Cost of Living Comparison Between Iran and Turkey Cost of Living Comparison Between Iran and Turkey

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $517 per month in Iran vs $1,081 in Turkey, rent included.

A couple spends around $826 per month in Iran vs $1,675 in Turkey, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,134 per month in Iran vs $2,268 in Turkey, rent included.

The cost of living in Iran is roughly 52% lower than in Turkey on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Both Iran and Turkey are more affordable than the global median – Iran 61% lower, Turkey 19% lower.

The regional cost range is wider in Turkey ($879$1,733) than in Iran ($406$692), so city choice matters more there.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Iran
Turkey
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.48 $3.48
$8.90 ₺420
-60.90%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.86 $18.86
$37.67 ₺1,776
-49.93%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.94 $3.94
$7.72 ₺364
-48.96%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.71 $0.71
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.08 $1.08
-
-
Cappuccino
$1.15 $1.15
$3.33 ₺157
-65.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.58 $0.58
$1.34 ₺63.1
-56.72%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.89 $0.89
$0.48 ₺22.73
85.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.59 ₺169
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.45 ₺210
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Iran
Turkey
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.63 $0.63
$0.99 ₺46.49
-36.36%
White Bread (500g)
$0.48 $0.48
$0.81 ₺38.28
-40.74%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.11 $2.11
$2.18 ₺103
-3.21%
Eggs
$1.16 $1.16
$2.31 ₺109
-49.78%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$3.79 $3.79
$9.86 ₺465
-61.56%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.02 $3.02
$5.71 ₺269
-47.11%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.29 $9.29
$19.55 ₺922
-52.48%
Apples (1kg)
$0.85 $0.85
$1.34 ₺63.1
-36.57%
Banana (1kg)
$1.45 $1.45
$2.28 ₺107
-36.40%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.94 $0.94
$1.23 ₺57.9
-23.58%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.58 $0.58
$1.53 ₺72.1
-62.09%
Potato (1kg)
$0.55 $0.55
$0.72 ₺34.00
-23.61%
Onion (1kg)
$0.48 $0.48
$0.61 ₺28.94
-21.31%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.52 $0.52
$1.04 ₺49.23
-50.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.24 $0.24
$0.47 ₺22.32
-48.94%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$0.82 $0.82
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.58 $0.58
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.40 $1.40
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.98 $1.98
$2.14 ₺101
-7.48%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$11.22 ₺529
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$2.13 ₺100
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.97 ₺140
-
🚌 Getting Around
Iran
Turkey
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.22 $0.22
$0.72 ₺33.83
-69.44%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$10.17 $10.17
$46.57 ₺2,196
-78.16%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.52 $0.52
$1.09 ₺51.5
-52.29%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.31 $0.31
$0.66 ₺31.07
-53.03%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.43 $2.43
$7.77 ₺367
-68.73%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.72 $0.72
$1.17 ₺55.2
-38.46%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$72.6K $72.6K
$42.5K ₺2.0M
71.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$58.6K $58.6K
$43.2K ₺2.0M
35.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Iran
Turkey
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$15.81 $15.81
$69.0 ₺3,256
-77.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$2.13 $2.13
$10.86 ₺512
-80.39%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.70 $7.70
$14.06 ₺663
-45.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Iran
Turkey
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$17.24 $17.24
$49.31 ₺2,326
-65.04%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.72 $11.72
$18.14 ₺856
-35.39%
Cinema Ticket
$1.53 $1.53
$6.47 ₺305
-76.35%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Iran
Turkey
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$94.4 $94.4
$637 ₺30.1K
-85.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,293 $1,293
$12.9K ₺607.8K
-89.97%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Iran
Turkey
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$26.84 $26.84
$54.5 ₺2,569
-50.73%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.51 $31.51
$44.31 ₺2,090
-28.89%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$111 $111
$108 ₺5,071
3.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$65.7 $65.7
$94.7 ₺4,468
-30.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Iran
Turkey
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$302 $302
$646 ₺30.5K
-53.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$213 $213
$445 ₺21.0K
-52.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$664 $664
$1,173 ₺55.3K
-43.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$427 $427
$722 ₺34.0K
-40.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$986 $986
$1,740 ₺82.1K
-43.33%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$583 $583
$1,058 ₺49.9K
-44.88%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Iran
Turkey
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$244 $244
$1,087 ₺51.2K
-77.51%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
22.87
42.38
-46.04%

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

Last update for Iran: July 12, 2026

Last update for Turkey: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $294 in Iran vs $527 in Turkey. For reference, capital cities sit at $491 in Tehran and $726 in Ankara.

Average salary: $267 in Iran vs $1,041 in Turkey. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 79% higher in Turkey.

Dining out costs 76% more in Turkey.

Public transport is 210% more expensive in Turkey.

Salaries are 290% higher in Turkey, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Turkey.

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
Iran vs Turkey: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which country is cheaper: Iran or Turkey?
Iran is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 138% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.
Is rent more expensive in Iran or in Turkey?
Housing costs more in Turkey, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but Turkey consistently has higher rents.
How do daily expenses compare in Iran vs Turkey?
Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Iran, contributing to the overall 138% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
Can you live in both Iran and Turkey on $800 per month?
$800 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Iran, but in Turkey it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.
Which country is better for expats: Iran or Turkey?
Iran is the budget-friendly choice for expats – lower housing and daily costs. But cost isn't everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.

Iran vs other spots: cost of living compared

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