Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Beja and Istanbul

For one person, living is cheaper in Beja: $621 a month against $1,550 in Istanbul, rent and utilities included – about $11,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Beja
🇹🇳 Tunisia
$621
/mo nomad
Istanbul
🇹🇷 Turkey
$1,550
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Beja and in Istanbul

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

A single person spends $621 per month in Beja vs $1,550 in Istanbul, rent included.

  • Beja $621
  • Istanbul $1,550

A couple spends around $1,066 per month in Beja vs $2,415 in Istanbul, rent included.

  • Beja $1,066
  • Istanbul $2,415

A family of three spends $1,512 per month in Beja vs $3,281 in Istanbul, rent included.

  • Beja $1,512
  • Istanbul $3,281

Beja is about 60% cheaper than Istanbul, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Beja sits 54% below the global median, while Istanbul is 15% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Beja
Istanbul
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.91 TND 11.72
$12.30 ₺609
-68.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$16.43 TND 49.19
$54.7 ₺2,708
-69.96%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.65 TND 13.93
$9.22 ₺456
-49.57%
Cappuccino
$0.60 TND 1.81
$4.40 ₺218
-86.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.52 TND 1.54
$1.68 ₺83.1
-69.05%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25 TND 0.74
$0.59 ₺29.40
-57.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.19 TND 3.56
$4.70 ₺233
-74.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.70 TND 5.08
$5.91 ₺292
-71.24%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Beja
Istanbul
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.43 TND 1.29
$1.21 ₺60.0
-64.46%
White Bread (500g)
$0.14 TND 0.42
$0.89 ₺44.10
-84.27%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.63 TND 4.87
$2.19 ₺108
-25.57%
Eggs
$1.43 TND 4.29
$2.35 ₺116
-39.15%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.04 TND 24.07
$10.42 ₺516
-22.84%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.44 TND 19.28
$5.65 ₺280
13.98%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.25 TND 39.69
$20.94 ₺1,037
-36.72%
Apples (1kg)
$1.65 TND 4.94
$1.90 ₺94.1
-13.16%
Banana (1kg)
$4.59 TND 13.73
$2.31 ₺114
98.70%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.07 TND 3.21
$1.28 ₺63.1
-16.41%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.89 TND 2.66
$1.80 ₺89.0
-50.56%
Potato (1kg)
$0.59 TND 1.78
$0.65 ₺32.16
-9.23%
Onion (1kg)
$0.59 TND 1.77
$0.64 ₺31.91
-7.81%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.48 TND 1.42
$1.25 ₺62.1
-61.60%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.30 TND 0.91
$0.56 ₺27.58
-46.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.29 TND 9.86
$2.37 ₺118
38.82%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.05 TND 15.12
$13.42 ₺664
-62.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.22 TND 3.65
$2.40 ₺119
-49.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.35 TND 4.06
$3.48 ₺172
-61.21%
🚌 Getting Around
Beja
Istanbul
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.42 TND 1.25
$0.89 ₺43.84
-52.81%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$15.10 TND 45.21
$67.4 ₺3,338
-77.61%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.31 TND 0.94
$1.29 ₺64.1
-75.97%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.39 TND 1.16
$0.92 ₺45.70
-57.61%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.90 TND 14.68
$10.96 ₺542
-55.29%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.74 TND 2.22
$1.47 ₺72.9
-49.66%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.1K TND 117.1K
$50.8K ₺2.5M
-23.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.9K TND 107.4K
$44.5K ₺2.2M
-19.46%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Beja
Istanbul
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$44.26 TND 133
$88.6 ₺4,387
-50.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.38 TND 31.09
$11.59 ₺574
-10.44%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.74 TND 59.1
$15.81 ₺783
24.86%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Beja
Istanbul
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$19.68 TND 59.0
$77.2 ₺3,820
-74.49%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.25 TND 69.6
$22.74 ₺1,126
2.24%
Cinema Ticket
$3.39 TND 10.14
$8.14 ₺403
-58.35%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Beja
Istanbul
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$60.2 TND 180
$1,008 ₺49.9K
-94.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,189 TND 3,560
$25.6K ₺1.3M
-95.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Beja
Istanbul
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.8 TND 167
$54.0 ₺2,671
3.37%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$65.1 TND 195
$40.83 ₺2,021
59.47%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$111 TND 333
$98.9 ₺4,895
12.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$138 TND 414
$96.6 ₺4,783
43.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Beja
Istanbul
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$167 TND 501
$985 ₺48.7K
-83.02%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$83.4 TND 250
$650 ₺32.2K
-87.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$267 TND 801
$1,983 ₺98.2K
-86.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$287 TND 858
$1,180 ₺58.4K
-75.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$396 TND 1,185
$3,138 ₺155.4K
-87.40%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$105 TND 314
$1,780 ₺88.1K
-94.10%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Beja
Istanbul
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$337 TND 1,010
$1,205 ₺59.7K
-72.01%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11
40.92
-73.12%

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

Last update for Beja: October 12, 2026

Last update for Istanbul: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Beja
$186
Istanbul
$260 39.7% $74
Clothing & Footwear
Beja
$167
Istanbul
$131 21.6% $36
Accommodation & Living
Beja
$83
Istanbul
$650 679% $566
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Beja
$74
Istanbul
$116 56% $42
Eating Out
Beja
$65
Istanbul
$223 244% $158
Sport & Entertainment
Beja
$26
Istanbul
$93 253% $67
Getting Around
Beja
$19
Istanbul
$77 304% $58

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $167 in Beja versus $985 in Istanbul. 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 257% higher in Istanbul, 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 $16.00 in Beja versus $55.0 in Istanbul. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $186 vs $260 – making Beja the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇹🇳 Beja
🇹🇷 Istanbul
🕒 Local time
01:22 1:22 AM
03:22 3:22 AM
2 h ahead of Beja
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
57,000
15,701,602
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

TRY, USD, EUR to TND – Tunisian Dinar Converter

Tunisian Dinar exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 2.99 TND (1 TND = 0.334 USD). 1 EUR = 3.37 TND (1 TND = 0.297 EUR).

Turkish Lira exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 49.51 TRY (100 TRY = 2.02 USD). 1 EUR = 55.66 TRY (100 TRY = 1.8 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Beja Istanbul 1,770 km ≈ 2 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Beja
  • Istanbul

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
Beja vs Istanbul: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Beja or Istanbul?
Istanbul costs about 150% more than Beja, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from eating out. 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 Beja and in Istanbul?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $931 per month in Beja and $2,325 in Istanbul. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Beja or Istanbul?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Beja, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How expensive is transport in Beja compared to Istanbul?
Public transport costs about 347% less in Beja. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How do childcare costs compare in Beja and in Istanbul?
Kindergarten costs $60.2 per month in Beja and $1,008 in Istanbul. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Beja or in Istanbul?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Beja, where all-in costs run around $621, than in Istanbul at $1,550. In Beja it covers expenses comfortably, while in Istanbul it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Beja or Istanbul?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Beja costs $621 versus $1,550 in Istanbul. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Beja compared to Istanbul?
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.
Should I move to Beja or to Istanbul?
If budget matters most, go with Beja. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Istanbul makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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