Cost of Living Comparison Between Erzurum and Istanbul Cost of Living Comparison Between Erzurum and Istanbul

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,097 per month in Erzurum vs $1,452 in Istanbul, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,665 per month in Erzurum vs $2,224 in Istanbul, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,233 per month in Erzurum vs $2,996 in Istanbul, rent included.

Erzurum is about 24% cheaper than Istanbul, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Erzurum sits 18% below the global median, while Istanbul is 8% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.76 ₺359

$11.30 ₺523

-31.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$30.71 ₺1,421

$51.7 ₺2,393

-40.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.50 ₺347

$7.46 ₺345

0.54%

Cappuccino

$2.87 ₺133

$3.46 ₺160

-17.05%

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

$1.28 ₺59.2

$1.35 ₺62.4

-5.19%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.47 ₺21.63

$0.47 ₺21.56

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.58 ₺165

$3.83 ₺177

-6.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.03 ₺187

$5.22 ₺241

-22.80%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.94 ₺43.71

$1.07 ₺49.31

-12.15%

White Bread (500g)

$0.75 ₺34.47

$0.83 ₺38.18

-9.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.21 ₺102

Eggs

$1.91 ₺88.4

$2.59 ₺120

-26.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.42 ₺436

$10.32 ₺477

-8.72%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.72 ₺265

$6.53 ₺302

-12.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 ₺895

$19.83 ₺917

-2.47%

Apples (1kg)

$1.26 ₺58.2

$1.50 ₺69.6

-16.00%

Banana (1kg)

$2.08 ₺96.3

$2.19 ₺101

-5.02%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.10 ₺50.8

$1.29 ₺59.8

-14.73%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.31 ₺60.5

$1.58 ₺73.2

-17.09%

Potato (1kg)

$0.74 ₺34.24

$0.76 ₺35.06

-2.63%

Onion (1kg)

$0.60 ₺27.64

$0.73 ₺33.85

-17.81%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.93 ₺43.21

$1.13 ₺52.3

-17.70%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ₺24.18

$0.58 ₺26.89

-10.34%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.21 ₺102

$2.20 ₺102

0.45%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.23 ₺519

$12.23 ₺566

-8.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.07 ₺95.6

$2.12 ₺98.2

-2.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 ₺138

$3.06 ₺142

-2.94%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.67 ₺30.92

$0.72 ₺33.44

-6.94%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.23 ₺1,398

$53.4 ₺2,469

-43.35%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.09 ₺50.5

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.62 ₺28.47

$0.64 ₺29.48

-3.13%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.51 ₺348

$9.01 ₺417

-16.65%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ₺56.7

$1.15 ₺53.3

6.96%

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

$43.8K ₺2.0M

$46.6K ₺2.2M

-6.06%

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

$44.3K ₺2.0M

$43.8K ₺2.0M

1.17%

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

$61.1 ₺2,829

$71.7 ₺3,315

-14.68%

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

$10.99 ₺509

$12.49 ₺578

-12.01%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.74 ₺589

$15.04 ₺696

-15.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.13 ₺1,995

$60.2 ₺2,786

-28.37%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.40 ₺851

Cinema Ticket

$5.69 ₺263

$7.66 ₺355

-25.72%

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

$618 ₺28.6K

$935 ₺43.2K

-33.83%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,914 ₺412.4K

$17.8K ₺824.6K

-49.99%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.5 ₺2,384

$55.9 ₺2,585

-7.82%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.39 ₺2,100

$46.37 ₺2,145

-2.11%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 ₺4,689

$115 ₺5,304

-11.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$91.4 ₺4,228

$106 ₺4,884

-13.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$517 ₺23.9K

$961 ₺44.4K

-46.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$387 ₺17.9K

$617 ₺28.6K

-37.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$901 ₺41.7K

$1,739 ₺80.4K

-48.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$703 ₺32.5K

$1,028 ₺47.5K

-31.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,293 ₺59.8K

$3,097 ₺143.3K

-58.24%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$936 ₺43.3K

$1,664 ₺77.0K

-43.74%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,286 ₺59.5K

$1,170 ₺54.1K

9.88%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

36.83

48.43

-23.95%

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

Last update for Erzurum: June 8, 2026

Last update for Istanbul: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $517 in Erzurum versus $961 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 10% higher in Erzurum, 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 Erzurum versus $52.0 in Istanbul. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $230 vs $251 – making Erzurum 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

Erzurum vs Istanbul: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,097 in Erzurum, $1,452 in Istanbul – roughly 32% apart. Istanbul costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,645 per month in Erzurum and $2,178 in Istanbul. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Erzurum, 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 $31.00 in Erzurum and $52.0 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 $1,097 in Erzurum and $1,452 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 Erzurum, where all-in costs run around $1,097, than in Istanbul at $1,452. In Erzurum 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 $1,097 in Erzurum to $1,452 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 Erzurum. 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.