Cost of Living Comparison Between Ankara and İzmit Cost of Living Comparison Between Ankara and İzmit

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,285 per month in Ankara vs $1,022 in İzmit, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,864 per month in Ankara vs $1,606 in İzmit, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,443 per month in Ankara vs $2,190 in İzmit, rent included.

Ankara costs about 26% more than İzmit, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Ankara and İzmit are more affordable than the global median – Ankara 4% lower, İzmit 24% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ankara
İzmit
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.73 ₺439
$6.96 ₺314
39.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.81 ₺1,707
$22.04 ₺995
71.55%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.97 ₺405
$7.41 ₺334
21.05%
Cappuccino
$3.21 ₺145
$2.73 ₺123
17.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.22 ₺55.2
$1.24 ₺55.8
-1.61%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.38 ₺17.18
$0.50 ₺22.63
-24.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.24 ₺146
$2.48 ₺112
30.65%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.86 ₺174
$2.21 ₺99.7
74.66%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ankara
İzmit
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.96 ₺43.39
$0.92 ₺41.74
4.35%
White Bread (500g)
$0.67 ₺30.15
$0.36 ₺16.37
86.11%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.42 ₺109
$2.19 ₺98.8
10.50%
Eggs
$2.36 ₺107
$1.86 ₺84.2
26.88%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.30 ₺420
$9.68 ₺437
-3.93%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.88 ₺265
$5.74 ₺259
2.44%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.51 ₺881
$19.50 ₺880
0.05%
Apples (1kg)
$1.51 ₺68.4
$1.23 ₺55.6
22.76%
Banana (1kg)
$2.31 ₺104
$2.49 ₺112
-7.23%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.31 ₺59.0
$1.39 ₺62.6
-5.76%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.53 ₺69.2
$1.68 ₺75.9
-8.93%
Potato (1kg)
$0.69 ₺30.96
$0.95 ₺42.86
-27.37%
Onion (1kg)
$0.61 ₺27.71
$0.67 ₺30.14
-8.96%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.09 ₺49.13
$0.92 ₺41.36
18.48%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.39 ₺17.61
$0.58 ₺26.22
-32.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.11 ₺95.2
$2.13 ₺96.3
-0.94%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.28 ₺509
$8.14 ₺367
38.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.04 ₺92.1
$1.99 ₺89.7
2.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 ₺144
$1.91 ₺86.4
66.49%
🚌 Getting Around
Ankara
İzmit
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.67 ₺30.42
$0.68 ₺30.50
-1.47%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$9.46 ₺427
$30.90 ₺1,395
-69.39%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.86 ₺38.62
$1.04 ₺46.78
-17.31%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.61 ₺27.51
$0.68 ₺30.77
-10.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.36 ₺287
$7.65 ₺345
-16.86%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.16 ₺52.6
$1.15 ₺51.9
0.87%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$43.2K ₺1.9M
$34.8K ₺1.6M
23.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$44.1K ₺2.0M
$38.4K ₺1.7M
14.96%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ankara
İzmit
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$84.4 ₺3,808
$42.03 ₺1,897
100.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.82 ₺488
$14.94 ₺674
-27.58%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.76 ₺621
$12.30 ₺555
11.87%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ankara
İzmit
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$55.5 ₺2,503
$42.86 ₺1,935
29.40%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.67 ₺662
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.48 ₺293
$3.70 ₺167
75.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ankara
İzmit
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$609 ₺27.5K
$311 ₺14.1K
95.75%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.5K ₺609.7K
$7,817 ₺352.9K
72.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ankara
İzmit
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.7 ₺2,604
$52.6 ₺2,373
9.74%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.43 ₺2,006
$34.08 ₺1,538
30.37%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$107 ₺4,826
$114 ₺5,167
-6.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$97.9 ₺4,417
$87.4 ₺3,945
11.97%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ankara
İzmit
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$729 ₺32.9K
$518 ₺23.4K
40.70%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$521 ₺23.5K
$392 ₺17.7K
32.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,105 ₺49.9K
$874 ₺39.4K
26.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$718 ₺32.4K
$699 ₺31.6K
2.65%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,610 ₺72.7K
$1,209 ₺54.6K
33.22%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,124 ₺50.7K
$971 ₺43.8K
15.72%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ankara
İzmit
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,048 ₺47.3K
$1,225 ₺55.3K
-14.47%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
48.4
37.5
29.07%

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

Last update for Ankara: April 27, 2026

Last update for İzmit: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $729 in Ankara versus $518 in İzmit. 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 17% higher in İzmit, 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 $22.00 in İzmit. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $237 vs $225 – making İzmit 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 İzmit: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ankara or İzmit?
Ankara costs about 26% more than İzmit, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Ankara vs İzmit?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,928 per month in Ankara and $1,534 in İzmit. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Ankara or İzmit?
Rent is clearly cheaper in İzmit, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do childcare costs compare in Ankara and İzmit?
Kindergarten costs $609 per month in Ankara and $311 in İzmit. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Ankara or İzmit?
Groceries cost about 5% more in Ankara, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Ankara or İzmit?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in İzmit, where all-in costs run around $1,022, than in Ankara at $1,285. In İzmit it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ankara it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ankara or İzmit?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. İzmit costs $1,022 versus $1,285 in Ankara. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Ankara compared to İzmit?
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.
Should I move to Ankara or İzmit?
If budget matters most, go with İzmit. 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.

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