🙂A single person spends $1,013 per month in Erzincan vs $1,527 in Istanbul, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,551 per month in Erzincan vs $2,348 in Istanbul, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,090 per month in Erzincan vs $3,170 in Istanbul, rent included.
🙂Erzincan is about 34% cheaper than Istanbul, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Erzincan sits 26% below the global median, while Istanbul is 12% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Erzincan
Istanbul
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.52₺367
$10.39₺507
-27.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$30.78₺1,502
$51.3₺2,502
-39.99%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.85₺383
$9.40₺459
-16.49%
Cappuccino
$3.34₺163
$4.09₺200
-18.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09₺53.2
$1.65₺80.3
-33.94%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37₺18.20
$0.57₺27.72
-35.09%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.80₺137
$4.10₺200
-31.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66₺179
$6.09₺297
-39.90%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Erzincan
Istanbul
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.02₺49.97
$1.27₺62.1
-19.69%
White Bread(500g)
$0.92₺45.08
$0.90₺43.73
2.22%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.19₺107
$2.36₺115
-7.20%
Eggs
$2.06₺101
$2.43₺119
-15.23%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.21₺449
$10.41₺508
-11.53%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.08₺199
$5.21₺254
-21.69%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$20.25₺988
$20.70₺1,010
-2.17%
Apples(1kg)
$1.87₺91.4
$1.96₺95.8
-4.59%
Banana(1kg)
$1.89₺92.3
$2.14₺105
-11.68%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.05₺51.0
$1.17₺57.2
-10.26%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.26₺61.4
$1.95₺95.2
-35.38%
Potato(1kg)
$0.50₺24.19
$0.63₺30.68
-20.63%
Onion(1kg)
$0.39₺18.78
$0.56₺27.43
-30.36%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.85₺41.34
$1.10₺53.5
-22.73%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.64₺31.11
$0.62₺30.18
3.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.21₺108
$2.33₺114
-5.15%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.31₺503
$13.57₺662
-24.02%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.05₺100
$2.40₺117
-14.58%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.86₺140
$3.31₺161
-13.60%
🚌 Getting Around
Erzincan
Istanbul
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.73₺35.66
$0.89₺43.54
-17.98%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$34.08₺1,662
$66.6₺3,251
-48.86%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.35₺66.1
$1.38₺67.1
-2.17%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.84₺41.03
$0.92₺44.94
-8.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.08₺248
$10.69₺521
-52.48%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30₺63.2
$1.35₺65.8
-3.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$42.7K₺2.1M
$52.3K₺2.6M
-18.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.3K₺2.0M
$43.4K₺2.1M
-7.26%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Erzincan
Istanbul
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$66.6₺3,249
$89.1₺4,347
-25.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.27₺501
$11.64₺568
-11.77%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.33₺650
$16.20₺790
-17.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Erzincan
Istanbul
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.1₺2,544
$73.5₺3,583
-29.01%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$23.02₺1,123
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.56₺271
$8.42₺411
-33.97%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Erzincan
Istanbul
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$565₺27.5K
$972₺47.4K
-41.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.8K₺577.3K
$27.4K₺1.3M
-56.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Erzincan
Istanbul
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.82₺2,235
$53.2₺2,593
-13.79%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.69₺1,887
$37.88₺1,848
2.14%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$86.8₺4,236
$103₺5,017
-15.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.9₺3,944
$95.2₺4,643
-15.04%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Erzincan
Istanbul
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$414₺20.2K
$962₺46.9K
-56.97%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$313₺15.3K
$651₺31.8K
-51.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$784₺38.3K
$1,957₺95.5K
-59.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$575₺28.0K
$1,146₺55.9K
-49.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,315₺64.1K
$2,985₺145.6K
-55.96%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,034₺50.5K
$1,689₺82.4K
-38.76%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Erzincan
Istanbul
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,221₺59.6K
$1,180₺57.6K
3.44%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
41.26
41.26
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Erzincan: September 14, 2026
Last update for Istanbul: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $414 in Erzincan versus $962 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 3% higher in Erzincan, 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 $31.00 in Erzincan versus $51.0 in Istanbul. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $226 vs $258 – making Erzincan 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
Erzincan vs Istanbul: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Istanbul cheaper than Erzincan?
Yes – Istanbul is pricier by about 51%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,519 per month in Erzincan and $2,290 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 Erzincan, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 96% less in Erzincan. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $565 per month in Erzincan and $972 in Istanbul. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Erzincan or in Istanbul?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Erzincan, where all-in costs run around $1,013, than in Istanbul at $1,527. In Erzincan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Istanbul it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Erzincan or Istanbul more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Erzincan – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Erzincan 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 Erzincan. 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.