Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Cacak and Istanbul

For one person, living is cheaper in Cacak: $1,051 a month against $1,550 in Istanbul, rent and utilities included – about $6,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Cacak
🇷🇸 Serbia
$1,051
/mo nomad
Istanbul
🇹🇷 Turkey
$1,550
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,051 in Cacak versus $1,550 in Istanbul.

  • Cacak $1,051
  • Istanbul $1,550

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,571 in Cacak versus $2,415 in Istanbul.

  • Cacak $1,571
  • Istanbul $2,415

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,092 in Cacak versus $3,281 in Istanbul.

  • Cacak $2,092
  • Istanbul $3,281

Living in Cacak costs roughly 32% less than in Istanbul, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Cacak is 22% below, Istanbul is 15% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cacak
Istanbul
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.29 RSD 760
$12.30 ₺609
-40.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.45 RSD 4,009
$54.7 ₺2,708
-29.71%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.29 RSD 1,177
$9.22 ₺456
22.45%
Cappuccino
$1.54 RSD 161
$4.40 ₺218
-65.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.41 RSD 251
$1.68 ₺83.1
43.45%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.44 RSD 150
$0.59 ₺29.40
144.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.52 RSD 263
$4.70 ₺233
-46.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53 RSD 264
$5.91 ₺292
-57.19%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cacak
Istanbul
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.23 RSD 128
$1.21 ₺60.0
1.65%
White Bread (500g)
$0.73 RSD 76.2
$0.89 ₺44.10
-17.98%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.71 RSD 283
$2.19 ₺108
23.74%
Eggs
$2.64 RSD 275
$2.35 ₺116
12.34%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$3.76 RSD 392
$10.42 ₺516
-63.92%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.35 RSD 766
$5.65 ₺280
30.09%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.96 RSD 1,456
$20.94 ₺1,037
-33.33%
Apples (1kg)
$1.25 RSD 130
$1.90 ₺94.1
-34.21%
Banana (1kg)
$1.88 RSD 196
$2.31 ₺114
-18.61%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.67 RSD 174
$1.28 ₺63.1
30.47%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.48 RSD 258
$1.80 ₺89.0
37.78%
Potato (1kg)
$1.00 RSD 104
$0.65 ₺32.16
53.85%
Onion (1kg)
$0.68 RSD 71.1
$0.64 ₺31.91
6.25%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.01 RSD 105
$1.25 ₺62.1
-19.20%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60 RSD 62.0
$0.56 ₺27.58
7.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.66 RSD 486
$2.37 ₺118
96.62%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.13 RSD 743
$13.42 ₺664
-46.87%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.94 RSD 97.7
$2.40 ₺119
-60.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.23 RSD 232
$3.48 ₺172
-35.92%
🚌 Getting Around
Cacak
Istanbul
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.93 RSD 96.9
$0.89 ₺43.84
4.49%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$16.54 RSD 1,724
$67.4 ₺3,338
-75.47%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.95 RSD 203
$1.29 ₺64.1
51.16%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.89 RSD 92.9
$0.92 ₺45.70
-3.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.64 RSD 1,109
$10.96 ₺542
-2.92%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.69 RSD 177
$1.47 ₺72.9
14.97%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.3K RSD 2.8M
$50.8K ₺2.5M
-46.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.7K RSD 2.7M
$44.5K ₺2.2M
-42.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cacak
Istanbul
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$142 RSD 14.8K
$88.6 ₺4,387
60.20%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.81 RSD 1,961
$11.59 ₺574
62.30%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.90 RSD 1,971
$15.81 ₺783
19.54%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cacak
Istanbul
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$29.86 RSD 3,112
$77.2 ₺3,820
-61.30%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$22.74 ₺1,126
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.59 RSD 791
$8.14 ₺403
-6.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cacak
Istanbul
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$374 RSD 39.0K
$1,008 ₺49.9K
-62.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,499 RSD 781.7K
$25.6K ₺1.3M
-70.66%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cacak
Istanbul
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$119 RSD 12.4K
$54.0 ₺2,671
119.70%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.32 RSD 4,516
$40.83 ₺2,021
6.10%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$136 RSD 14.2K
$98.9 ₺4,895
37.96%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$125 RSD 13.0K
$96.6 ₺4,783
29.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cacak
Istanbul
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$311 RSD 32.5K
$985 ₺48.7K
-68.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$259 RSD 27.0K
$650 ₺32.2K
-60.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$423 RSD 44.1K
$1,983 ₺98.2K
-78.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$371 RSD 38.7K
$1,180 ₺58.4K
-68.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,109 RSD 219.8K
$3,138 ₺155.4K
-32.81%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,573 RSD 164.0K
$1,780 ₺88.1K
-11.62%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cacak
Istanbul
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$723 RSD 75.3K
$1,205 ₺59.7K
-40.06%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.21
40.92
-87.27%

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

Last update for Cacak: October 12, 2026

Last update for Istanbul: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Cacak
$259
Istanbul
$650 151% $391
Groceries & Markets
Cacak
$206
Istanbul
$260 25.8% $53
Clothing & Footwear
Cacak
$190
Istanbul
$131 31.4% $60
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cacak
$180
Istanbul
$116 35.4% $64
Eating Out
Cacak
$144
Istanbul
$223 55.4% $80
Sport & Entertainment
Cacak
$45
Istanbul
$93 108% $48
Getting Around
Cacak
$27
Istanbul
$77 188% $50

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $311 in Cacak and $985 in Istanbul. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Istanbul pays 67% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $38.00 in Cacak vs $55.0 in Istanbul for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $206 vs $260 per month, with Cacak cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇷🇸 Cacak
🇹🇷 Istanbul
🕒 Local time
03:38 3:38 AM
04:38 4:38 AM
1 h ahead of Cacak
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
69,598
15,701,602
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

TRY, USD, EUR to RSD – Serbian Dinar Converter

Serbian Dinar exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 104 RSD (1,000 RSD = 9.59 USD). 1 EUR = 117 RSD (1,000 RSD = 8.53 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
  • Cacak Istanbul 780 km ≈ 1 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Cacak
  • 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
Cacak vs Istanbul: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Istanbul cheaper than Cacak?
Cacak is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and leisure. The 48% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Cacak or Istanbul?
On paper, salaries run 67% lower in Istanbul. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Cacak and Istanbul?
Rent for a central apartment: $311 in Cacak versus $985 in Istanbul. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $374 in Cacak versus $1,008 in Istanbul. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Cacak and in Istanbul?
Supermarket bills run roughly 26% higher in Istanbul. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Cacak or in Istanbul?
At $1,051 in Cacak versus $1,550 in Istanbul, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Cacak but tight or insufficient in Istanbul. The gap between the two cities makes Cacak the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Cacak or Istanbul more family-friendly?
For families, Cacak is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Istanbul, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Cacak or Istanbul?
Safety-wise, Cacak and Istanbul are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Cacak gentler on the wallet – expenses run 48% less than in Istanbul. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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