🙂A single person spends $1,159 per month in Amasya vs $1,467 in Istanbul, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,738 per month in Amasya vs $2,251 in Istanbul, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,317 per month in Amasya vs $3,035 in Istanbul, rent included.
🙂Amasya is about 21% cheaper than Istanbul, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Amasya sits 13% below the global median, while Istanbul is 10% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Amasya
Istanbul
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.24₺436
$11.20₺528
-17.50%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$16.27₺767
$51.0₺2,404
-68.10%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.74₺412
$7.71₺363
13.36%
Cappuccino
$3.27₺154
$3.60₺170
-9.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.22₺57.4
$1.29₺61.0
-5.43%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.38₺18.09
$0.49₺23.14
-22.45%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.25₺153
$3.77₺178
-13.79%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.86₺182
$5.00₺236
-22.80%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Amasya
Istanbul
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.01₺47.56
$1.11₺52.1
-9.01%
White Bread(500g)
$0.70₺32.99
$0.75₺35.55
-6.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.40₺113
$2.20₺104
9.09%
Eggs
$2.29₺108
$2.70₺127
-15.19%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.61₺453
$10.15₺478
-5.32%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.97₺281
$6.46₺305
-7.59%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.04₺898
$19.78₺932
-3.74%
Apples(1kg)
$1.45₺68.2
$1.50₺70.9
-3.33%
Banana(1kg)
$2.31₺109
$2.28₺107
1.32%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.30₺61.3
$1.30₺61.2
-
Tomato(1kg)
$1.46₺68.7
$1.63₺77.0
-10.43%
Potato(1kg)
$0.74₺34.97
$0.71₺33.60
4.23%
Onion(1kg)
$0.56₺26.49
$0.72₺34.16
-22.22%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.12₺52.9
$1.13₺53.3
-0.88%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.39₺18.48
$0.62₺28.99
-37.10%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.14₺101
$2.18₺103
-1.83%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.63₺548
$12.99₺612
-10.47%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.05₺96.5
$2.22₺105
-7.66%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20₺151
$3.08₺145
3.90%
🚌 Getting Around
Amasya
Istanbul
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.64₺30.09
$0.72₺33.94
-11.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$30.45₺1,435
$53.5₺2,523
-43.11%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.92₺43.30
$1.05₺49.31
-12.38%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.64₺30.18
$0.58₺27.33
10.34%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.34₺299
$9.14₺431
-30.63%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.22₺57.3
$1.21₺56.9
0.83%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$43.6K₺2.1M
$45.2K₺2.1M
-3.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$43.4K₺2.0M
$44.0K₺2.1M
-1.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Amasya
Istanbul
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$87.1₺4,104
$71.7₺3,379
21.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.86₺512
$12.50₺589
-13.12%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.79₺650
$14.63₺690
-5.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Amasya
Istanbul
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.88₺2,068
$61.1₺2,879
-28.16%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.31₺863
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.22₺293
$7.60₺358
-18.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Amasya
Istanbul
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$617₺29.1K
$934₺44.0K
-33.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.4K₺633.9K
$18.5K₺870.3K
-27.16%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Amasya
Istanbul
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.2₺2,745
$55.4₺2,612
5.09%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.52₺2,098
$47.26₺2,228
-5.80%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$108₺5,101
$112₺5,272
-3.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$97.0₺4,571
$106₺4,974
-8.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Amasya
Istanbul
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$516₺24.3K
$946₺44.6K
-45.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$396₺18.7K
$608₺28.7K
-34.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$878₺41.4K
$1,761₺83.0K
-50.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$708₺33.4K
$1,060₺50.0K
-33.23%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,456₺68.6K
$3,087₺145.5K
-52.82%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$856₺40.4K
$1,675₺79.0K
-48.87%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Amasya
Istanbul
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$1,174₺55.3K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
30
48.43
-38.05%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Amasya: July 12, 2026
Last update for Istanbul: July 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $516 in Amasya versus $946 in Istanbul. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $16.00 in Amasya versus $51.0 in Istanbul. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $238 vs $254 – making Amasya the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Amasya vs Istanbul: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Istanbul cheaper than Amasya?
Yes – Istanbul is pricier by about 27%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,739 per month in Amasya and $2,200 in Istanbul. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Amasya, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Amasya and in Istanbul?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,159 in Amasya and $1,467 in Istanbul. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 76% less in Amasya. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Amasya or in Istanbul?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Amasya, where all-in costs run around $1,159, than in Istanbul at $1,467. In Amasya it covers expenses comfortably, while in Istanbul it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Amasya or Istanbul more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Amasya – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Amasya or Istanbul?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Amasya. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Istanbul makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.