Cost of Living Comparison Between Ankara and Samsun Cost of Living Comparison Between Ankara and Samsun

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,347 per month in Ankara vs $928 in Samsun, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,044 per month in Ankara vs $1,624 in Samsun, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,741 per month in Ankara vs $2,320 in Samsun, rent included.

Ankara costs about 45% more than Samsun, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Ankara and Samsun are more affordable than the global median – Ankara 2% lower, Samsun 32% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.50 ₺508

$8.08 ₺391

29.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.77 ₺2,022

$61.4 ₺2,974

-32.00%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.18 ₺444

$7.90 ₺382

16.20%

Cappuccino

$3.89 ₺188

$3.39 ₺164

14.75%

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

$1.63 ₺79.1

$0.95 ₺45.93

71.58%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.66 ₺32.14

$0.27 ₺13.15

144.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.13 ₺248

$2.00 ₺97.0

156.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.63 ₺272

$2.63 ₺127

114.07%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.15 ₺55.9

$1.15 ₺55.7

White Bread (500g)

$0.90 ₺43.77

$1.70 ₺82.4

-47.06%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.33 ₺113

$2.84 ₺138

-17.96%

Eggs

$2.57 ₺125

$2.59 ₺126

-0.77%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.11 ₺489

$8.39 ₺406

20.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.29 ₺256

$5.92 ₺286

-10.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.31 ₺983

$24.61 ₺1,191

-17.47%

Apples (1kg)

$2.02 ₺97.7

$2.35 ₺114

-14.04%

Banana (1kg)

$2.14 ₺103

$2.38 ₺115

-10.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.36 ₺65.9

$1.53 ₺74.3

-11.11%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.54 ₺74.4

$1.07 ₺51.6

43.93%

Potato (1kg)

$0.56 ₺26.87

$0.47 ₺22.99

19.15%

Onion (1kg)

$0.49 ₺23.76

$0.37 ₺18.11

32.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 ₺49.68

$0.91 ₺43.98

13.19%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 ₺33.08

$0.58 ₺27.97

17.24%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 ₺108

$2.09 ₺101

6.70%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.20 ₺591

$9.23 ₺447

32.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.15 ₺104

$1.65 ₺79.8

30.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.04 ₺147

$2.28 ₺110

33.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.74 ₺35.66

$0.61 ₺29.38

21.31%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.40 ₺600

$10.68 ₺517

16.10%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.21 ₺58.4

$1.83 ₺88.4

-33.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.74 ₺35.62

$0.57 ₺27.68

29.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.47 ₺265

$5.32 ₺258

2.82%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 ₺64.7

$1.22 ₺59.3

9.84%

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

$49.7K ₺2.4M

$42.4K ₺2.1M

17.12%

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

$42.2K ₺2.0M

$40.2K ₺1.9M

4.89%

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

$89.0 ₺4,308

$91.3 ₺4,419

-2.51%

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

$10.58 ₺512

$11.54 ₺559

-8.32%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ₺847

$12.65 ₺613

38.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$65.7 ₺3,182

$31.92 ₺1,545

105.95%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.71 ₺712

$6.14 ₺297

139.58%

Cinema Ticket

$7.92 ₺384

$4.24 ₺205

86.79%

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

$1,034 ₺50.1K

$260 ₺12.6K

298.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.2K ₺879.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.39 ₺2,294

$27.91 ₺1,351

69.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.52 ₺2,397

$31.63 ₺1,531

56.56%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 ₺4,865

$73.3 ₺3,551

37.03%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$92.9 ₺4,499

$49.93 ₺2,417

86.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$739 ₺35.8K

$368 ₺17.8K

100.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$553 ₺26.8K

$254 ₺12.3K

117.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,192 ₺57.7K

$774 ₺37.5K

53.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$877 ₺42.4K

$617 ₺29.9K

42.03%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,662 ₺80.5K

$981 ₺47.5K

69.40%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,135 ₺55.0K

$675 ₺32.7K

68.30%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,060 ₺51.3K

$954 ₺46.2K

11.11%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

42.86

-12.53%

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

Last update for Ankara: August 31, 2026

Last update for Samsun: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $739 in Ankara versus $368 in Samsun. 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 11% higher in Ankara, 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 $42.00 in Ankara versus $61.0 in Samsun. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $250 vs $260 – 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 Samsun: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ankara costs about 45% more than Samsun, 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 $2,021 per month in Ankara and $1,392 in Samsun. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $1,034 per month in Ankara and $260 in Samsun. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 4% 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 Samsun, where all-in costs run around $928, than in Ankara at $1,347. In Samsun it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ankara it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Samsun costs $928 versus $1,347 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 Samsun. 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.