😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,527 in Istanbul versus $1,039 in Afyonkarahisar.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,348 in Istanbul versus $1,610 in Afyonkarahisar.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,170 in Istanbul versus $2,182 in Afyonkarahisar.
🌍Living in Istanbul is roughly 47% more expensive than in Afyonkarahisar, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Istanbul is 12% above, Afyonkarahisar is 24% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Istanbul
Afyonkarahisar
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.39₺507
$8.33₺406
24.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$51.3₺2,502
$31.29₺1,526
63.92%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.40₺459
$7.05₺344
33.33%
Cappuccino
$4.09₺200
$3.44₺168
18.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.65₺80.3
$0.97₺47.26
70.10%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.57₺27.72
$0.38₺18.45
50.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.10₺200
$2.29₺112
79.04%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.09₺297
$3.07₺150
98.37%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Istanbul
Afyonkarahisar
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.27₺62.1
$1.00₺48.59
27.00%
White Bread(500g)
$0.90₺43.73
$0.83₺40.26
8.43%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.36₺115
$2.19₺107
7.76%
Eggs
$2.43₺119
$2.32₺113
4.74%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.41₺508
$10.10₺493
3.07%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.21₺254
$5.25₺256
-0.76%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$20.70₺1,010
$19.36₺945
6.92%
Apples(1kg)
$1.96₺95.8
$1.76₺85.8
11.36%
Banana(1kg)
$2.14₺105
$1.94₺94.4
10.31%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.17₺57.2
$1.04₺50.7
12.50%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.95₺95.2
$1.31₺63.8
48.85%
Potato(1kg)
$0.63₺30.68
$0.58₺28.06
8.62%
Onion(1kg)
$0.56₺27.43
$0.42₺20.28
33.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.10₺53.5
$0.75₺36.78
46.67%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.62₺30.18
$0.72₺35.16
-13.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.33₺114
$2.11₺103
10.43%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.57₺662
$12.56₺613
8.04%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.40₺117
$2.06₺101
16.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.31₺161
$2.06₺100
60.68%
🚌 Getting Around
Istanbul
Afyonkarahisar
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.89₺43.54
$0.69₺33.71
28.99%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$66.6₺3,251
$33.82₺1,650
97.04%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.38₺67.1
$1.05₺51.1
31.43%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.92₺44.94
$0.90₺43.78
2.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$10.69₺521
$7.27₺355
47.04%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35₺65.8
$1.23₺60.1
9.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$52.3K₺2.6M
$42.9K₺2.1M
21.86%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$43.4K₺2.1M
$40.7K₺2.0M
6.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Istanbul
Afyonkarahisar
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$89.1₺4,347
$81.2₺3,963
9.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.64₺568
$11.26₺549
3.37%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.20₺790
$13.47₺657
20.27%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Istanbul
Afyonkarahisar
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$73.5₺3,583
$52.1₺2,540
41.09%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.02₺1,123
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.42₺411
$6.07₺296
38.71%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Istanbul
Afyonkarahisar
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$972₺47.4K
$575₺28.0K
69.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$27.4K₺1.3M
$11.7K₺570.0K
134.69%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Istanbul
Afyonkarahisar
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.2₺2,593
$43.58₺2,126
21.96%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.88₺1,848
$35.33₺1,724
7.22%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103₺5,017
$82.9₺4,045
24.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$95.2₺4,643
$99.6₺4,858
-4.44%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Istanbul
Afyonkarahisar
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$962₺46.9K
$410₺20.0K
134.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$651₺31.8K
$309₺15.1K
110.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,957₺95.5K
$763₺37.2K
156.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,146₺55.9K
$579₺28.3K
97.93%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,985₺145.6K
$1,321₺64.4K
126.04%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,689₺82.4K
$1,048₺51.1K
61.21%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Istanbul
Afyonkarahisar
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,180₺57.6K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
41.26
42.67
-3.30%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Istanbul: September 14, 2026
Last update for Afyonkarahisar: September 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $962 in Istanbul and $410 in Afyonkarahisar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $51.0 in Istanbul vs $31.00 in Afyonkarahisar for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $258 vs $236 per month, with Afyonkarahisar 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
Istanbul vs Afyonkarahisar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Istanbul or Afyonkarahisar?
Afyonkarahisar wins on cost – living expenses run 47% lower than in Istanbul. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Afyonkarahisar the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Istanbul and in Afyonkarahisar?
You'd need roughly $2,290 in Istanbul and $1,558 in Afyonkarahisar to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Istanbul compared to Afyonkarahisar?
Rent for a central apartment: $962 in Istanbul versus $410 in Afyonkarahisar. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Istanbul and in Afyonkarahisar?
Childcare runs $972 in Istanbul versus $575 in Afyonkarahisar. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Istanbul or in Afyonkarahisar?
Supermarket bills run roughly 9% higher in Istanbul. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Istanbul or in Afyonkarahisar?
At $1,039 in Afyonkarahisar versus $1,527 in Istanbul, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Afyonkarahisar but tight or insufficient in Istanbul. The gap between the two cities makes Afyonkarahisar the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Istanbul or Afyonkarahisar?
Both work as nomad bases, but Afyonkarahisar delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,039 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Afyonkarahisar hard to pass up.
How safe is Istanbul compared to Afyonkarahisar?
Safety-wise, Istanbul and Afyonkarahisar 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Afyonkarahisar gentler on the wallet – expenses run 47% less than in Istanbul. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.