Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ankara and Varkala

For one person, living is cheaper in Varkala: $383 a month against $1,389 in Ankara, rent and utilities included – about $12,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Ankara, Turkey
Varkala, India
Ankara
🇹🇷 Turkey
$1,389
/mo nomad
Varkala
🇮🇳 India
$383
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Ankara and in Varkala

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Ankara and in Varkala actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,389 per month in Ankara vs $383 in Varkala, rent included.

  • Ankara $1,389
  • Varkala $383

A couple spends around $2,087 per month in Ankara vs $608 in Varkala, rent included.

  • Ankara $2,087
  • Varkala $608

A family of three spends $2,785 per month in Ankara vs $833 in Varkala, rent included.

  • Ankara $2,785
  • Varkala $833

Ankara costs about 263% more than Varkala, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Ankara sits 3% above the global median, while Varkala is 72% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ankara
Varkala
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.10 ₺507
$2.28 ₹214
342.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.81 ₺2,197
$10.35 ₹972
323.29%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.78 ₺490
$3.45 ₹324
183.48%
Cappuccino
$4.12 ₺207
$1.57 ₹148
162.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68 ₺84.3
$0.37 ₹34.98
354.05%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72 ₺36.05
$0.18 ₹16.45
300.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.02 ₺252
$1.76 ₹165
185.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.60 ₺331
$3.13 ₹294
110.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ankara
Varkala
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.16 ₺58.4
$0.71 ₹66.9
63.38%
White Bread (500g)
$0.96 ₺48.39
$0.45 ₹42.20
113.33%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.25 ₺113
$0.66 ₹61.8
240.91%
Eggs
$2.66 ₺134
$0.89 ₹83.7
198.88%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.09 ₺506
$4.87 ₹457
107.19%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.43 ₺272
$2.99 ₹281
81.61%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.99 ₺1,003
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$1.91 ₺95.8
$2.05 ₹192
-6.83%
Banana (1kg)
$2.18 ₺109
$0.74 ₹69.7
194.59%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.26 ₺63.3
$0.98 ₹92.1
28.57%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.65 ₺82.6
$0.54 ₹50.5
205.56%
Potato (1kg)
$0.65 ₺32.69
$0.38 ₹35.76
71.05%
Onion (1kg)
$0.55 ₺27.40
$0.43 ₹39.99
27.91%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.99 ₺49.75
$0.45 ₹41.95
120.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66 ₺32.90
$0.32 ₹29.90
106.25%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.25 ₺113
$3.89 ₹365
-42.16%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.37 ₺620
$7.48 ₹702
65.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.12 ₺106
$1.69 ₹159
25.44%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20 ₺161
$2.76 ₹259
15.94%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
-
$5.59 ₹524
-
🚌 Getting Around
Ankara
Varkala
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.77 ₺38.86
$0.28 ₹26.19
175.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.85 ₺595
$8.77 ₹824
35.12%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.28 ₺64.3
$0.83 ₹77.9
54.22%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.84 ₺42.02
$0.25 ₹23.22
236.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.22 ₺412
$1.43 ₹134
474.83%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.39 ₺69.5
$1.16 ₹109
19.83%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$48.4K ₺2.4M
$13.8K ₹1.3M
251.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.2K ₺2.0M
$22.2K ₹2.1M
80.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ankara
Varkala
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$99.9 ₺5,011
$38.26 ₹3,593
161.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.15 ₺559
$3.52 ₹330
216.76%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.94 ₺900
$7.13 ₹669
151.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ankara
Varkala
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$72.0 ₺3,611
$15.61 ₹1,466
361.18%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.80 ₺742
$7.10 ₹667
108.45%
Cinema Ticket
$7.77 ₺390
$2.85 ₹268
172.63%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ankara
Varkala
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,084 ₺54.3K
$51.9 ₹4,875
1986.96%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$22.5K ₺1.1M
$1,542 ₹144.8K
1358.23%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ankara
Varkala
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.4 ₺2,677
$24.46 ₹2,297
118.23%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.87 ₺2,401
$24.88 ₹2,337
92.40%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$104 ₺5,229
$41.84 ₹3,929
149.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$97.8 ₺4,905
$30.94 ₹2,905
216.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ankara
Varkala
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$748 ₺37.5K
$123 ₹11.6K
507.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$557 ₺27.9K
$75.4 ₹7,084
637.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,142 ₺57.3K
$274 ₹25.7K
317.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$902 ₺45.2K
$179 ₹16.8K
403.73%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,644 ₺82.5K
$1,051 ₹98.7K
56.38%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,142 ₺57.3K
$599 ₹56.3K
90.56%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ankara
Varkala
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,058 ₺53.1K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
43.85
8.67
405.77%

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

Last update for Ankara: November 2, 2026

Last update for Varkala: October 31, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Ankara
$557
Varkala
$75 86.4% $481
Groceries & Markets
Ankara
$251
Varkala
$105 58.1% $146
Eating Out
Ankara
$208
Varkala
$65 68.8% $143
Clothing & Footwear
Ankara
$136
Varkala
$55 59.7% $82
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ankara
$129
Varkala
$49 62.1% $80
Sport & Entertainment
Ankara
$88
Varkala
$21 75.7% $66
Getting Around
Ankara
$20
Varkala
$12 41.4% $8.5

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $748 in Ankara versus $123 in Varkala. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $44 in Ankara versus $10 in Varkala. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $251 vs $105 – making Varkala the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇹🇷 Ankara
🇮🇳 Varkala
🕒 Local time
15:49 3:49 PM
18:19 6:19 PM
2 h 30 min ahead of Ankara
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
5,864,049 Capital
50,000
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

INR, USD, EUR to TRY – Turkish Lira Converter

Turkish Lira exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 50.15 TRY (100 TRY = 1.99 USD). 1 EUR = 56.33 TRY (100 TRY = 1.78 EUR).

Indian Rupee exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 93.9 INR (100 INR = 1.06 USD). 1 EUR = 105 INR (1,000 INR = 9.48 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Ankara Varkala 5,550 km ≈ 7 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Ankara
  • Varkala

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Varkala: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ankara or Varkala?
Ankara costs about 263% more than Varkala, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. 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 and in Varkala?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,083 per month in Ankara and $574 in Varkala. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Ankara or Varkala?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Varkala, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $123 there versus $748 in Ankara.
How do childcare costs compare in Ankara and in Varkala?
Kindergarten costs $1,084 per month in Ankara and $52 in Varkala. 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 in Varkala?
Groceries cost about 138% more in Ankara, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Can you live on $1,200/month in Ankara or in Varkala?
A $1,200 monthly budget goes further in Varkala, where all-in costs run around $383, than in Ankara at $1,389. In Varkala 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 Varkala?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Varkala costs $383 versus $1,389 in Ankara. Both appeal to remote workers, and the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Ankara compared to Varkala?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
For expats, Varkala is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and overall it costs about 72% less, which matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.

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