked at how fast it is changed. I know we locals are that cheap street food everyone talks about on YouTube, it is still here, but it is harder to find. The $2 fair rides still running, but now they are surrounded by $10 coffee and tree straps. And a lot of what you see online is either outdated or just plain wrong. But here is the good news. Istanul can still be one of the best big cities in the world for budget travelers. You just need to know where to look. The deals won’t come to you anymore. But if you know the right spot, you can stretch your budget and still have an amazing trip. In this video, I’m going to show you the real cost of IstAnul in 2025 and how to enjoy the city without blowing your budget. From food and fairies to free experiences and local tricks, I’ll help you make your money go further and still experience the best of Istanbul. Let’s start with where to stay. If you are a solid traveler or a backpacker, host are your cheapest option. You can still find a bed for 7 to $20 a night. If you want a bit more privacy, budget hotels or Airbnbs are usually between $30 and $60. Airbnb is more limited now, but still possible. Now, a quick note about Airbnb in Istanbul. You’ll see some listings, but it’s not like in other cities where Airbnb is everywhere. Turkish government put in place restrictions on short-term rentals, and any apartments don’t have the legal permits to be listed and sometimes they disappear. last minute if authorities shut them down. So, if you want the safest option, go with hotels or guest houses. They are regulated. They include breakfast in many cases, and you won’t have the risk of your booking being cancelled. If you are after more comfort, mid-range hotels go for 80 to 120 a night, and breakfast is often included. My tip as a local, stay in Kaduk or Balot. Prices are lower. The vibe is more authentic and you’ll see what daily life in IstAnul is really like. I definitely recommend you check the prices on different travel accommodation websites. Sometimes the same hotel shows very different prices on different sites. Pre-booking usually gives you the best deals. Food is one of the best parts of being in Istanul and you can eat well no matter your budget. For street food, simmit is about 50 cents. Donire is $46 depending on place. And BK, my favorite for breakfast or lunch is just about two to $3. In a small local restaurant, you can get a soup, a main dish, and a tea for $6 to $10. Bread is usually unlimited and free. If you want a bit fancier, a mayan or seafood dinner will be 15 to $30 depending on your drinks. Follow the locals. If you see a busy Norris’s place where people are lining up, that’s probably one of the best meals you’ll have in the city. Well, I understand you’re tourists and you are traveling of course around the touristic areas, but as a local, I’m not going to eat here. The quality and the price they are really different if you comparing to other areas like Kadiko. I saw a soup here 240 for a soup for a bowl of soup. 240. No, not any Turkish is going to eat here. It’s too much. But I’m going to show you the cheaper one. Now it’s time to explore a more local side of Istanbul. I’m taking a ferry to Kadukoy on the Asian side of the city. Here I’ll take a stroll and show you the real street prices in Kaduko. So this soup here is 25 L is almost 50 cent. So if you compare €240 which we have seen in European side you can’t even compare both. This is hot contest. It means a restaurant for people. So if you see a place like this they are displaying a lot of food in the street like this. This is real Turkish place. €200 for meatballs like $4. So donor is 100. It means $2 for donor. Here a sandwich with iron, it’s 160 L. It is almost $3 again. So for a bottle of water here in a supermarket, I saw a 4 las that is like 10 cents. So if you buy water from a touristic place, it’s going to cost you like $1, but if you buy it from a supermarket, it’s going to cost like 10 cents. Stumble is massive, but getting around is cheap and surprisingly efficient. Your best friend here is the Istanul card. It works on the metro, trams, feries, and buses. A single ride cost less than a dollar. Fries are the same price as the metro, but with the boss views that most visitors pay extra to see on a tour. Taxis are affordable, around $3 to $5 for a short ride. But watch out for scams. My rule, don’t grab a taxi right next to a big tree site. Well, coffee vlogs and order one through B taxi or Uber. Trust me, you’ll thank me later. So for the boss rooster as you see they’re charging 250 laser but you can use your stumble card and just switch the continents. You can go to Asian continent and come back when the sun goes downstife really comes alive. If you want something traditional try ahana. These are Turkish tren where you drink raku eat me and enjoy live music. A beer will cost you $3 to $6. A glass of rock is $4 to $6. And if you split a bottle with friends, it is even cheaper. A full Mayana night with food, drinks, and music usually cost $25 to $50 per person. One of the things I’ll show you is the cost of beer in the local bars and cafes. Let’s see together how much they charge here. The beer is here $50. It’s a quarter of a liter. And some places you can see 120. It’s almost $25 for a half a liter beer. I will keep showing you around. There is one more place here is 90. Prices vary, but I think it is around $2, $25 for a bottle of beer. So, here is 105 L for a beer. So, Kaduko is a really local district. You’ll come here and find cheap beer, cheap food. It is still doable. Some of the big attractions have gotten more expensive, but some of the best experiences here are still completely free. Popcap Palace is $61. Dormabacha Palace is 38. Galata Tower is 34. Ayos Sophia’s upper gallery is 27. But here’s the thing. Visiting mosques like the Blue Mosque or Slemanet completely free. The Grand Bazaar and Spice Market free to wander. Even a hum can be affordable. Local bath houses start at $10 to $15. And honestly, some of the favorite afternoons are just sitting by the boss with 50 cent tea watching the fairies glide past. If you want to see more of local life, explore neighborhoods like Kaduko, Balot, and Bishikash. You’ll find street musicians, art, and markets all without spending a liter. For me, fair rides are the one of the best things to do in Istanbul. So, tea is 15 L, which is almost 35. I paid not even a dollar for the ferry trip. I might say, watching beautiful stumble, it’s great. So, yes, you can still enjoy Stumble on a budget. You just have to know where to look. If this guide helped you, give it a like, subscribe for more local tips, and check out turkey travelplanner.com for full travel guides. And don’t miss our $25 food challenge and where to eat in a tourist district. It will show you exactly how far your money can go here. See you in the next video. [Music]

Istanbul in 2025 has changed a lot. Prices are higher, tourism is booming, and many “cheap travel” tips online are outdated. But with the right local knowledge, you can still enjoy Istanbul on a budget.

In this video, I’ll cover the real cost of travel in Istanbul in 2025. You’ll see where to stay, how to get around, what food costs, and which experiences are worth your money.

What’s inside:
• Budget stays and local neighborhoods
• Using the Istanbulkart and avoiding taxi scams
• Street food, restaurants, and nightlife prices
• Attractions worth visiting and free experiences

Istanbul can still be affordable if you know where to look.

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Chapters:

00:00 Intro – Istanbul in 2025
01:07 Accommodation – Where to stay
02:37 Food in Istanbul
05:03 Getting around the city
06:00 Nightlife & drinks
07:13 Attractions & sightseeing
08:32 Final tips & wrap-up

Restaurant in Kadıköy for Cheap soup:
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