๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,055 in Eskisehir versus $1,451 in Istanbul.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,651 in Eskisehir versus $2,235 in Istanbul.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,248 in Eskisehir versus $3,020 in Istanbul.
๐Living in Eskisehir costs roughly 27% less than in Istanbul, driven mainly by Getting Around.
๐The two cities straddle the global median: Eskisehir is 21% below, Istanbul is 8% above.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Eskisehir
Istanbul
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.67โบ345
$11.31โบ509
-32.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$26.88โบ1,210
$51.5โบ2,320
-47.84%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.64โบ344
$7.47โบ336
2.28%
Cappuccino
$3.28โบ148
$3.44โบ155
-4.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.29โบ58.2
$1.35โบ60.7
-4.44%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.50โบ22.57
$0.46โบ20.54
8.70%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.89โบ175
$3.91โบ176
-0.51%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.11โบ230
$5.02โบ226
1.79%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Eskisehir
Istanbul
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.94โบ42.37
$1.10โบ49.69
-14.55%
White Bread(500g)
$0.78โบ35.15
$0.77โบ34.74
1.30%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.19โบ98.7
$2.17โบ97.9
0.92%
Eggs
$1.94โบ87.2
$2.73โบ123
-28.94%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.23โบ461
$10.07โบ453
1.59%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.92โบ267
$6.59โบ297
-10.17%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$20.15โบ907
$19.90โบ896
1.26%
Apples(1kg)
$1.51โบ67.9
$1.45โบ65.4
4.14%
Banana(1kg)
$2.20โบ99.1
$2.25โบ101
-2.22%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.33โบ59.7
$1.28โบ57.6
3.91%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.59โบ71.6
$1.63โบ73.5
-2.45%
Potato(1kg)
$0.74โบ33.47
$0.76โบ34.31
-2.63%
Onion(1kg)
$0.68โบ30.80
$0.73โบ32.81
-6.85%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.86โบ38.76
$1.17โบ52.7
-26.50%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.58โบ26.24
$0.62โบ27.76
-6.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.12โบ95.4
$2.20โบ99.1
-3.64%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.11โบ635
$12.16โบ547
16.04%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.22โบ100
$2.21โบ99.5
0.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02โบ136
$3.05โบ137
-0.98%
๐ Getting Around
Eskisehir
Istanbul
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.61โบ27.25
$0.68โบ30.60
-10.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.02โบ631
$53.8โบ2,424
-73.96%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.05โบ47.34
$1.05โบ47.40
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.69โบ31.16
$0.59โบ26.70
16.95%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$9.02โบ406
$8.94โบ403
0.89%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.19โบ53.7
$1.15โบ51.9
3.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$45.1Kโบ2.0M
$45.8Kโบ2.1M
-1.45%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$43.8Kโบ2.0M
$43.0Kโบ1.9M
1.82%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Eskisehir
Istanbul
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$41.76โบ1,880
$71.5โบ3,217
-41.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.46โบ561
$12.33โบ555
1.05%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$12.48โบ562
$15.09โบ680
-17.30%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Eskisehir
Istanbul
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$31.98โบ1,440
$60.4โบ2,718
-47.03%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.10โบ1,130
$18.99โบ855
32.17%
Cinema Ticket
$4.84โบ218
$7.46โบ336
-35.12%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Eskisehir
Istanbul
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$648โบ29.2K
$943โบ42.4K
-31.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,776โบ350.1K
$18.3Kโบ823.3K
-57.48%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Eskisehir
Istanbul
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.9โบ2,336
$56.7โบ2,553
-8.52%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.74โบ2,104
$46.49โบ2,093
0.54%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$111โบ5,019
$115โบ5,163
-2.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.4โบ4,071
$104โบ4,690
-13.19%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Eskisehir
Istanbul
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$468โบ21.1K
$970โบ43.7K
-51.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$375โบ16.9K
$630โบ28.3K
-40.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$974โบ43.9K
$1,746โบ78.6K
-44.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$733โบ33.0K
$1,064โบ47.9K
-31.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,197โบ53.9K
$3,310โบ149.0K
-63.84%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$748โบ33.7K
$1,691โบ76.1K
-55.76%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Eskisehir
Istanbul
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,080โบ48.6K
$1,164โบ52.4K
-7.21%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
36.83
48.43
-23.95%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Eskisehir: April 22, 2026
Last update for Istanbul: April 21, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $468 in Eskisehir and $970 in Istanbul. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐ฐIstanbul pays 8% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
๐Dining out: $27 in Eskisehir vs $52 in Istanbul for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $248 vs $253 per month, with Eskisehir cheaper across the board.
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
Eskisehir vs Istanbul: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Istanbul cheaper than Eskisehir?
Eskisehir is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 38% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Eskisehir or Istanbul?
On paper, Istanbul earns 8% less. 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 Eskisehir and Istanbul?
Rent for a central apartment: $468 in Eskisehir versus $970 in Istanbul. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $648 in Eskisehir versus $943 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 Eskisehir and Istanbul?
Supermarket bills run roughly 2% higher in Istanbul. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Eskisehir or Istanbul?
At $1,055 in Eskisehir versus $1,451 in Istanbul, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Eskisehir but tight or insufficient in Istanbul. The gap between the two cities makes Eskisehir the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Eskisehir or Istanbul more family-friendly?
For families, Eskisehir 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, Eskisehir or Istanbul?
Safety-wise, Eskisehir 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 Eskisehir gentler on the wallet โ expenses run 38% less than in Istanbul. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.