Cost of Living Comparison Between Iskenderun and Ankara Cost of Living Comparison Between Iskenderun and Ankara

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,144 per month in Iskenderun vs $1,285 in Ankara, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,765 per month in Iskenderun vs $1,864 in Ankara, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,386 per month in Iskenderun vs $2,443 in Ankara, rent included.

Iskenderun is about 11% cheaper than Ankara, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Iskenderun and Ankara are more affordable than the global median – Iskenderun 15% lower, Ankara 4% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.25 ₺282

$9.73 ₺439

-35.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$30.01 ₺1,355

$37.81 ₺1,707

-20.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.37 ₺378

$8.97 ₺405

-6.69%

Cappuccino

$2.91 ₺131

$3.21 ₺145

-9.35%

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

$1.43 ₺64.7

$1.22 ₺55.2

17.21%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.62 ₺28.08

$0.38 ₺17.18

63.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.92 ₺177

$3.24 ₺146

20.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.07 ₺229

$3.86 ₺174

31.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.01 ₺45.70

$0.96 ₺43.39

5.21%

White Bread (500g)

$0.83 ₺37.42

$0.67 ₺30.15

23.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.35 ₺106

$2.42 ₺109

-2.89%

Eggs

$2.05 ₺92.4

$2.36 ₺107

-13.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.34 ₺602

$9.30 ₺420

43.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.00 ₺271

$5.88 ₺265

2.04%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$21.22 ₺958

$19.51 ₺881

8.76%

Apples (1kg)

$1.21 ₺54.7

$1.51 ₺68.4

-19.87%

Banana (1kg)

$2.06 ₺93.2

$2.31 ₺104

-10.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.00 ₺45.26

$1.31 ₺59.0

-23.66%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ₺68.4

$1.53 ₺69.2

-0.65%

Potato (1kg)

$1.00 ₺45.12

$0.69 ₺30.96

44.93%

Onion (1kg)

$0.60 ₺27.14

$0.61 ₺27.71

-1.64%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.86 ₺39.04

$1.09 ₺49.13

-21.10%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.39 ₺17.82

$0.39 ₺17.61

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.22 ₺100.0

$2.11 ₺95.2

5.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.08 ₺500

$11.28 ₺509

-1.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.08 ₺93.9

$2.04 ₺92.1

1.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.96 ₺134

$3.18 ₺144

-6.92%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.62 ₺28.00

$0.67 ₺30.42

-7.46%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.55 ₺1,379

$9.46 ₺427

222.94%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.77 ₺34.83

$0.86 ₺38.62

-10.47%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.65 ₺29.26

$0.61 ₺27.51

6.56%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.45 ₺336

$6.36 ₺287

17.14%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 ₺50.0

$1.16 ₺52.6

-4.31%

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

$43.1K ₺1.9M

$43.2K ₺1.9M

-0.16%

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

$44.0K ₺2.0M

$44.1K ₺2.0M

-0.26%

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

$77.0 ₺3,475

$84.4 ₺3,808

-8.74%

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

$19.00 ₺858

$10.82 ₺488

75.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.87 ₺626

$13.76 ₺621

0.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.50 ₺1,963

$55.5 ₺2,503

-21.57%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.67 ₺662

Cinema Ticket

$5.86 ₺264

$6.48 ₺293

-9.57%

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

$461 ₺20.8K

$609 ₺27.5K

-24.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,107 ₺230.5K

$13.5K ₺609.7K

-62.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.6 ₺2,327

$57.7 ₺2,604

-10.63%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.07 ₺2,034

$44.43 ₺2,006

1.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$153 ₺6,900

$107 ₺4,826

42.99%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.3 ₺3,984

$97.9 ₺4,417

-9.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$516 ₺23.3K

$729 ₺32.9K

-29.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$395 ₺17.9K

$521 ₺23.5K

-24.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$892 ₺40.3K

$1,105 ₺49.9K

-19.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$719 ₺32.5K

$718 ₺32.4K

0.20%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,193 ₺53.9K

$1,610 ₺72.7K

-25.89%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,035 ₺46.7K

$1,124 ₺50.7K

-7.97%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,231 ₺55.6K

$1,048 ₺47.3K

17.52%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

48.4

-33.88%

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

Last update for Iskenderun: April 26, 2026

Last update for Ankara: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $516 in Iskenderun versus $729 in Ankara. 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 18% higher in Iskenderun, 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 $30.00 in Iskenderun versus $38.00 in Ankara. Groceries tell a different story – $251 in Iskenderun vs $237 in Ankara – so Ankara wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Iskenderun vs Ankara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ankara costs about 12% more than Iskenderun, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,716 per month in Iskenderun and $1,928 in Ankara. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Iskenderun, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $461 per month in Iskenderun and $609 in Ankara. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 6% cheaper in Ankara – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Iskenderun, where all-in costs run around $1,144, than in Ankara at $1,285. In Iskenderun it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ankara it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Iskenderun costs $1,144 versus $1,285 in Ankara. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Iskenderun. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ankara makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.