Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Gyongyos and Istanbul

For one person, living is cheaper in Gyongyos: $1,009 a month against $1,550 in Istanbul, rent and utilities included – about $6,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Gyongyos
🇭🇺 Hungary
$1,009
/mo nomad
Istanbul
🇹🇷 Turkey
$1,550
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Gyongyos and in Istanbul

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Gyongyos and in Istanbul actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,009 in Gyongyos versus $1,550 in Istanbul.

  • Gyongyos $1,009
  • Istanbul $1,550

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,637 in Gyongyos versus $2,415 in Istanbul.

  • Gyongyos $1,637
  • Istanbul $2,415

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,265 in Gyongyos versus $3,281 in Istanbul.

  • Gyongyos $2,265
  • Istanbul $3,281

Living in Gyongyos costs roughly 35% less than in Istanbul, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Gyongyos is 25% below, Istanbul is 15% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Gyongyos
Istanbul
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.98 Ft 2,902
$12.30 ₺609
-26.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.69 Ft 15.1K
$54.7 ₺2,708
-14.64%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.32 Ft 3,012
$9.22 ₺456
1.08%
Cappuccino
$2.18 Ft 704
$4.40 ₺218
-50.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50 Ft 484
$1.68 ₺83.1
-10.71%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10 Ft 356
$0.59 ₺29.40
86.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.26 Ft 730
$4.70 ₺233
-51.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18 Ft 704
$5.91 ₺292
-63.11%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Gyongyos
Istanbul
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.14 Ft 369
$1.21 ₺60.0
-5.79%
White Bread (500g)
$1.35 Ft 437
$0.89 ₺44.10
51.69%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.71 Ft 553
$2.19 ₺108
-21.92%
Eggs
$2.34 Ft 756
$2.35 ₺116
-0.43%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.71 Ft 3,462
$10.42 ₺516
2.78%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.42 Ft 2,075
$5.65 ₺280
13.63%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.40 Ft 4,008
$20.94 ₺1,037
-40.78%
Apples (1kg)
$1.67 Ft 540
$1.90 ₺94.1
-12.11%
Banana (1kg)
$1.98 Ft 639
$2.31 ₺114
-14.29%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.99 Ft 643
$1.28 ₺63.1
55.47%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.36 Ft 1,087
$1.80 ₺89.0
86.67%
Potato (1kg)
$0.98 Ft 317
$0.65 ₺32.16
50.77%
Onion (1kg)
$1.08 Ft 350
$0.64 ₺31.91
68.75%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.42 Ft 457
$1.25 ₺62.1
13.60%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 Ft 166
$0.56 ₺27.58
-8.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.46 Ft 2,410
$2.37 ₺118
214.77%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.22 Ft 1,688
$13.42 ₺664
-61.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.12 Ft 363
$2.40 ₺119
-53.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45 Ft 467
$3.48 ₺172
-58.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Gyongyos
Istanbul
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.75 Ft 242
$0.89 ₺43.84
-15.73%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.19 Ft 5,876
$67.4 ₺3,338
-73.02%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.08 Ft 997
$1.29 ₺64.1
138.76%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.08 Ft 349
$0.92 ₺45.70
17.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.58 Ft 6,003
$10.96 ₺542
69.53%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.80 Ft 582
$1.47 ₺72.9
22.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.1K Ft 8.4M
$50.8K ₺2.5M
-48.68%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.6K Ft 7.0M
$44.5K ₺2.2M
-51.42%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gyongyos
Istanbul
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$130 Ft 42.0K
$88.6 ₺4,387
46.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.85 Ft 7,060
$11.59 ₺574
88.52%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.48 Ft 5,970
$15.81 ₺783
16.89%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Gyongyos
Istanbul
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$34.34 Ft 11.1K
$77.2 ₺3,820
-55.50%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.94 Ft 2,888
$22.74 ₺1,126
-60.69%
Cinema Ticket
$6.22 Ft 2,009
$8.14 ₺403
-23.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Gyongyos
Istanbul
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$247 Ft 79.7K
$1,008 ₺49.9K
-75.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,713 Ft 2.2M
$25.6K ₺1.3M
-73.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Gyongyos
Istanbul
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.5 Ft 28.6K
$54.0 ₺2,671
63.97%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$15.38 Ft 4,968
$40.83 ₺2,021
-62.33%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.6 Ft 25.4K
$98.9 ₺4,895
-20.50%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.9 Ft 25.2K
$96.6 ₺4,783
-19.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Gyongyos
Istanbul
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$418 Ft 135.1K
$985 ₺48.7K
-57.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$270 Ft 87.2K
$650 ₺32.2K
-58.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$586 Ft 189.3K
$1,983 ₺98.2K
-70.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$585 Ft 189.1K
$1,180 ₺58.4K
-50.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,236 Ft 1.0M
$3,138 ₺155.4K
3.11%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,934 Ft 947.9K
$1,780 ₺88.1K
64.85%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Gyongyos
Istanbul
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$762 Ft 246.2K
$1,205 ₺59.7K
-36.79%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.67
40.92
-83.70%

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

Last update for Gyongyos: October 11, 2026

Last update for Istanbul: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Gyongyos
$270
Istanbul
$650 141% $380
Groceries & Markets
Gyongyos
$224
Istanbul
$260 16.2% $36
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gyongyos
$170
Istanbul
$116 31.9% $54
Eating Out
Gyongyos
$152
Istanbul
$223 46.9% $71
Clothing & Footwear
Gyongyos
$117
Istanbul
$131 11.5% $13
Sport & Entertainment
Gyongyos
$47
Istanbul
$93 99.7% $47
Getting Around
Gyongyos
$30
Istanbul
$77 159% $47

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $418 in Gyongyos and $985 in Istanbul. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Istanbul pays 58% 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: $47.00 in Gyongyos vs $55.0 in Istanbul for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $224 vs $260 per month, with Gyongyos cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇭🇺 Gyongyos
🇹🇷 Istanbul
🕒 Local time
00:50 12:50 AM
01:50 1:50 AM
1 h ahead of Gyongyos
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
27,645
15,701,602
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

TRY, USD, EUR to HUF – Hungarian Forint Converter

Hungarian Forint exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 323 HUF (1,000 HUF = 3.1 USD). 1 EUR = 363 HUF (1,000 HUF = 2.75 EUR).

Turkish Lira exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 49.51 TRY (100 TRY = 2.02 USD). 1 EUR = 55.66 TRY (100 TRY = 1.8 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Gyongyos Istanbul 1,040 km ≈ 1 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Gyongyos
  • Istanbul

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Gyongyos vs Istanbul: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Istanbul cheaper than Gyongyos?
Gyongyos is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and clothing. The 54% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Gyongyos or Istanbul?
On paper, salaries run 58% 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 Gyongyos and Istanbul?
Rent for a central apartment: $418 in Gyongyos versus $985 in Istanbul. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Gyongyos and in Istanbul?
Supermarket bills run roughly 16% higher in Istanbul. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Gyongyos or in Istanbul?
Dining out is cheaper in Gyongyos – a meal for two runs $47.00 versus $55.0 in Istanbul. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Gyongyos or in Istanbul?
At $1,009 in Gyongyos versus $1,550 in Istanbul, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Gyongyos but tight or insufficient in Istanbul. The gap between the two cities makes Gyongyos the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Gyongyos or Istanbul more family-friendly?
For families, Gyongyos 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, Gyongyos or Istanbul?
Safety-wise, Gyongyos 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 Gyongyos gentler on the wallet – expenses run 54% less than in Istanbul. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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