Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Istanbul and Berkane

For one person, living is cheaper in Berkane: $726 a month against $1,550 in Istanbul, rent and utilities included – about $9,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Istanbul
🇹🇷 Turkey
$1,550
/mo nomad
Berkane
🇲🇦 Morocco
$726
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Istanbul and in Berkane

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

A single person spends $1,550 per month in Istanbul vs $726 in Berkane, rent included.

  • Istanbul $1,550
  • Berkane $726

A couple spends around $2,415 per month in Istanbul vs $1,107 in Berkane, rent included.

  • Istanbul $2,415
  • Berkane $1,107

A family of three spends $3,281 per month in Istanbul vs $1,488 in Berkane, rent included.

  • Istanbul $3,281
  • Berkane $1,488

Istanbul costs about 114% more than Berkane, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Istanbul sits 15% above the global median, while Berkane is 46% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Istanbul
Berkane
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.30 ₺609
$6.39 MAD 62.3
92.49%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$54.7 ₺2,708
$17.13 MAD 167
219.32%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.22 ₺456
$5.94 MAD 57.9
55.22%
Cappuccino
$4.40 ₺218
$1.85 MAD 18.00
137.84%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68 ₺83.1
$0.56 MAD 5.48
200.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.59 ₺29.40
$0.37 MAD 3.58
59.46%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.70 ₺233
$3.71 MAD 36.20
26.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.91 ₺292
$3.55 MAD 34.59
66.48%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Istanbul
Berkane
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.21 ₺60.0
$0.91 MAD 8.85
32.97%
White Bread (500g)
$0.89 ₺44.10
$0.50 MAD 4.90
78.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.19 ₺108
$1.86 MAD 18.11
17.74%
Eggs
$2.35 ₺116
$1.91 MAD 18.58
23.04%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.42 ₺516
$8.88 MAD 86.6
17.34%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.65 ₺280
$6.18 MAD 60.2
-8.58%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.94 ₺1,037
$11.24 MAD 110
86.30%
Apples (1kg)
$1.90 ₺94.1
$1.50 MAD 14.63
26.67%
Banana (1kg)
$2.31 ₺114
$1.43 MAD 13.92
61.54%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.28 ₺63.1
$0.80 MAD 7.80
60.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.80 ₺89.0
$0.72 MAD 7.04
150.00%
Potato (1kg)
$0.65 ₺32.16
$0.71 MAD 6.95
-8.45%
Onion (1kg)
$0.64 ₺31.91
$0.73 MAD 7.13
-12.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.25 ₺62.1
$0.40 MAD 3.90
212.50%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 ₺27.58
$0.58 MAD 5.66
-3.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.37 ₺118
$4.15 MAD 40.42
-42.89%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.42 ₺664
$7.70 MAD 75.1
74.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.40 ₺119
$2.39 MAD 23.29
0.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.48 ₺172
$2.58 MAD 25.12
34.88%
🚌 Getting Around
Istanbul
Berkane
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.89 ₺43.84
$0.51 MAD 4.98
74.51%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$67.4 ₺3,338
$20.95 MAD 204
221.86%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.29 ₺64.1
$0.70 MAD 6.84
84.29%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.92 ₺45.70
$0.79 MAD 7.72
16.46%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.96 ₺542
$4.66 MAD 45.42
135.19%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.47 ₺72.9
$1.49 MAD 14.53
-1.34%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$50.8K ₺2.5M
$34.5K MAD 336.7K
47.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$44.5K ₺2.2M
$31.2K MAD 304.4K
42.62%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Istanbul
Berkane
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$88.6 ₺4,387
$33.23 MAD 324
166.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.59 ₺574
$10.07 MAD 98.2
15.09%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.81 ₺783
$36.36 MAD 355
-56.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Istanbul
Berkane
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$77.2 ₺3,820
$26.36 MAD 257
192.72%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.74 ₺1,126
$21.38 MAD 208
6.36%
Cinema Ticket
$8.14 ₺403
$5.18 MAD 50.5
57.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Istanbul
Berkane
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,008 ₺49.9K
$110 MAD 1,069
819.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$25.6K ₺1.3M
$5,704 MAD 55.6K
348.09%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Istanbul
Berkane
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.0 ₺2,671
$31.71 MAD 309
70.14%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.83 ₺2,021
$41.72 MAD 407
-2.13%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.9 ₺4,895
$86.1 MAD 839
14.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$96.6 ₺4,783
$64.6 MAD 630
49.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Istanbul
Berkane
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$985 ₺48.7K
$268 MAD 2,610
267.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$650 ₺32.2K
$173 MAD 1,682
276.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,983 ₺98.2K
$463 MAD 4,517
328.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,180 ₺58.4K
$271 MAD 2,638
336.19%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,138 ₺155.4K
$1,147 MAD 11.2K
173.51%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,780 ₺88.1K
$778 MAD 7,586
128.76%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Istanbul
Berkane
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,205 ₺59.7K
$273 MAD 2,663
341.27%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
40.92
4.55
799.34%

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

Last update for Istanbul: October 13, 2026

Last update for Berkane: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Istanbul
$650
Berkane
$173 73.4% $477
Groceries & Markets
Istanbul
$260
Berkane
$188 27.6% $72
Eating Out
Istanbul
$223
Berkane
$120 46% $103
Clothing & Footwear
Istanbul
$131
Berkane
$101 22.8% $30
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Istanbul
$116
Berkane
$80 31.3% $36
Sport & Entertainment
Istanbul
$93
Berkane
$37 60.7% $57
Getting Around
Istanbul
$77
Berkane
$28 64% $49

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $985 in Istanbul versus $268 in Berkane. 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 341% 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 $17.00 in Berkane. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $260 vs $188 – making Berkane the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇹🇷 Istanbul
🇲🇦 Berkane
🕒 Local time
18:13 6:13 PM
16:13 4:13 PM
2 h behind Istanbul
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
15,701,602
109,237
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

MAD, 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).

Moroccan Dirham exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 9.75 MAD (1 MAD = 0.103 USD). 1 EUR = 10.96 MAD (100 MAD = 9.12 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Istanbul Berkane 2,810 km ≈ 4 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Istanbul
  • Berkane

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 Berkane: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Berkane cheaper than Istanbul?
Yes – Istanbul is pricier by about 114%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,325 per month in Istanbul and $1,089 in Berkane. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Berkane, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Istanbul or in Berkane?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $55.0 in Istanbul and $17.00 in Berkane. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Istanbul and in Berkane?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,550 in Istanbul and $726 in Berkane. That's a gap of about 114%.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Istanbul or in Berkane?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Berkane, where all-in costs run around $726, than in Istanbul at $1,550. In Berkane it covers expenses comfortably, while in Istanbul it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Istanbul or Berkane more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Berkane – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Istanbul or Berkane?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Berkane. 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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