Cost of Living Comparison Between Istanbul and Amasya Cost of Living Comparison Between Istanbul and Amasya

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,527 per month in Istanbul vs $1,109 in Amasya, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,348 per month in Istanbul vs $1,769 in Amasya, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,170 per month in Istanbul vs $2,428 in Amasya, rent included.

Istanbul costs about 38% more than Amasya, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Istanbul sits 12% above the global median, while Amasya is 19% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.39 ₺507

$10.47 ₺510

-0.76%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$51.3 ₺2,501

$41.80 ₺2,038

22.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.40 ₺458

$9.54 ₺465

-1.47%

Cappuccino

$4.09 ₺200

$4.05 ₺198

0.99%

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

$1.65 ₺80.3

$1.72 ₺84.1

-4.07%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.57 ₺27.71

$0.73 ₺35.75

-21.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.10 ₺200

$5.27 ₺257

-22.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.09 ₺297

$5.86 ₺286

3.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 ₺62.1

$1.16 ₺56.8

9.48%

White Bread (500g)

$0.90 ₺43.71

$0.91 ₺44.50

-1.10%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.36 ₺115

Eggs

$2.43 ₺119

$2.53 ₺123

-3.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.41 ₺508

$10.16 ₺495

2.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.21 ₺254

$5.46 ₺266

-4.58%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.70 ₺1,009

$20.05 ₺978

3.24%

Apples (1kg)

$1.96 ₺95.7

$2.04 ₺99.3

-3.92%

Banana (1kg)

$2.14 ₺104

$2.23 ₺109

-4.04%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.17 ₺57.2

$1.33 ₺64.8

-12.03%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.95 ₺95.2

$1.60 ₺77.8

21.87%

Potato (1kg)

$0.63 ₺30.66

$0.61 ₺29.65

3.28%

Onion (1kg)

$0.56 ₺27.42

$0.54 ₺26.52

3.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.10 ₺53.5

$1.08 ₺52.9

1.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.62 ₺30.17

$0.66 ₺31.95

-6.06%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.33 ₺114

$2.22 ₺108

4.95%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.57 ₺662

$12.33 ₺601

10.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.40 ₺117

$2.25 ₺110

6.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.31 ₺161

$3.20 ₺156

3.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ₺43.53

$0.73 ₺35.69

21.92%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$66.6 ₺3,250

$33.66 ₺1,641

97.98%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.38 ₺67.1

$1.26 ₺61.5

9.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.92 ₺44.92

$0.77 ₺37.42

19.48%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.69 ₺521

$6.65 ₺324

60.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 ₺65.8

$1.28 ₺62.6

5.47%

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

$52.3K ₺2.5M

$49.1K ₺2.4M

6.43%

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

$43.4K ₺2.1M

$42.2K ₺2.1M

2.93%

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

$89.1 ₺4,346

$87.8 ₺4,282

1.48%

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

$11.64 ₺567

$10.93 ₺533

6.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.20 ₺790

$17.48 ₺852

-7.32%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$73.5 ₺3,581

$53.3 ₺2,600

37.75%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.02 ₺1,123

Cinema Ticket

$8.42 ₺410

$8.27 ₺403

1.81%

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

$972 ₺47.4K

$1,045 ₺51.0K

-7.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$27.4K ₺1.3M

$18.9K ₺923.9K

44.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.2 ₺2,592

$49.91 ₺2,433

6.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.88 ₺1,847

$50.5 ₺2,462

-24.99%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 ₺5,014

$101 ₺4,936

1.60%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$95.2 ₺4,641

$97.2 ₺4,738

-2.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$962 ₺46.9K

$407 ₺19.8K

136.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$651 ₺31.7K

$306 ₺14.9K

112.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,957 ₺95.4K

$767 ₺37.4K

155.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,146 ₺55.9K

$578 ₺28.2K

98.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,985 ₺145.6K

$1,305 ₺63.6K

128.72%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,689 ₺82.4K

$1,038 ₺50.6K

62.75%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,180 ₺57.6K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

41.26

43.33

-4.78%

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

Last update for Istanbul: September 14, 2026

Last update for Amasya: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $962 in Istanbul versus $407 in Amasya. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $51.0 in Istanbul versus $42.00 in Amasya. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $258 vs $253 – making Amasya the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Amasya: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Istanbul is pricier by about 38%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,290 per month in Istanbul and $1,663 in Amasya. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,527 in Istanbul and $1,109 in Amasya. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 98% less in Amasya. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Amasya, where all-in costs run around $1,109, than in Istanbul at $1,527. In Amasya it covers expenses comfortably, while in Istanbul it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Amasya – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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