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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,266 per month in Ankara vs $991 in Samsun, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,842 per month in Ankara vs $1,509 in Samsun, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,418 per month in Ankara vs $2,027 in Samsun, rent included.

Ankara costs about 28% more than Samsun, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Ankara and Samsun are more affordable than the global median – Ankara 6% lower, Samsun 26% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.67 ₺445

$7.65 ₺352

26.41%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.89 ₺1,745

$25.10 ₺1,156

50.96%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.95 ₺412

$8.99 ₺414

-0.44%

Cappuccino

$3.19 ₺147

$2.81 ₺129

13.52%

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

$0.24 ₺10.99

58.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.21 ₺148

$2.84 ₺131

13.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ₺175

$2.97 ₺137

27.61%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.94 ₺43.44

$1.05 ₺48.52

-10.48%

White Bread (500g)

$0.65 ₺30.15

$0.40 ₺18.36

62.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.31 ₺106

$3.90 ₺180

-40.77%

Eggs

$2.30 ₺106

$1.71 ₺78.8

34.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.37 ₺432

$9.10 ₺419

2.97%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.87 ₺270

$10.02 ₺461

-41.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.66 ₺905

$19.35 ₺891

1.60%

Apples (1kg)

$1.47 ₺67.5

$1.30 ₺59.8

13.08%

Banana (1kg)

$2.28 ₺105

$1.12 ₺51.4

103.57%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.30 ₺59.9

$0.92 ₺42.20

41.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.54 ₺71.1

$1.24 ₺57.3

24.19%

Potato (1kg)

$0.74 ₺34.04

$0.60 ₺27.76

23.33%

Onion (1kg)

$0.57 ₺26.31

$0.60 ₺27.83

-5.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 ₺49.62

$0.73 ₺33.84

47.95%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.40 ₺18.36

$0.68 ₺31.36

-41.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.14 ₺98.6

$2.04 ₺94.1

4.90%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.73 ₺494

$9.62 ₺443

11.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.11 ₺97.3

$2.01 ₺92.7

4.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.14 ₺145

$2.50 ₺115

25.60%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.63 ₺29.18

$0.59 ₺27.06

6.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.40 ₺433

$9.66 ₺445

-2.69%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.91 ₺42.01

$2.26 ₺104

-59.73%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.60 ₺27.85

$0.61 ₺27.96

-1.64%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.31 ₺290

$4.65 ₺214

35.70%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ₺56.8

$1.13 ₺51.9

8.85%

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

$42.7K ₺2.0M

$42.8K ₺2.0M

-0.36%

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

$42.9K ₺2.0M

$49.6K ₺2.3M

-13.48%

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

$84.6 ₺3,897

$49.83 ₺2,295

69.84%

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

$10.99 ₺506

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.09 ₺649

$11.23 ₺517

25.47%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.5 ₺2,555

$82.3 ₺3,789

-32.58%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.44 ₺665

Cinema Ticket

$6.21 ₺286

$5.75 ₺265

8.00%

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

$617 ₺28.4K

$500 ₺23.0K

23.44%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.9K ₺638.8K

$3,735 ₺172.0K

271.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.7 ₺2,705

$37.79 ₺1,740

55.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.93 ₺2,023

$45.67 ₺2,103

-3.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$104 ₺4,800

$87.8 ₺4,042

18.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$96.3 ₺4,435

$45.24 ₺2,083

112.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$741 ₺34.1K

$500 ₺23.0K

48.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ₺23.7K

$328 ₺15.1K

57.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,093 ₺50.3K

$724 ₺33.3K

51.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$702 ₺32.3K

$523 ₺24.1K

34.17%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,700 ₺78.3K

$795 ₺36.6K

113.89%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,162 ₺53.5K

$429 ₺19.8K

170.75%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,076 ₺49.5K

$1,006 ₺46.3K

6.91%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

48.4

43.33

11.70%

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

Last update for Ankara: May 30, 2026

Last update for Samsun: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $741 in Ankara versus $500 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 7% 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 $38.00 in Ankara versus $25.00 in Samsun. Groceries tell a different story – $236 in Ankara vs $244 in Samsun – 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 Samsun: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ankara costs about 28% more than Samsun, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. 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 $1,487 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 $617 per month in Ankara and $500 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 $991, than in Ankara at $1,266. 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 $991 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 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.