Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Boden and Istanbul

For one person, living is cheaper in Istanbul: $1,550 a month against $1,775 in Boden, rent and utilities included – about $2,700 less a year. The total is higher in Boden despite lower rent and utilities.

Boden
🇸🇪 Sweden
$1,775
/mo nomad
Istanbul
🇹🇷 Turkey
$1,550
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Boden 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 Boden and in Istanbul actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,775 per month in Boden vs $1,550 in Istanbul, rent included.

  • Boden $1,775
  • Istanbul $1,550

A couple spends around $2,778 per month in Boden vs $2,415 in Istanbul, rent included.

  • Boden $2,778
  • Istanbul $2,415

A family of three spends $3,781 per month in Boden vs $3,281 in Istanbul, rent included.

  • Boden $3,781
  • Istanbul $3,281

Boden costs about 15% more than Istanbul, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Boden and Istanbul sit above the global median – Boden by 32%, Istanbul by 15%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Boden
Istanbul
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.90 SEK 187
$12.30 ₺609
53.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$78.0 SEK 772
$54.7 ₺2,708
42.50%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.10 SEK 100
$9.22 ₺456
9.54%
Cappuccino
$4.40 SEK 43.60
$4.40 ₺218
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.61 SEK 15.96
$1.68 ₺83.1
-4.17%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15 SEK 21.32
$0.59 ₺29.40
264.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.92 SEK 68.6
$4.70 ₺233
47.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.82 SEK 77.5
$5.91 ₺292
32.32%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Boden
Istanbul
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.46 SEK 14.50
$1.21 ₺60.0
20.66%
White Bread (500g)
$2.38 SEK 23.54
$0.89 ₺44.10
167.42%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.48 SEK 34.51
$2.19 ₺108
58.90%
Eggs
$4.23 SEK 41.96
$2.35 ₺116
80.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.07 SEK 120
$10.42 ₺516
15.83%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.93 SEK 118
$5.65 ₺280
111.15%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.21 SEK 171
$20.94 ₺1,037
-17.81%
Apples (1kg)
$2.98 SEK 29.57
$1.90 ₺94.1
56.84%
Banana (1kg)
$2.51 SEK 24.88
$2.31 ₺114
8.66%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.89 SEK 28.64
$1.28 ₺63.1
125.78%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.62 SEK 45.79
$1.80 ₺89.0
156.67%
Potato (1kg)
$1.59 SEK 15.79
$0.65 ₺32.16
144.62%
Onion (1kg)
$1.64 SEK 16.21
$0.64 ₺31.91
156.25%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.20 SEK 21.80
$1.25 ₺62.1
76.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.42 SEK 14.05
$0.56 ₺27.58
153.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.12 SEK 100
$2.37 ₺118
327.00%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.00 SEK 99.1
$13.42 ₺664
-25.48%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.97 SEK 19.57
$2.40 ₺119
-17.92%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 SEK 22.39
$3.48 ₺172
-35.06%
🚌 Getting Around
Boden
Istanbul
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.36 SEK 33.31
$0.89 ₺43.84
277.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$73.1 SEK 724
$67.4 ₺3,338
8.35%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.86 SEK 58.1
$1.29 ₺64.1
354.26%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.81 SEK 17.92
$0.92 ₺45.70
96.74%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$49.99 SEK 495
$10.96 ₺542
356.11%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.93 SEK 19.10
$1.47 ₺72.9
31.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.0K SEK 248.0K
$50.8K ₺2.5M
-50.72%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.1K SEK 318.6K
$44.5K ₺2.2M
-27.80%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Boden
Istanbul
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$105 SEK 1,037
$88.6 ₺4,387
18.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.26 SEK 230
$11.59 ₺574
100.69%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.54 SEK 392
$15.81 ₺783
150.09%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Boden
Istanbul
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.5 SEK 570
$77.2 ₺3,820
-25.51%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.15 SEK 200
$22.74 ₺1,126
-11.39%
Cinema Ticket
$12.31 SEK 122
$8.14 ₺403
51.23%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Boden
Istanbul
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$154 SEK 1,524
$1,008 ₺49.9K
-84.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,671 SEK 56.2K
$25.6K ₺1.3M
-77.81%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Boden
Istanbul
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$92.7 SEK 918
$54.0 ₺2,671
71.73%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.16 SEK 398
$40.83 ₺2,021
-1.64%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$89.5 SEK 887
$98.9 ₺4,895
-9.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$136 SEK 1,346
$96.6 ₺4,783
40.63%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Boden
Istanbul
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$908 SEK 9,000
$985 ₺48.7K
-7.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$614 SEK 6,083
$650 ₺32.2K
-5.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,321 SEK 13.1K
$1,983 ₺98.2K
-33.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,030 SEK 10.2K
$1,180 ₺58.4K
-12.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,908 SEK 38.7K
$3,138 ₺155.4K
24.54%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,586 SEK 25.6K
$1,780 ₺88.1K
45.32%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Boden
Istanbul
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,774 SEK 37.4K
$1,205 ₺59.7K
213.07%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.4
40.92
-91.69%

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

Last update for Boden: October 11, 2026

Last update for Istanbul: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Boden
$614
Istanbul
$650 5.8% $36
Groceries & Markets
Boden
$350
Istanbul
$260 25.7% $90
Eating Out
Boden
$300
Istanbul
$223 25.5% $76
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Boden
$167
Istanbul
$116 30.7% $51
Clothing & Footwear
Boden
$161
Istanbul
$131 19% $31
Getting Around
Boden
$101
Istanbul
$77 24.2% $25
Sport & Entertainment
Boden
$82
Istanbul
$93 13.8% $11

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $908 in Boden 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 213% higher in Boden, 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 $78.0 in Boden versus $55.0 in Istanbul. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $350 vs $260 – making Istanbul the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇸🇪 Boden
🇹🇷 Istanbul
🕒 Local time
14:19 2:19 PM
15:19 3:19 PM
1 h ahead of Boden
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
18,680
15,701,602
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

TRY, USD, EUR to SEK – Swedish Krona Converter

Swedish Krona exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 9.91 SEK (1 SEK = 0.101 USD). 1 EUR = 11.14 SEK (100 SEK = 8.98 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
  • Boden Istanbul 2,800 km ≈ 4 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Boden
  • 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
Boden vs Istanbul: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Istanbul cheaper than Boden?
Yes – Boden is pricier by about 15%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,663 per month in Boden and $2,325 in Istanbul. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Istanbul, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Boden and in Istanbul?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,775 in Boden and $1,550 in Istanbul. That's a gap of about 15%.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 8% less in Istanbul. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Boden or in Istanbul?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Istanbul, where all-in costs run around $1,550, than in Boden at $1,775. In Istanbul it covers expenses comfortably, while in Boden it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Boden or Istanbul more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Istanbul – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Boden or 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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Istanbul. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Boden makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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