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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,380 per month in Ankara vs $1,218 in Izmir, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,039 per month in Ankara vs $1,912 in Izmir, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,699 per month in Ankara vs $2,605 in Izmir, rent included.

Ankara costs about 13% more than Izmir, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Ankara sits 0% above the global median, while Izmir is 12% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.28 ₺499

$10.15 ₺493

1.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.24 ₺2,002

$36.97 ₺1,795

11.55%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.50 ₺461

$8.33 ₺405

14.05%

Cappuccino

$3.95 ₺192

$3.68 ₺179

7.34%

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

$1.74 ₺84.3

$1.51 ₺73.4

15.23%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.68 ₺33.07

$0.53 ₺25.94

28.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.03 ₺244

$3.14 ₺152

60.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.87 ₺285

$5.12 ₺249

14.65%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.19 ₺57.9

$1.10 ₺53.3

8.18%

White Bread (500g)

$0.97 ₺47.14

$0.97 ₺47.06

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.36 ₺115

$2.27 ₺110

3.96%

Eggs

$2.64 ₺128

$2.55 ₺124

3.53%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.08 ₺489

$9.76 ₺474

3.28%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.33 ₺259

$5.21 ₺253

2.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.00 ₺971

$22.57 ₺1,096

-11.39%

Apples (1kg)

$2.02 ₺97.9

$2.01 ₺97.7

0.50%

Banana (1kg)

$2.15 ₺104

$2.16 ₺105

-0.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.39 ₺67.4

$1.22 ₺59.2

13.93%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.56 ₺75.9

$1.46 ₺70.7

6.85%

Potato (1kg)

$0.57 ₺27.47

$0.53 ₺25.67

7.55%

Onion (1kg)

$0.52 ₺25.01

$0.36 ₺17.45

44.44%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.04 ₺50.4

$1.16 ₺56.2

-10.34%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.69 ₺33.44

$0.80 ₺38.71

-13.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.29 ₺111

$2.30 ₺112

-0.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.41 ₺603

$11.77 ₺572

5.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.21 ₺107

$2.14 ₺104

3.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.16 ₺153

$3.13 ₺152

0.96%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.69 ₺33.63

$0.68 ₺33.26

1.47%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.55 ₺609

$42.17 ₺2,047

-70.24%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.21 ₺58.7

$3.57 ₺173

-66.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.70 ₺34.15

$1.03 ₺50.3

-32.04%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.74 ₺327

$5.12 ₺249

31.64%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 ₺65.1

$1.35 ₺65.3

-0.74%

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

$49.7K ₺2.4M

$41.5K ₺2.0M

19.82%

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

$42.7K ₺2.1M

$46.2K ₺2.2M

-7.44%

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

$91.0 ₺4,416

$85.3 ₺4,142

6.61%

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

$10.93 ₺531

$10.58 ₺514

3.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.61 ₺855

$16.00 ₺777

10.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$67.5 ₺3,280

$65.2 ₺3,166

3.59%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.16 ₺736

$36.50 ₺1,772

-58.47%

Cinema Ticket

$8.20 ₺398

$8.03 ₺390

2.12%

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

$1,069 ₺51.9K

$741 ₺36.0K

44.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$19.0K ₺920.5K

$15.6K ₺755.4K

21.85%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.96 ₺2,426

$48.11 ₺2,336

3.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.3 ₺2,444

$39.69 ₺1,927

26.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 ₺5,014

$91.1 ₺4,425

13.31%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$97.6 ₺4,736

$84.9 ₺4,121

14.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$749 ₺36.4K

$604 ₺29.3K

23.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$559 ₺27.1K

$429 ₺20.8K

30.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,203 ₺58.4K

$1,152 ₺55.9K

4.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$868 ₺42.1K

$803 ₺39.0K

8.05%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,690 ₺82.1K

$1,488 ₺72.2K

13.62%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,163 ₺56.5K

$1,025 ₺49.8K

13.40%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,044 ₺50.7K

$1,147 ₺55.7K

-8.94%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

43.33

42.33

2.36%

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

Last update for Ankara: September 6, 2026

Last update for Izmir: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $749 in Ankara versus $604 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 10% 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 $41.00 in Ankara versus $37.00 in Izmir. Groceries tell a different story – $252 in Ankara vs $255 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 13% more than Izmir, 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 $2,069 per month in Ankara and $1,828 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 $1,069 per month in Ankara and $741 in Izmir. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 1% 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 $1,218, than in Ankara at $1,380. 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 $1,218 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 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.