Cost of Living Comparison Between Ankara and Iskenderun Cost of Living Comparison Between Ankara and Iskenderun

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,285 per month in Ankara vs $1,144 in Iskenderun, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,864 per month in Ankara vs $1,765 in Iskenderun, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,443 per month in Ankara vs $2,386 in Iskenderun, rent included.

Ankara costs about 12% more than Iskenderun, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Ankara and Iskenderun are more affordable than the global median – Ankara 4% lower, Iskenderun 15% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.73 ₺439

$6.25 ₺282

55.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.81 ₺1,707

$30.01 ₺1,355

25.99%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.97 ₺405

$8.37 ₺378

7.17%

Cappuccino

$3.21 ₺145

$2.91 ₺131

10.31%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.22 ₺55.2

$1.43 ₺64.7

-14.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 ₺17.18

$0.62 ₺28.08

-38.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.24 ₺146

$3.92 ₺177

-17.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.86 ₺174

$5.07 ₺229

-23.87%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.96 ₺43.39

$1.01 ₺45.70

-4.95%

White Bread (500g)

$0.67 ₺30.15

$0.83 ₺37.42

-19.28%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.42 ₺109

$2.35 ₺106

2.98%

Eggs

$2.36 ₺107

$2.05 ₺92.4

15.12%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.30 ₺420

$13.34 ₺602

-30.28%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 ₺265

$6.00 ₺271

-2.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.51 ₺881

$21.22 ₺958

-8.06%

Apples (1kg)

$1.51 ₺68.4

$1.21 ₺54.7

24.79%

Banana (1kg)

$2.31 ₺104

$2.06 ₺93.2

12.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.31 ₺59.0

$1.00 ₺45.26

31.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ₺69.2

$1.52 ₺68.4

0.66%

Potato (1kg)

$0.69 ₺30.96

$1.00 ₺45.12

-31.00%

Onion (1kg)

$0.61 ₺27.71

$0.60 ₺27.14

1.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.09 ₺49.13

$0.86 ₺39.04

26.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.39 ₺17.61

$0.39 ₺17.82

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.11 ₺95.2

$2.22 ₺100.0

-4.95%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.28 ₺509

$11.08 ₺500

1.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.04 ₺92.1

$2.08 ₺93.9

-1.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 ₺144

$2.96 ₺134

7.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.67 ₺30.42

$0.62 ₺28.00

8.06%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.46 ₺427

$30.55 ₺1,379

-69.03%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.86 ₺38.62

$0.77 ₺34.83

11.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.61 ₺27.51

$0.65 ₺29.26

-6.15%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.36 ₺287

$7.45 ₺336

-14.63%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 ₺52.6

$1.11 ₺50.0

4.50%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$43.2K ₺1.9M

$43.1K ₺1.9M

0.16%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$44.1K ₺2.0M

$44.0K ₺2.0M

0.26%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$84.4 ₺3,808

$77.0 ₺3,475

9.57%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$10.82 ₺488

$19.00 ₺858

-43.05%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.76 ₺621

$13.87 ₺626

-0.79%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.5 ₺2,503

$43.50 ₺1,963

27.49%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.67 ₺662

Cinema Ticket

$6.48 ₺293

$5.86 ₺264

10.58%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$609 ₺27.5K

$461 ₺20.8K

32.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.5K ₺609.7K

$5,107 ₺230.5K

164.49%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.7 ₺2,604

$51.6 ₺2,327

11.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.43 ₺2,006

$45.07 ₺2,034

-1.42%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$107 ₺4,826

$153 ₺6,900

-30.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$97.9 ₺4,417

$88.3 ₺3,984

10.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$729 ₺32.9K

$516 ₺23.3K

41.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ₺23.5K

$395 ₺17.9K

31.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,105 ₺49.9K

$892 ₺40.3K

23.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$718 ₺32.4K

$719 ₺32.5K

-0.20%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,610 ₺72.7K

$1,193 ₺53.9K

34.93%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,124 ₺50.7K

$1,035 ₺46.7K

8.66%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,048 ₺47.3K

$1,231 ₺55.6K

-14.91%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

48.4

51.25%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Ankara: April 27, 2026

Last update for Iskenderun: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $729 in Ankara versus $516 in Iskenderun. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 18% higher in Iskenderun, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $38.00 in Ankara versus $30.00 in Iskenderun. Groceries tell a different story – $237 in Ankara vs $251 in Iskenderun – so Ankara wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Ankara vs Iskenderun: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ankara costs about 12% more than Iskenderun, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,928 per month in Ankara and $1,716 in Iskenderun. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Iskenderun, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $609 per month in Ankara and $461 in Iskenderun. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 6% cheaper in Ankara – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Iskenderun, where all-in costs run around $1,144, than in Ankara at $1,285. In Iskenderun it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ankara it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Iskenderun costs $1,144 versus $1,285 in Ankara. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Iskenderun. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ankara makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.