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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,380 per month in Ankara vs $991 in Iskenderun, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,039 per month in Ankara vs $1,546 in Iskenderun, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,699 per month in Ankara vs $2,100 in Iskenderun, rent included.

Ankara costs about 39% more than Iskenderun, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Ankara sits 0% above the global median, while Iskenderun is 28% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.28 ₺499

$6.11 ₺297

68.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.24 ₺2,002

$30.94 ₺1,502

33.29%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.50 ₺461

$6.55 ₺318

45.04%

Cappuccino

$3.95 ₺192

$3.14 ₺152

25.80%

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

$1.74 ₺84.3

$1.13 ₺54.8

53.98%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.68 ₺33.07

$0.29 ₺14.20

134.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.03 ₺244

$2.47 ₺120

103.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.87 ₺285

$3.02 ₺147

94.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.19 ₺57.9

$1.06 ₺51.5

12.26%

White Bread (500g)

$0.97 ₺47.14

$0.76 ₺37.10

27.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.36 ₺115

$1.78 ₺86.4

32.58%

Eggs

$2.64 ₺128

$1.82 ₺88.5

45.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.08 ₺489

$7.42 ₺360

35.85%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.33 ₺259

$4.14 ₺201

28.74%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.00 ₺971

$17.99 ₺874

11.17%

Apples (1kg)

$2.02 ₺97.9

$1.63 ₺79.0

23.93%

Banana (1kg)

$2.15 ₺104

$1.88 ₺91.3

14.36%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.39 ₺67.4

$0.88 ₺42.69

57.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.56 ₺75.9

$1.09 ₺53.1

43.12%

Potato (1kg)

$0.57 ₺27.47

$0.48 ₺23.14

18.75%

Onion (1kg)

$0.52 ₺25.01

$0.42 ₺20.21

23.81%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.04 ₺50.4

$0.93 ₺45.31

11.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.69 ₺33.44

$0.66 ₺32.24

4.55%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.29 ₺111

$2.18 ₺106

5.05%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.41 ₺603

$10.31 ₺500

20.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.21 ₺107

$2.40 ₺116

-7.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.16 ₺153

$3.40 ₺165

-7.06%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.69 ₺33.63

$0.66 ₺31.81

4.55%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.55 ₺609

$33.00 ₺1,602

-61.97%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.21 ₺58.7

$1.01 ₺49.10

19.80%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.70 ₺34.15

$0.54 ₺26.37

29.63%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.74 ₺327

$10.47 ₺508

-35.63%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 ₺65.1

$1.29 ₺62.6

3.88%

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

$49.7K ₺2.4M

$44.1K ₺2.1M

12.75%

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

$42.7K ₺2.1M

$39.7K ₺1.9M

7.70%

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

$91.0 ₺4,416

$94.1 ₺4,570

-3.37%

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

$10.93 ₺531

$9.56 ₺464

14.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.61 ₺855

$11.34 ₺550

55.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$67.5 ₺3,280

$56.9 ₺2,762

18.72%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.16 ₺736

Cinema Ticket

$8.20 ₺398

$6.34 ₺308

29.34%

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

$1,069 ₺51.9K

$450 ₺21.8K

137.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$19.0K ₺920.5K

$7,095 ₺344.5K

167.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.96 ₺2,426

$46.61 ₺2,263

7.19%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.3 ₺2,444

$30.48 ₺1,480

65.16%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 ₺5,014

$118 ₺5,744

-12.71%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$97.6 ₺4,736

$109 ₺5,311

-10.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$749 ₺36.4K

$463 ₺22.5K

61.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$559 ₺27.1K

$336 ₺16.3K

66.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,203 ₺58.4K

$833 ₺40.4K

44.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$868 ₺42.1K

$555 ₺27.0K

56.36%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,690 ₺82.1K

$1,314 ₺63.8K

28.63%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,163 ₺56.5K

$1,052 ₺51.1K

10.51%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,044 ₺50.7K

$1,116 ₺54.2K

-6.41%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

43.33

23.80%

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

Last update for Ankara: September 6, 2026

Last update for Iskenderun: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $749 in Ankara versus $463 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 7% 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 $41.00 in Ankara versus $31.00 in Iskenderun. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $252 vs $211 – making Iskenderun 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

Ankara vs Iskenderun: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ankara costs about 39% 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 $2,069 per month in Ankara and $1,487 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 $1,069 per month in Ankara and $450 in Iskenderun. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 19% more in Ankara, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Iskenderun, where all-in costs run around $991, than in Ankara at $1,380. 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 $991 versus $1,380 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.