Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Istanbul and Botkyrka

For one person, living is cheaper in Istanbul: $1,550 a month against $1,824 in Botkyrka, rent and utilities included – about $3,300 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Istanbul
🇹🇷 Turkey
$1,550
/mo nomad
Botkyrka
🇸🇪 Sweden
$1,824
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Istanbul and in Botkyrka

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,550 in Istanbul versus $1,824 in Botkyrka.

  • Istanbul $1,550
  • Botkyrka $1,824

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,415 in Istanbul versus $2,784 in Botkyrka.

  • Istanbul $2,415
  • Botkyrka $2,784

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,281 in Istanbul versus $3,743 in Botkyrka.

  • Istanbul $3,281
  • Botkyrka $3,743

Living in Istanbul costs roughly 15% less than in Botkyrka, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Istanbul 15% above, Botkyrka 35% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Istanbul
Botkyrka
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.30 ₺609
$13.85 SEK 137
-11.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$54.7 ₺2,708
$66.0 SEK 654
-17.13%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.22 ₺456
$10.03 SEK 99.4
-8.08%
Cappuccino
$4.40 ₺218
$4.34 SEK 43.04
1.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68 ₺83.1
$2.68 SEK 26.51
-37.31%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.59 ₺29.40
$2.23 SEK 22.06
-73.54%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.70 ₺233
$7.10 SEK 70.3
-33.80%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.91 ₺292
$7.02 SEK 69.6
-15.81%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Istanbul
Botkyrka
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.21 ₺60.0
$1.71 SEK 16.93
-29.24%
White Bread (500g)
$0.89 ₺44.10
$2.97 SEK 29.43
-70.03%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.19 ₺108
$3.69 SEK 36.61
-40.65%
Eggs
$2.35 ₺116
$5.02 SEK 49.70
-53.19%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.42 ₺516
$12.75 SEK 126
-18.27%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.65 ₺280
$12.87 SEK 127
-56.10%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.94 ₺1,037
$16.93 SEK 168
23.69%
Apples (1kg)
$1.90 ₺94.1
$3.13 SEK 31.05
-39.30%
Banana (1kg)
$2.31 ₺114
$2.64 SEK 26.16
-12.50%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.28 ₺63.1
$2.40 SEK 23.77
-46.67%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.80 ₺89.0
$4.45 SEK 44.09
-59.55%
Potato (1kg)
$0.65 ₺32.16
$1.61 SEK 15.90
-59.63%
Onion (1kg)
$0.64 ₺31.91
$1.81 SEK 17.91
-64.64%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.25 ₺62.1
$2.29 SEK 22.73
-45.41%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 ₺27.58
$0.88 SEK 8.75
-36.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.37 ₺118
$7.13 SEK 70.7
-66.76%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.42 ₺664
$10.08 SEK 99.9
33.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.40 ₺119
$1.98 SEK 19.62
21.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.48 ₺172
$2.30 SEK 22.79
51.30%
🚌 Getting Around
Istanbul
Botkyrka
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.89 ₺43.84
$3.21 SEK 31.78
-72.27%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$67.4 ₺3,338
$76.2 SEK 755
-11.54%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.29 ₺64.1
$6.02 SEK 59.6
-78.57%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.92 ₺45.70
$1.51 SEK 14.94
-39.07%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.96 ₺542
$56.5 SEK 560
-80.59%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.47 ₺72.9
$1.74 SEK 17.25
-15.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$50.8K ₺2.5M
$32.5K SEK 321.8K
56.35%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$44.5K ₺2.2M
$32.9K SEK 325.9K
35.38%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Istanbul
Botkyrka
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$88.6 ₺4,387
$171 SEK 1,698
-48.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.59 ₺574
$21.37 SEK 212
-45.77%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.81 ₺783
$40.19 SEK 398
-60.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Istanbul
Botkyrka
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$77.2 ₺3,820
$38.20 SEK 379
101.99%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.74 ₺1,126
$25.79 SEK 256
-11.83%
Cinema Ticket
$8.14 ₺403
$15.89 SEK 157
-48.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Istanbul
Botkyrka
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,008 ₺49.9K
$157 SEK 1,555
542.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$25.6K ₺1.3M
$4,884 SEK 48.4K
423.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Istanbul
Botkyrka
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.0 ₺2,671
$98.1 SEK 972
-44.98%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.83 ₺2,021
$53.8 SEK 533
-24.08%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.9 ₺4,895
$93.1 SEK 922
6.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$96.6 ₺4,783
$181 SEK 1,797
-46.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Istanbul
Botkyrka
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$985 ₺48.7K
$810 SEK 8,025
21.56%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$650 ₺32.2K
$603 SEK 5,978
7.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,983 ₺98.2K
$1,326 SEK 13.1K
49.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,180 ₺58.4K
$993 SEK 9,841
18.82%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,138 ₺155.4K
$4,046 SEK 40.1K
-22.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,780 ₺88.1K
$2,794 SEK 27.7K
-36.29%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Istanbul
Botkyrka
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,205 ₺59.7K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
40.92
2.8
1361.43%

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

Last update for Istanbul: October 13, 2026

Last update for Botkyrka: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Istanbul
$650
Botkyrka
$603 7.1% $46
Groceries & Markets
Istanbul
$260
Botkyrka
$361 39.1% $102
Eating Out
Istanbul
$223
Botkyrka
$262 17.4% $39
Clothing & Footwear
Istanbul
$131
Botkyrka
$192 46.9% $61
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Istanbul
$116
Botkyrka
$233 101% $117
Sport & Entertainment
Istanbul
$93
Botkyrka
$70 25.1% $23
Getting Around
Istanbul
$77
Botkyrka
$103 33.5% $26

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $985 in Istanbul and $810 in Botkyrka. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $55.0 in Istanbul vs $66.0 in Botkyrka for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $260 vs $361 per month, with Istanbul cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇹🇷 Istanbul
🇸🇪 Botkyrka
🕒 Local time
10:56 10:56 AM
09:56 9:56 AM
1 h behind Istanbul
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
15,701,602
95,238
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

SEK, 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).

Swedish Krona exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 9.91 SEK (1 SEK = 0.101 USD). 1 EUR = 11.14 SEK (100 SEK = 8.98 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Istanbul Botkyrka 2,170 km ≈ 3 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Istanbul
  • Botkyrka

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 Botkyrka: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Istanbul or Botkyrka?
Istanbul wins on cost – living expenses run 18% lower than in Botkyrka. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Istanbul the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Istanbul and in Botkyrka?
You'd need roughly $2,325 in Istanbul and $2,736 in Botkyrka 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 Botkyrka?
Rent for a central apartment: $985 in Istanbul versus $810 in Botkyrka. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Istanbul or in Botkyrka?
Supermarket bills run roughly 39% higher in Botkyrka. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Istanbul and in Botkyrka?
Dining out is cheaper in Istanbul – a meal for two runs $55.0 versus $66.0 in Botkyrka. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Istanbul or in Botkyrka?
At $1,550 in Istanbul versus $1,824 in Botkyrka, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Istanbul but tight or insufficient in Botkyrka. The gap between the two cities makes Istanbul the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Istanbul or Botkyrka?
Both work as nomad bases, but Istanbul delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,550 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Istanbul hard to pass up.
How safe is Istanbul compared to Botkyrka?
Safety-wise, Istanbul and Botkyrka 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 Istanbul gentler on the wallet – expenses run 18% less than in Botkyrka. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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