Cost of Living Comparison Between Balikesir and Izmir Cost of Living Comparison Between Balikesir and Izmir

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $903 per month in Balikesir vs $1,233 in Izmir, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,471 per month in Balikesir vs $1,869 in Izmir, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,040 per month in Balikesir vs $2,505 in Izmir, rent included.

Balikesir is about 27% cheaper than Izmir, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Balikesir and Izmir are more affordable than the global median – Balikesir 32% lower, Izmir 7% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.67 ₺363

$8.33 ₺395

-7.92%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.27 ₺1,244

$38.29 ₺1,813

-31.39%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.70 ₺365

$7.69 ₺364

0.13%

Cappuccino

$2.51 ₺119

$3.25 ₺154

-22.77%

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

$0.93 ₺44.27

$1.42 ₺67.5

-34.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 ₺15.41

$0.55 ₺26.11

-40.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.56 ₺121

$3.89 ₺184

-34.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ₺170

$5.16 ₺244

-30.43%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.92 ₺43.71

$1.09 ₺51.7

-15.60%

White Bread (500g)

$0.52 ₺24.65

$0.91 ₺43.10

-42.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.25 ₺59.3

$2.51 ₺119

-50.20%

Eggs

$1.94 ₺92.1

$2.46 ₺117

-21.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.95 ₺377

$11.90 ₺563

-33.19%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.15 ₺244

$6.73 ₺319

-23.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.67 ₺837

$21.78 ₺1,031

-18.87%

Apples (1kg)

$1.53 ₺72.5

$1.48 ₺70.3

3.38%

Banana (1kg)

$2.37 ₺112

$2.81 ₺133

-15.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.48 ₺70.2

$1.48 ₺70.1

Tomato (1kg)

$1.54 ₺72.9

$1.88 ₺88.9

-18.09%

Potato (1kg)

$0.67 ₺31.95

$0.88 ₺41.55

-23.86%

Onion (1kg)

$0.66 ₺31.04

$0.65 ₺30.60

1.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.91 ₺42.99

$0.94 ₺44.34

-3.19%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ₺23.42

$0.64 ₺30.50

-23.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.31 ₺109

$2.26 ₺107

2.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.67 ₺506

$12.07 ₺572

-11.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.33 ₺110

$2.08 ₺98.7

12.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.37 ₺159

$3.18 ₺151

5.97%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.61 ₺28.96

$0.64 ₺30.47

-4.69%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.13 ₺1,380

$31.32 ₺1,484

-6.99%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.99 ₺94.3

$2.98 ₺141

-33.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.61 ₺28.97

$0.61 ₺29.04

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.99 ₺426

$5.23 ₺248

71.89%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.18 ₺55.9

$1.17 ₺55.5

0.85%

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

$41.3K ₺2.0M

$44.9K ₺2.1M

-8.18%

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

$43.4K ₺2.1M

$46.3K ₺2.2M

-6.32%

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

$63.9 ₺3,028

$97.5 ₺4,619

-34.44%

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

$12.00 ₺568

$11.42 ₺541

5.08%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$11.98 ₺567

$13.47 ₺638

-11.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.8 ₺2,691

$47.77 ₺2,262

18.97%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.46 ₺590

$18.12 ₺858

-31.24%

Cinema Ticket

$5.44 ₺258

$7.48 ₺354

-27.27%

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

$838 ₺39.7K

$436 ₺20.6K

92.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,322 ₺252.1K

$12.4K ₺587.6K

-57.10%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$31.93 ₺1,512

$50.7 ₺2,399

-36.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.04 ₺1,896

$35.35 ₺1,674

13.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.2 ₺4,179

$92.5 ₺4,379

-4.56%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$64.0 ₺3,032

$116 ₺5,489

-44.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$423 ₺20.0K

$646 ₺30.6K

-34.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$257 ₺12.2K

$466 ₺22.1K

-44.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$888 ₺42.1K

$1,114 ₺52.8K

-20.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$590 ₺27.9K

$741 ₺35.1K

-20.37%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,153 ₺54.6K

$1,554 ₺73.6K

-25.82%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$728 ₺34.5K

$1,034 ₺49.0K

-29.58%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,132 ₺53.6K

$1,122 ₺53.1K

0.92%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

29.75

39.1

-23.91%

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

Last update for Balikesir: July 26, 2026

Last update for Izmir: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $423 in Balikesir versus $646 in Izmir. 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 1% higher in Balikesir, 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 $26.00 in Balikesir versus $38.00 in Izmir. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $218 vs $270 – making Balikesir 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

Balikesir vs Izmir: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Izmir costs about 37% more than Balikesir, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,354 per month in Balikesir and $1,850 in Izmir. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $903 in Balikesir and $1,233 in Izmir. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 8% less in Balikesir. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Balikesir, where all-in costs run around $903, than in Izmir at $1,233. In Balikesir it covers expenses comfortably, while in Izmir it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Balikesir costs $903 versus $1,233 in Izmir. 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 Balikesir. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Izmir makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.