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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,288 per month in Ankara vs $1,162 in Iskenderun, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,835 per month in Ankara vs $1,788 in Iskenderun, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,383 per month in Ankara vs $2,414 in Iskenderun, rent included.

Ankara costs about 11% more than Iskenderun, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Ankara and Iskenderun are more affordable than the global median – Ankara 4% lower, Iskenderun 14% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.63 ₺445

$6.34 ₺293

51.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.10 ₺1,763

$29.87 ₺1,382

27.55%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.00 ₺417

$8.73 ₺404

3.09%

Cappuccino

$3.31 ₺153

$3.03 ₺140

9.24%

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

$1.22 ₺56.4

$1.41 ₺65.4

-13.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.41 ₺19.13

$0.58 ₺26.61

-29.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.34 ₺155

$3.92 ₺181

-14.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 ₺172

$5.02 ₺232

-25.90%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.01 ₺46.51

$0.98 ₺45.39

3.06%

White Bread (500g)

$0.69 ₺31.93

$0.78 ₺35.99

-11.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.34 ₺108

$2.32 ₺108

0.86%

Eggs

$2.33 ₺108

$2.12 ₺98.2

9.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.55 ₺442

$13.75 ₺636

-30.55%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.96 ₺276

$5.95 ₺275

0.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.02 ₺880

$21.05 ₺974

-9.64%

Apples (1kg)

$1.53 ₺70.6

$1.22 ₺56.3

25.41%

Banana (1kg)

$2.31 ₺107

$2.00 ₺92.3

15.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.31 ₺60.6

$0.96 ₺44.62

36.46%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ₺70.4

$1.52 ₺70.1

Potato (1kg)

$0.68 ₺31.51

$1.03 ₺47.59

-33.98%

Onion (1kg)

$0.61 ₺28.04

$0.60 ₺27.95

1.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 ₺50.0

$0.87 ₺40.03

24.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.40 ₺18.33

$0.39 ₺18.08

2.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.13 ₺98.4

$2.12 ₺98.2

0.47%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.91 ₺505

$10.95 ₺506

-0.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.11 ₺97.7

$2.06 ₺95.4

2.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.12 ₺144

$2.96 ₺137

5.41%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.69 ₺31.80

$0.62 ₺28.74

11.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.60 ₺444

$30.56 ₺1,414

-68.59%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.87 ₺40.17

$0.74 ₺34.09

17.57%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.62 ₺28.66

$0.66 ₺30.43

-6.06%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.37 ₺295

$7.46 ₺345

-14.61%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 ₺54.2

$1.15 ₺53.4

1.74%

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

$42.5K ₺2.0M

$43.0K ₺2.0M

-1.03%

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

$44.2K ₺2.0M

$43.5K ₺2.0M

1.70%

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

$85.5 ₺3,956

$76.8 ₺3,555

11.28%

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

$10.95 ₺506

$19.06 ₺882

-42.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.87 ₺642

$13.52 ₺625

2.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.3 ₺2,560

$43.31 ₺2,004

27.78%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.67 ₺679

Cinema Ticket

$6.22 ₺288

$5.67 ₺263

9.70%

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

$602 ₺27.9K

$460 ₺21.3K

30.82%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.8K ₺636.9K

$5,117 ₺236.7K

169.04%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.0 ₺2,728

$50.3 ₺2,327

17.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.88 ₺2,030

$44.55 ₺2,061

-1.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$107 ₺4,965

$153 ₺7,096

-30.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$98.7 ₺4,568

$91.1 ₺4,214

8.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$737 ₺34.1K

$505 ₺23.4K

45.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$514 ₺23.8K

$397 ₺18.4K

29.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,115 ₺51.6K

$878 ₺40.6K

27.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$721 ₺33.4K

$711 ₺32.9K

1.41%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,690 ₺78.2K

$1,314 ₺60.8K

28.62%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,155 ₺53.4K

$919 ₺42.5K

25.64%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,094 ₺50.6K

$1,172 ₺54.2K

-6.68%

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Iskenderun: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $737 in Ankara versus $505 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 $38.00 in Ankara versus $30.00 in Iskenderun. Groceries tell a different story – $236 in Ankara vs $250 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 11% 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 $1,932 per month in Ankara and $1,743 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 $602 per month in Ankara and $460 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 $1,162, than in Ankara at $1,288. 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 $1,162 versus $1,288 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.