Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Istanbul and Bejaia

For one person, living is cheaper in Bejaia: $447 a month against $1,550 in Istanbul, rent and utilities included – about $13,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Istanbul
🇹🇷 Turkey
$1,550
/mo nomad
Bejaia
🇩🇿 Algeria
$447
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Istanbul and in Bejaia

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 Bejaia actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,550 per month in Istanbul vs $447 in Bejaia, rent included.

  • Istanbul $1,550
  • Bejaia $447

A couple spends around $2,415 per month in Istanbul vs $757 in Bejaia, rent included.

  • Istanbul $2,415
  • Bejaia $757

A family of three spends $3,281 per month in Istanbul vs $1,066 in Bejaia, rent included.

  • Istanbul $3,281
  • Bejaia $1,066

Istanbul costs about 247% more than Bejaia, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Istanbul sits 15% above the global median, while Bejaia is 67% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Istanbul
Bejaia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.30 ₺609
$2.33 DZD 312
427.90%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$54.7 ₺2,708
$13.20 DZD 1,767
314.39%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.22 ₺456
$4.27 DZD 571
115.93%
Cappuccino
$4.40 ₺218
$0.24 DZD 32.31
1733.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68 ₺83.1
$0.57 DZD 76.1
194.74%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.59 ₺29.40
$0.19 DZD 24.81
210.53%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.70 ₺233
$0.64 DZD 86.4
634.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.91 ₺292
$1.06 DZD 141
457.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Istanbul
Bejaia
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.21 ₺60.0
$0.82 DZD 110
47.56%
White Bread (500g)
$0.89 ₺44.10
$0.13 DZD 16.87
584.62%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.19 ₺108
$1.11 DZD 148
97.30%
Eggs
$2.35 ₺116
$1.18 DZD 158
99.15%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.42 ₺516
$5.99 DZD 802
73.96%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.65 ₺280
$4.01 DZD 537
40.90%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.94 ₺1,037
$14.05 DZD 1,881
49.04%
Apples (1kg)
$1.90 ₺94.1
$2.03 DZD 271
-6.40%
Banana (1kg)
$2.31 ₺114
$1.94 DZD 260
19.07%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.28 ₺63.1
$1.06 DZD 142
20.75%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.80 ₺89.0
$0.90 DZD 121
100.00%
Potato (1kg)
$0.65 ₺32.16
$0.62 DZD 83.0
4.84%
Onion (1kg)
$0.64 ₺31.91
$0.42 DZD 56.2
52.38%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.25 ₺62.1
$0.79 DZD 106
58.23%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 ₺27.58
$0.25 DZD 33.34
124.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.37 ₺118
$2.60 DZD 348
-8.85%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.42 ₺664
$6.80 DZD 910
97.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.40 ₺119
$1.29 DZD 172
86.05%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.48 ₺172
$1.15 DZD 154
202.61%
🚌 Getting Around
Istanbul
Bejaia
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.89 ₺43.84
$0.39 DZD 52.4
128.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$67.4 ₺3,338
$17.09 DZD 2,288
294.56%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.29 ₺64.1
$0.58 DZD 77.8
122.41%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.92 ₺45.70
$0.46 DZD 62.2
100.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.96 ₺542
$5.67 DZD 760
93.30%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.47 ₺72.9
$0.33 DZD 43.78
345.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$50.8K ₺2.5M
$34.6K DZD 4.6M
46.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$44.5K ₺2.2M
$33.7K DZD 4.5M
32.24%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Istanbul
Bejaia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$88.6 ₺4,387
$43.15 DZD 5,777
105.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.59 ₺574
$9.44 DZD 1,264
22.78%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.81 ₺783
$12.22 DZD 1,636
29.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Istanbul
Bejaia
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$77.2 ₺3,820
$16.48 DZD 2,206
368.20%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.74 ₺1,126
$5.68 DZD 761
300.35%
Cinema Ticket
$8.14 ₺403
$2.95 DZD 395
175.93%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Istanbul
Bejaia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,008 ₺49.9K
$115 DZD 15.4K
777.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$25.6K ₺1.3M
$2,274 DZD 304.5K
1023.89%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Istanbul
Bejaia
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.0 ₺2,671
$32.19 DZD 4,310
67.60%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.83 ₺2,021
$34.97 DZD 4,682
16.76%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.9 ₺4,895
$56.2 DZD 7,522
75.97%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$96.6 ₺4,783
$56.2 DZD 7,524
71.89%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Istanbul
Bejaia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$985 ₺48.7K
$94.8 DZD 12.7K
938.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$650 ₺32.2K
$54.5 DZD 7,294
1092.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,983 ₺98.2K
$228 DZD 30.5K
769.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,180 ₺58.4K
$191 DZD 25.6K
516.99%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,138 ₺155.4K
$4,469 DZD 598.3K
-29.78%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,780 ₺88.1K
$3,822 DZD 511.6K
-53.43%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Istanbul
Bejaia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,205 ₺59.7K
$208 DZD 27.9K
478.75%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
40.92
5.3
672.08%

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

Last update for Istanbul: October 13, 2026

Last update for Bejaia: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Istanbul
$650
Bejaia
$54 91.6% $595
Groceries & Markets
Istanbul
$260
Bejaia
$160 38.2% $99
Eating Out
Istanbul
$223
Bejaia
$43 80.9% $181
Clothing & Footwear
Istanbul
$131
Bejaia
$81 38.1% $50
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Istanbul
$116
Bejaia
$65 44.1% $51
Sport & Entertainment
Istanbul
$93
Bejaia
$22 76% $71
Getting Around
Istanbul
$77
Bejaia
$22 72% $55

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $985 in Istanbul versus $94.8 in Bejaia. 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 479% higher in Istanbul, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $55.0 in Istanbul versus $13.00 in Bejaia. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $260 vs $160 – making Bejaia the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇹🇷 Istanbul
🇩🇿 Bejaia
🕒 Local time
10:21 10:21 AM
08:21 8:21 AM
2 h behind Istanbul
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
15,701,602
177,988
💱 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 Bejaia 2,120 km ≈ 3 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Istanbul
  • Bejaia

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 Bejaia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Istanbul or Bejaia?
Istanbul costs about 247% more than Bejaia, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from eating out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Istanbul and in Bejaia?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,325 per month in Istanbul and $671 in Bejaia. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Istanbul or Bejaia?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Bejaia, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How expensive is transport in Istanbul compared to Bejaia?
Public transport costs about 295% less in Bejaia. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How do childcare costs compare in Istanbul and in Bejaia?
Kindergarten costs $1,008 per month in Istanbul and $115 in Bejaia. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Istanbul or in Bejaia?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Bejaia, where all-in costs run around $447, than in Istanbul at $1,550. In Bejaia it covers expenses comfortably, while in Istanbul it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Istanbul or Bejaia?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Bejaia costs $447 versus $1,550 in Istanbul. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Istanbul compared to Bejaia?
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.
Should I move to Istanbul or to Bejaia?
If budget matters most, go with Bejaia. 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.

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