Cost of Living Comparison Between Ankara and Istanbul Cost of Living Comparison Between Ankara and Istanbul

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,266 per month in Ankara vs $1,472 in Istanbul, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,842 per month in Ankara vs $2,221 in Istanbul, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,418 per month in Ankara vs $2,970 in Istanbul, rent included.

Ankara is about 14% cheaper than Istanbul, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Ankara sits 6% below the global median, while Istanbul is 10% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.67 ₺445

$11.62 ₺535

-16.78%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.89 ₺1,745

$51.6 ₺2,375

-26.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.95 ₺412

$7.52 ₺346

19.02%

Cappuccino

$3.19 ₺147

$3.45 ₺159

-7.54%

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

$1.21 ₺55.8

$1.30 ₺60.1

-6.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 ₺17.67

$0.46 ₺21.38

-17.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.21 ₺148

$3.75 ₺173

-14.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ₺175

$4.96 ₺228

-23.59%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.94 ₺43.44

$1.06 ₺49.02

-11.32%

White Bread (500g)

$0.65 ₺30.15

$0.83 ₺38.06

-21.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.31 ₺106

$2.27 ₺105

1.76%

Eggs

$2.30 ₺106

$2.63 ₺121

-12.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.37 ₺432

$10.13 ₺467

-7.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.87 ₺270

$6.50 ₺299

-9.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.66 ₺905

$19.52 ₺899

0.72%

Apples (1kg)

$1.47 ₺67.5

$1.50 ₺69.2

-2.00%

Banana (1kg)

$2.28 ₺105

Oranges (1kg)

$1.30 ₺59.9

$1.29 ₺59.3

0.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.54 ₺71.1

$1.63 ₺75.1

-5.52%

Potato (1kg)

$0.74 ₺34.04

$0.71 ₺32.78

4.23%

Onion (1kg)

$0.57 ₺26.31

$0.73 ₺33.60

-21.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 ₺49.62

$1.13 ₺51.9

-4.42%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.40 ₺18.36

$0.57 ₺26.34

-29.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.14 ₺98.6

$2.15 ₺99.0

-0.47%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.73 ₺494

$12.15 ₺560

-11.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.11 ₺97.3

$2.14 ₺98.5

-1.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.14 ₺145

$3.18 ₺146

-1.26%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.63 ₺29.18

$0.72 ₺33.33

-12.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.40 ₺433

$54.7 ₺2,520

-82.82%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.91 ₺42.01

$1.05 ₺48.53

-13.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.60 ₺27.85

$0.58 ₺26.79

3.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.31 ₺290

$8.94 ₺412

-29.42%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ₺56.8

$1.21 ₺55.7

1.65%

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

$42.7K ₺2.0M

$45.1K ₺2.1M

-5.45%

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

$42.9K ₺2.0M

$43.3K ₺2.0M

-0.96%

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

$84.6 ₺3,897

$73.2 ₺3,370

15.66%

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

$10.99 ₺506

$12.25 ₺564

-10.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.09 ₺649

$15.15 ₺697

-7.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.5 ₺2,555

$61.7 ₺2,843

-10.16%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.44 ₺665

$18.77 ₺864

-23.07%

Cinema Ticket

$6.21 ₺286

$7.73 ₺356

-19.66%

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

$617 ₺28.4K

$938 ₺43.2K

-34.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.9K ₺638.8K

$18.3K ₺841.2K

-24.06%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.7 ₺2,705

$55.9 ₺2,574

5.08%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.93 ₺2,023

$47.45 ₺2,185

-7.42%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$104 ₺4,800

$115 ₺5,277

-9.03%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$96.3 ₺4,435

$106 ₺4,876

-9.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$741 ₺34.1K

$950 ₺43.7K

-21.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ₺23.7K

$619 ₺28.5K

-16.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,093 ₺50.3K

$1,771 ₺81.5K

-38.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$702 ₺32.3K

$1,047 ₺48.2K

-32.99%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,700 ₺78.3K

$3,147 ₺144.9K

-45.97%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,162 ₺53.5K

$1,664 ₺76.6K

-30.20%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,076 ₺49.5K

$1,203 ₺55.4K

-10.58%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

48.4

48.43

-0.06%

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

Last update for Ankara: May 30, 2026

Last update for Istanbul: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $741 in Ankara versus $950 in Istanbul. 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 12% higher in Istanbul, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $38.00 in Ankara versus $52.0 in Istanbul. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $236 vs $251 – making Ankara 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 Istanbul: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Istanbul costs about 16% more than Ankara, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,899 per month in Ankara and $2,207 in Istanbul. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $617 per month in Ankara and $938 in Istanbul. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 6% more in Istanbul, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ankara, where all-in costs run around $1,266, than in Istanbul at $1,472. In Ankara it covers expenses comfortably, while in Istanbul it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Ankara costs $1,266 versus $1,472 in Istanbul. 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 Ankara. 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.