Cost of Living Comparison Between Diyarbakir and Istanbul Cost of Living Comparison Between Diyarbakir and Istanbul

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,017 per month in Diyarbakir vs $1,494 in Istanbul, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,504 per month in Diyarbakir vs $2,338 in Istanbul, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,991 per month in Diyarbakir vs $3,181 in Istanbul, rent included.

Diyarbakir is about 32% cheaper than Istanbul, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Diyarbakir sits 26% below the global median, while Istanbul is 8% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.94 ₺240

$10.14 ₺492

-51.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.83 ₺1,011

$50.7 ₺2,461

-58.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.28 ₺354

$9.09 ₺441

-19.91%

Cappuccino

$3.13 ₺152

$4.05 ₺197

-22.72%

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

$0.97 ₺47.25

$1.74 ₺84.3

-44.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 ₺10.67

$0.57 ₺27.70

-61.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.04 ₺148

$4.06 ₺197

-25.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.54 ₺172

$6.03 ₺293

-41.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.91 ₺44.07

$1.22 ₺59.4

-25.41%

White Bread (500g)

$0.64 ₺31.11

$0.94 ₺45.81

-31.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.00 ₺48.70

$2.44 ₺118

-59.02%

Eggs

$1.82 ₺88.2

$2.46 ₺119

-26.02%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.20 ₺350

$10.30 ₺500

-30.10%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.43 ₺167

$5.35 ₺260

-35.89%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.52 ₺802

$21.09 ₺1,024

-21.67%

Apples (1kg)

$1.36 ₺66.2

$1.97 ₺95.9

-30.96%

Banana (1kg)

$1.63 ₺79.3

$2.24 ₺109

-27.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.79 ₺38.52

$1.20 ₺58.5

-34.17%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.94 ₺45.65

$1.92 ₺93.3

-51.04%

Potato (1kg)

$0.59 ₺28.80

$0.59 ₺28.65

Onion (1kg)

$0.53 ₺25.70

$0.52 ₺25.04

1.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.82 ₺39.67

$1.09 ₺53.0

-24.77%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.45 ₺21.64

$0.59 ₺28.62

-23.73%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.29 ₺111

$2.33 ₺113

-1.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.03 ₺293

$13.24 ₺643

-54.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.28 ₺111

$2.40 ₺116

-5.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ₺178

$3.39 ₺165

8.26%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.50 ₺24.41

$0.86 ₺41.57

-41.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$67.9 ₺3,298

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.71 ₺34.27

$1.31 ₺63.5

-45.80%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.60 ₺29.16

$0.92 ₺44.88

-34.78%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.72 ₺520

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 ₺60.9

$1.38 ₺66.8

-9.42%

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

$43.2K ₺2.1M

$50.7K ₺2.5M

-14.73%

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

$39.2K ₺1.9M

$44.4K ₺2.2M

-11.77%

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

$92.8 ₺4,507

$88.6 ₺4,302

4.75%

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

$10.23 ₺497

$11.48 ₺557

-10.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$10.83 ₺526

$16.51 ₺802

-34.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$82.3 ₺3,997

$69.2 ₺3,361

18.93%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$42.00 ₺2,039

$23.43 ₺1,138

79.26%

Cinema Ticket

$3.80 ₺185

$8.37 ₺407

-54.60%

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

$978 ₺47.5K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$28.0K ₺1.4M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.0 ₺2,818

$54.1 ₺2,624

7.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.8 ₺2,515

$38.94 ₺1,890

33.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 ₺4,918

$101 ₺4,881

0.77%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$111 ₺5,403

$94.4 ₺4,583

17.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$421 ₺20.4K

$991 ₺48.1K

-57.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$365 ₺17.7K

$638 ₺31.0K

-42.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$719 ₺34.9K

$1,946 ₺94.5K

-63.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$578 ₺28.0K

$1,144 ₺55.5K

-49.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,979 ₺144.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,694 ₺82.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$846 ₺41.1K

$1,196 ₺58.1K

-29.29%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

41.26

-29.71%

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

Last update for Diyarbakir: September 8, 2026

Last update for Istanbul: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $421 in Diyarbakir versus $991 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 41% 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 $21.00 in Diyarbakir versus $51.0 in Istanbul. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $182 vs $259 – making Diyarbakir 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

Diyarbakir vs Istanbul: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,017 in Diyarbakir, $1,494 in Istanbul – roughly 47% apart. Istanbul costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,526 per month in Diyarbakir and $2,242 in Istanbul. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $21.00 in Diyarbakir and $51.0 in Istanbul. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,017 in Diyarbakir and $1,494 in Istanbul. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Diyarbakir, where all-in costs run around $1,017, than in Istanbul at $1,494. In Diyarbakir it covers expenses comfortably, while in Istanbul it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Istanbul has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,017 in Diyarbakir to $1,494 in Istanbul. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Diyarbakir. 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.