🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,047 in Eskisehir versus $1,422 in Istanbul.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,660 in Eskisehir versus $2,196 in Istanbul.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,273 in Eskisehir versus $2,971 in Istanbul.
🌍Living in Eskisehir costs roughly 26% less than in Istanbul, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Eskisehir is 21% below, Istanbul is 7% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Eskisehir
Istanbul
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.53₺357
$11.22₺531
-32.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.05₺1,281
$50.4₺2,386
-46.31%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.74₺366
$7.42₺352
4.31%
Cappuccino
$3.24₺153
$3.47₺164
-6.63%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.29₺61.1
$1.30₺61.7
-0.77%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.50₺23.46
$0.49₺23.34
2.04%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.75₺178
$3.76₺178
-0.27%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.03₺238
$5.20₺246
-3.27%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Eskisehir
Istanbul
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.03₺49.01
$1.12₺52.9
-8.04%
White Bread(500g)
$0.79₺37.60
$0.80₺38.06
-1.25%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.28₺108
$2.21₺105
3.17%
Eggs
$1.94₺91.8
$2.59₺123
-25.10%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.23₺484
$10.14₺480
0.89%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.97₺283
$6.65₺315
-10.23%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.66₺931
$20.15₺954
-2.43%
Apples(1kg)
$1.50₺71.2
$1.50₺71.1
-
Banana(1kg)
$2.25₺107
$2.20₺104
2.27%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.28₺60.6
$1.27₺60.3
0.79%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.59₺75.4
$1.59₺75.2
-
Potato(1kg)
$0.75₺35.60
$0.69₺32.89
8.70%
Onion(1kg)
$0.68₺32.09
$0.69₺32.67
-1.45%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.92₺43.66
$1.16₺55.0
-20.69%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.58₺27.48
$0.61₺29.10
-4.92%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.13₺101
$2.11₺100
0.95%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.48₺638
$12.49₺591
7.93%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.12₺100
$2.23₺106
-4.93%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.15₺149
$3.13₺148
0.64%
🚌 Getting Around
Eskisehir
Istanbul
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.65₺30.97
$0.67₺31.64
-2.99%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.08₺667
$54.9₺2,600
-74.35%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.05₺49.73
$1.05₺49.93
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.71₺33.47
$0.64₺30.13
10.94%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$9.11₺431
$9.02₺427
1.00%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.20₺57.0
$1.15₺54.4
4.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$45.0K₺2.1M
$46.2K₺2.2M
-2.62%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$43.0K₺2.0M
$42.6K₺2.0M
1.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Eskisehir
Istanbul
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$41.40₺1,961
$74.0₺3,506
-44.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.45₺589
$12.52₺593
-0.56%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$12.33₺584
$15.10₺715
-18.34%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Eskisehir
Istanbul
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$31.94₺1,513
$62.2₺2,944
-48.62%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.28₺1,197
$18.36₺870
37.69%
Cinema Ticket
$4.68₺222
$7.71₺365
-39.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Eskisehir
Istanbul
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$665₺31.5K
$933₺44.2K
-28.77%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,782₺368.6K
$18.3K₺866.1K
-57.44%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Eskisehir
Istanbul
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.7₺2,495
$56.5₺2,674
-6.69%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.14₺2,232
$46.66₺2,210
1.03%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$114₺5,421
$112₺5,293
2.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.9₺4,304
$105₺4,992
-13.78%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Eskisehir
Istanbul
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$463₺21.9K
$947₺44.8K
-51.07%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$373₺17.7K
$612₺29.0K
-39.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$978₺46.3K
$1,771₺83.9K
-44.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$714₺33.8K
$1,064₺50.4K
-32.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,287₺61.0K
$3,079₺145.8K
-58.19%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$853₺40.4K
$1,695₺80.3K
-49.68%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Eskisehir
Istanbul
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,007₺47.7K
$1,195₺56.6K
-15.75%
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 Eskisehir: July 25, 2026
Last update for Istanbul: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $463 in Eskisehir and $947 in Istanbul. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Istanbul pays 19% 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: $27.00 in Eskisehir vs $50.0 in Istanbul for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $247 vs $254 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 36% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Eskisehir or Istanbul?
On paper, salaries run 19% 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 Eskisehir and Istanbul?
Rent for a central apartment: $463 in Eskisehir versus $947 in Istanbul. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $665 in Eskisehir versus $933 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 in Istanbul?
Supermarket bills run roughly 3% 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 Eskisehir or in Istanbul?
At $1,047 in Eskisehir versus $1,422 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 – expenses run 36% less than in Istanbul. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.