Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Istanbul and Annaba

For one person, living is cheaper in Annaba: $600 a month against $1,550 in Istanbul, rent and utilities included – about $11,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Istanbul
🇹🇷 Turkey
$1,550
/mo nomad
Annaba
🇩🇿 Algeria
$600
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Istanbul and in Annaba

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,550 in Istanbul versus $600 in Annaba.

  • Istanbul $1,550
  • Annaba $600

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,415 in Istanbul versus $978 in Annaba.

  • Istanbul $2,415
  • Annaba $978

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,281 in Istanbul versus $1,356 in Annaba.

  • Istanbul $3,281
  • Annaba $1,356

Living in Istanbul is roughly 158% more expensive than in Annaba, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Istanbul is 15% above, Annaba is 56% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Istanbul
Annaba
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.30 ₺609
$2.84 DZD 380
333.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$54.7 ₺2,708
$31.75 DZD 4,250
72.28%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.22 ₺456
$6.26 DZD 838
47.28%
Cappuccino
$4.40 ₺218
$0.67 DZD 90.2
556.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68 ₺83.1
$0.76 DZD 102
121.05%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.59 ₺29.40
$0.26 DZD 34.88
126.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.70 ₺233
$1.67 DZD 224
181.44%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.91 ₺292
$2.48 DZD 332
138.31%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Istanbul
Annaba
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.21 ₺60.0
$0.89 DZD 119
35.96%
White Bread (500g)
$0.89 ₺44.10
$0.25 DZD 33.43
256.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.19 ₺108
$1.56 DZD 209
40.38%
Eggs
$2.35 ₺116
$1.89 DZD 253
24.34%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.42 ₺516
$6.11 DZD 819
70.54%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.65 ₺280
$4.81 DZD 643
17.46%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.94 ₺1,037
$19.77 DZD 2,647
5.92%
Apples (1kg)
$1.90 ₺94.1
$2.02 DZD 271
-5.94%
Banana (1kg)
$2.31 ₺114
$3.30 DZD 441
-30.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.28 ₺63.1
$1.12 DZD 150
14.29%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.80 ₺89.0
$0.70 DZD 94.4
157.14%
Potato (1kg)
$0.65 ₺32.16
$0.65 DZD 87.3
-
Onion (1kg)
$0.64 ₺31.91
$0.40 DZD 53.4
60.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.25 ₺62.1
$0.50 DZD 66.6
150.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 ₺27.58
$0.36 DZD 47.65
55.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.37 ₺118
$2.96 DZD 397
-19.93%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.42 ₺664
$6.22 DZD 833
115.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.40 ₺119
$1.28 DZD 172
87.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.48 ₺172
$1.96 DZD 263
77.55%
🚌 Getting Around
Istanbul
Annaba
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.89 ₺43.84
$0.15 DZD 20.52
493.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$67.4 ₺3,338
$6.64 DZD 889
915.51%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.29 ₺64.1
$0.55 DZD 73.8
134.55%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.92 ₺45.70
$0.38 DZD 51.1
142.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.96 ₺542
$5.37 DZD 719
104.10%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.47 ₺72.9
$0.36 DZD 48.40
308.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$50.8K ₺2.5M
$31.3K DZD 4.2M
62.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$44.5K ₺2.2M
$33.6K DZD 4.5M
32.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Istanbul
Annaba
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$88.6 ₺4,387
$49.21 DZD 6,588
80.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.59 ₺574
$8.55 DZD 1,145
35.56%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.81 ₺783
$20.22 DZD 2,708
-21.81%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Istanbul
Annaba
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$77.2 ₺3,820
$21.18 DZD 2,835
264.31%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.74 ₺1,126
$4.59 DZD 614
395.42%
Cinema Ticket
$8.14 ₺403
$6.22 DZD 833
30.87%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Istanbul
Annaba
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,008 ₺49.9K
$37.38 DZD 5,005
2596.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$25.6K ₺1.3M
$4,801 DZD 642.8K
432.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Istanbul
Annaba
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.0 ₺2,671
$31.86 DZD 4,265
69.33%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.83 ₺2,021
$40.11 DZD 5,370
1.80%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.9 ₺4,895
$67.1 DZD 8,977
47.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$96.6 ₺4,783
$82.2 DZD 11.0K
17.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Istanbul
Annaba
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$985 ₺48.7K
$165 DZD 22.1K
495.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$650 ₺32.2K
$116 DZD 15.5K
460.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,983 ₺98.2K
$285 DZD 38.2K
595.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,180 ₺58.4K
$199 DZD 26.6K
494.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,138 ₺155.4K
$891 DZD 119.3K
252.06%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,780 ₺88.1K
$601 DZD 80.4K
196.19%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Istanbul
Annaba
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,205 ₺59.7K
$301 DZD 40.3K
300.63%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
40.92
5.75
611.65%

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

Last update for Istanbul: October 13, 2026

Last update for Annaba: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Istanbul
$650
Annaba
$116 82.2% $534
Groceries & Markets
Istanbul
$260
Annaba
$197 24.3% $63
Eating Out
Istanbul
$223
Annaba
$67 70% $156
Clothing & Footwear
Istanbul
$131
Annaba
$100 23.8% $31
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Istanbul
$116
Annaba
$78 32.8% $38
Sport & Entertainment
Istanbul
$93
Annaba
$34 64% $60
Getting Around
Istanbul
$77
Annaba
$9.7 87.4% $67

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $985 in Istanbul and $165 in Annaba. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Istanbul pays 301% 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: $55.0 in Istanbul vs $32.00 in Annaba for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $260 vs $197 per month, with Annaba cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇹🇷 Istanbul
🇩🇿 Annaba
🕒 Local time
09:43 9:43 AM
07:43 7:43 AM
2 h behind Istanbul
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
15,701,602
257,359
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

DZD, USD, EUR to TRY – Turkish Lira Converter

Turkish Lira exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 49.51 TRY (100 TRY = 2.02 USD). 1 EUR = 55.66 TRY (100 TRY = 1.8 EUR).

Algerian Dinar exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 134 DZD (1,000 DZD = 7.47 USD). 1 EUR = 151 DZD (1,000 DZD = 6.64 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Istanbul Annaba 1,890 km ≈ 2 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Istanbul
  • Annaba

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
Istanbul vs Annaba: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Annaba cheaper than Istanbul?
Annaba is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and clothing. The 158% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Istanbul or Annaba?
Average pay runs 301% higher in Istanbul, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Istanbul and Annaba?
Rent for a central apartment: $985 in Istanbul versus $165 in Annaba. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Annaba runs roughly 916% less than in Istanbul. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $1,008 in Istanbul versus $37.38 in Annaba. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Istanbul or in Annaba?
At $600 in Annaba versus $1,550 in Istanbul, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Annaba but tight or insufficient in Istanbul. The gap between the two cities makes Annaba the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Istanbul or Annaba more family-friendly?
For families, Annaba 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, Istanbul or Annaba?
Safety-wise, Istanbul and Annaba 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 Annaba gentler on the wallet – expenses run 158% less than in Istanbul. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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