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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,281 per month in Ankara vs $996 in Samsun, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,825 per month in Ankara vs $1,500 in Samsun, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,370 per month in Ankara vs $2,004 in Samsun, rent included.

Ankara costs about 29% more than Samsun, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Ankara and Samsun are more affordable than the global median – Ankara 4% lower, Samsun 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.60 ₺453

$7.52 ₺355

27.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.78 ₺1,782

$25.50 ₺1,203

48.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.76 ₺413

$8.68 ₺410

0.92%

Cappuccino

$3.16 ₺149

$2.82 ₺133

12.06%

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

$1.21 ₺57.3

$1.29 ₺61.1

-6.20%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.39 ₺18.17

$0.24 ₺11.22

62.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.21 ₺151

$2.94 ₺139

9.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.92 ₺185

$3.02 ₺142

29.80%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.01 ₺47.63

$1.05 ₺49.77

-3.81%

White Bread (500g)

$0.71 ₺33.39

$0.40 ₺18.77

77.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.30 ₺108

$3.88 ₺183

-40.72%

Eggs

$2.27 ₺107

$1.66 ₺78.1

36.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.32 ₺440

$8.70 ₺411

7.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.97 ₺282

$10.17 ₺480

-41.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.67 ₺928

$18.86 ₺890

4.29%

Apples (1kg)

$1.45 ₺68.6

$1.29 ₺60.9

12.40%

Banana (1kg)

$2.29 ₺108

$1.15 ₺54.4

99.13%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.33 ₺62.6

$0.88 ₺41.35

51.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.48 ₺69.8

$1.30 ₺61.3

13.85%

Potato (1kg)

$0.68 ₺31.99

$0.65 ₺30.56

4.62%

Onion (1kg)

$0.62 ₺29.07

$0.65 ₺30.85

-4.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.13 ₺53.4

$0.78 ₺36.79

44.87%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.42 ₺19.92

$0.71 ₺33.70

-40.85%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.14 ₺101

$2.11 ₺99.7

1.42%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.72 ₺553

$9.34 ₺440

25.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.02 ₺95.4

$2.04 ₺96.4

-0.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.24 ₺153

$2.46 ₺116

31.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.64 ₺30.40

$0.59 ₺27.98

8.47%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.55 ₺451

$9.63 ₺454

-0.83%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.93 ₺43.71

$2.30 ₺108

-59.57%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.61 ₺28.57

$0.64 ₺30.24

-4.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.18 ₺291

$4.44 ₺209

39.19%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.18 ₺55.8

$1.11 ₺52.5

6.31%

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

$43.3K ₺2.0M

$43.7K ₺2.1M

-0.84%

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

$42.9K ₺2.0M

$48.6K ₺2.3M

-11.63%

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

$84.2 ₺3,971

$49.85 ₺2,352

68.83%

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

$10.61 ₺501

$10.88 ₺513

-2.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.79 ₺651

$11.64 ₺549

18.47%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.8 ₺2,586

$83.1 ₺3,919

-34.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.53 ₺686

Cinema Ticket

$6.25 ₺295

$5.64 ₺266

10.82%

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

$602 ₺28.4K

$501 ₺23.6K

20.13%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.4K ₺634.3K

$3,757 ₺177.2K

257.84%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.3 ₺2,751

$38.41 ₺1,812

51.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.23 ₺2,134

$45.16 ₺2,131

0.16%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$107 ₺5,063

$88.1 ₺4,158

21.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$98.7 ₺4,658

$44.77 ₺2,112

120.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$726 ₺34.3K

$499 ₺23.6K

45.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$523 ₺24.7K

$327 ₺15.4K

60.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,091 ₺51.5K

$729 ₺34.4K

49.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$703 ₺33.2K

$514 ₺24.3K

36.72%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,716 ₺81.0K

$751 ₺35.4K

128.65%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,137 ₺53.7K

$430 ₺20.3K

164.71%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,095 ₺51.7K

$969 ₺45.7K

13.02%

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: July 14, 2026

Last update for Samsun: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $726 in Ankara versus $499 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 13% 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 – $239 in Ankara vs $242 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 29% 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 $1,921 per month in Ankara and $1,495 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 $602 per month in Ankara and $501 in Samsun. 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 $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Samsun, where all-in costs run around $996, than in Ankara at $1,281. 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 $996 versus $1,281 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.