Cost of Living Comparison Between Ankara and Izmir Cost of Living Comparison Between Ankara and Izmir

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,266 per month in Ankara vs $1,235 in Izmir, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,842 per month in Ankara vs $1,876 in Izmir, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,418 per month in Ankara vs $2,517 in Izmir, rent included.

Ankara costs about 3% more than Izmir, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Ankara and Izmir are more affordable than the global median – Ankara 6% lower, Izmir 8% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.67 ₺445

$8.03 ₺370

20.42%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.89 ₺1,745

$37.40 ₺1,722

1.31%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.95 ₺412

$7.65 ₺352

16.99%

Cappuccino

$3.19 ₺147

$3.35 ₺154

-4.78%

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

$1.21 ₺55.8

$1.44 ₺66.4

-15.97%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 ₺17.67

$0.53 ₺24.40

-28.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.21 ₺148

$3.85 ₺177

-16.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ₺175

$4.96 ₺228

-23.59%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.94 ₺43.44

$1.06 ₺48.60

-11.32%

White Bread (500g)

$0.65 ₺30.15

$0.88 ₺40.72

-26.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.31 ₺106

$2.50 ₺115

-7.60%

Eggs

$2.30 ₺106

$2.53 ₺117

-9.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.37 ₺432

$11.66 ₺537

-19.64%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.87 ₺270

$6.81 ₺314

-13.80%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.66 ₺905

$21.53 ₺991

-8.69%

Apples (1kg)

$1.47 ₺67.5

$1.43 ₺65.9

2.80%

Banana (1kg)

$2.28 ₺105

$2.83 ₺130

-19.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.30 ₺59.9

$1.48 ₺67.9

-12.16%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.54 ₺71.1

$1.86 ₺85.8

-17.20%

Potato (1kg)

$0.74 ₺34.04

$0.88 ₺40.59

-15.91%

Onion (1kg)

$0.57 ₺26.31

$0.67 ₺30.84

-14.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 ₺49.62

$1.02 ₺47.01

5.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.40 ₺18.36

$0.64 ₺29.32

-37.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.14 ₺98.6

$2.32 ₺107

-7.76%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.73 ₺494

$10.81 ₺498

-0.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.11 ₺97.3

$2.19 ₺101

-3.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.14 ₺145

$3.25 ₺150

-3.38%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.63 ₺29.18

$0.60 ₺27.64

5.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.40 ₺433

$31.50 ₺1,450

-70.16%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.91 ₺42.01

$3.10 ₺143

-70.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.60 ₺27.85

$0.65 ₺29.70

-7.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.31 ₺290

$4.94 ₺228

27.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ₺56.8

$1.23 ₺56.4

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

$42.7K ₺2.0M

$44.8K ₺2.1M

-4.67%

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

$42.9K ₺2.0M

$45.6K ₺2.1M

-5.97%

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

$84.6 ₺3,897

$99.6 ₺4,588

-15.06%

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

$10.99 ₺506

$11.43 ₺526

-3.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.09 ₺649

$13.19 ₺607

6.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.5 ₺2,555

$47.97 ₺2,209

15.63%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.44 ₺665

$18.08 ₺833

-20.13%

Cinema Ticket

$6.21 ₺286

$7.80 ₺359

-20.38%

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

$617 ₺28.4K

$447 ₺20.6K

37.94%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.9K ₺638.8K

$12.6K ₺579.7K

10.20%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.7 ₺2,705

$51.9 ₺2,388

13.27%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.93 ₺2,023

$35.96 ₺1,656

22.16%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$104 ₺4,800

$92.0 ₺4,236

13.32%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$96.3 ₺4,435

$113 ₺5,219

-15.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$741 ₺34.1K

$643 ₺29.6K

15.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ₺23.7K

$462 ₺21.3K

11.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,093 ₺50.3K

$1,096 ₺50.4K

-0.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$702 ₺32.3K

$739 ₺34.1K

-5.09%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,700 ₺78.3K

$1,550 ₺71.4K

9.70%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,162 ₺53.5K

$1,080 ₺49.7K

7.58%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,076 ₺49.5K

$1,148 ₺52.9K

-6.28%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

48.4

39.1

23.79%

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

Last update for Ankara: May 30, 2026

Last update for Izmir: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $741 in Ankara versus $643 in Izmir. 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 Izmir, 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 $37.00 in Izmir. Groceries tell a different story – $236 in Ankara vs $267 in Izmir – 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 Izmir: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ankara costs about 3% more than Izmir, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. 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 $1,852 in Izmir. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Izmir, 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 $447 in Izmir. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 13% cheaper in Ankara – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Izmir, where all-in costs run around $1,235, than in Ankara at $1,266. In Izmir it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ankara it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Izmir costs $1,235 versus $1,266 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 Izmir. 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.