Hostels: This is the cheapest options. The hostel offer is growing in Istanbul and some places even offer private rooms. Usually hostels have a great atmosphere, friendly people and a good location. Some of them even have amazing terraces with beautiful views of the city. The prices go from 8€ to 14€ on dorms and 15€ up for private rooms. (Prices per person and per night).
Hotels: Nice hotels in the Sultanahmet area show prices around 80€ to 120€ per night per room. Usually hotels have breakfast service, pools and a great staff always ready to help.
Food Costs
Regular restaurants:Meals in regular restaurants in Turkey without alcohol aren’t expensive. Especially if you keep way from the main touristic streets you can have a nice meal (portions – rice/bulgur, salad and meat) for 7 to 10€.
Nice restaurants: A meal in a nice restaurant with starter, main, desert and alcohol (wine or raki) will cost you at least 20€ per person. Alcohol is really expensive in Turkey so it’s what makes this kind of meals so expensive.
Street Food:You can easily find Durums and Doners at 2/3€ in places like Taksim (where all the Turks go). Fresh juices for 1/2€, simits and water for less than 1€. Street food is an amazing way to explore the city and it really brings your costs down.
Attractions Costs:
Visiting the Istanbul attraction will probably be where you will spend most of your money. Each entrance is around 10€ and the city has a lot (a lot!!) of attractions. Think about spending around 25€ per day on it per person at least.
Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace: 10€
Basilica Cistern, Galata Tower, Chora Church: 7€
Bosphorus Cruise: 5€
If you rather go on a guided tour with transport and a small group the costs start on 30€ but it includes the entrance fees and you don’t have to wait in lines.
Transportation
The best way to travel around Istanbul is buying an Istanbul Kart in a kiosk and charge it. Each trip is 70 cents (2.15 liras).
From the airport you can take a Havataş bus to/from Taksim which costs 4€ to Ataturk Airport and 5€ to Sabiha Gocken, per person: if you are 3 or more we highly recommend a private transfer (20€).
Average costs (per person with accommodation):
Low budget:40€ per day
Mid-Range:80€ per day
High-End:+140€ per day