Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Istanbul and Coimbra

For one person, living costs are similar in Istanbul and in Coimbra: $1,526 and $1,540 a month, rent and utilities included.

Istanbul
🇹🇷 Turkey
$1,526
/mo nomad
Coimbra
🇵🇹 Portugal
$1,540
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Istanbul and in Coimbra

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,526 in Istanbul versus $1,540 in Coimbra.

  • Istanbul $1,526
  • Coimbra $1,540

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,399 in Istanbul versus $2,306 in Coimbra.

  • Istanbul $2,399
  • Coimbra $2,306

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,272 in Istanbul versus $3,073 in Coimbra.

  • Istanbul $3,272
  • Coimbra $3,073

Living in Istanbul costs roughly 1% less than in Coimbra, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in leisure.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Istanbul 14% above, Coimbra 15% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Istanbul
Coimbra
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.88 ₺585
$13.49 €12.04
-11.93%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$55.1 ₺2,714
$47.04 €41.98
17.11%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.14 ₺450
$9.91 €8.84
-7.77%
Cappuccino
$4.24 ₺209
$1.95 €1.74
117.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75 ₺86.0
$1.97 €1.76
-11.17%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.54 ₺26.83
$1.59 €1.42
-66.04%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.69 ₺231
$2.23 €1.99
110.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.97 ₺294
$3.44 €3.07
73.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Istanbul
Coimbra
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.26 ₺62.1
$1.03 €0.92
22.33%
White Bread (500g)
$0.95 ₺46.81
$1.57 €1.40
-39.49%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.31 ₺114
$1.71 €1.53
35.09%
Eggs
$2.47 ₺122
$3.26 €2.91
-24.23%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.55 ₺520
$11.90 €10.62
-11.34%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.60 ₺276
$7.58 €6.77
-26.12%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$21.21 ₺1,045
$14.25 €12.71
48.84%
Apples (1kg)
$1.93 ₺95.1
$2.30 €2.05
-16.09%
Banana (1kg)
$2.29 ₺113
$1.59 €1.42
44.03%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.28 ₺63.1
$1.99 €1.77
-35.68%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.84 ₺90.8
$3.04 €2.71
-39.47%
Potato (1kg)
$0.67 ₺32.86
$1.63 €1.46
-58.90%
Onion (1kg)
$0.59 ₺29.31
$2.06 €1.84
-71.36%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.33 ₺65.4
$1.62 €1.44
-17.90%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.59 ₺29.10
$0.72 €0.65
-18.06%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.36 ₺116
$6.31 €5.63
-62.60%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.47 ₺664
$5.90 €5.26
128.31%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.42 ₺119
$1.27 €1.13
90.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.54 ₺174
$2.18 €1.94
62.39%
🚌 Getting Around
Istanbul
Coimbra
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.83 ₺40.64
$1.93 €1.73
-56.99%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$66.5 ₺3,273
$33.99 €30.33
95.50%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.35 ₺66.6
$4.44 €3.96
-69.59%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.85 ₺42.05
$1.40 €1.25
-39.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.86 ₺535
$14.25 €12.72
-23.79%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.47 ₺72.3
$2.24 €2.00
-34.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$51.6K ₺2.5M
$33.5K €29.9K
54.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$44.4K ₺2.2M
$38.2K €34.1K
16.49%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Istanbul
Coimbra
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$89.2 ₺4,395
$137 €122
-34.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.60 ₺572
$22.05 €19.68
-47.39%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.10 ₺793
$32.09 €28.63
-49.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Istanbul
Coimbra
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$77.3 ₺3,805
$43.96 €39.23
75.73%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.66 ₺1,116
$11.99 €10.70
88.99%
Cinema Ticket
$8.34 ₺411
$8.60 €7.67
-3.02%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Istanbul
Coimbra
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$974 ₺48.0K
$721 €643
35.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$25.8K ₺1.3M
$10.7K €9,570
140.34%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Istanbul
Coimbra
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.7 ₺2,597
$95.3 €85.0
-44.66%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.16 ₺1,929
$37.26 €33.25
5.10%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 ₺5,083
$94.1 €84.0
9.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$96.6 ₺4,759
$116 €103
-16.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Istanbul
Coimbra
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$994 ₺49.0K
$873 €779
13.84%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$629 ₺31.0K
$652 €582
-3.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,024 ₺99.7K
$1,511 €1,348
34.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,155 ₺56.9K
$1,040 €928
11.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,160 ₺155.7K
$2,737 €2,442
15.47%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,838 ₺90.5K
$1,222 €1,091
50.34%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Istanbul
Coimbra
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,203 ₺59.3K
$1,319 €1,177
-8.78%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
41.09
3.83
972.85%

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

Last update for Istanbul: October 3, 2026

Last update for Coimbra: October 5, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Istanbul
$629
Coimbra
$652 3.6% $22
Groceries & Markets
Istanbul
$264
Coimbra
$253 4.1% $11
Eating Out
Istanbul
$218
Coimbra
$193 11.3% $25
Clothing & Footwear
Istanbul
$131
Coimbra
$154 17.3% $23
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Istanbul
$117
Coimbra
$191 63.2% $74
Sport & Entertainment
Istanbul
$94
Coimbra
$61 34.9% $33
Getting Around
Istanbul
$75
Coimbra
$53 29.4% $22

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $994 in Istanbul and $873 in Coimbra. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Coimbra pays 10% 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 $47.00 in Coimbra for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $264 vs $253 per month, with Coimbra cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇹🇷 Istanbul
🇵🇹 Coimbra
🕒 Local time
13:19 1:19 PM
11:19 11:19 AM
2 h behind Istanbul
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
15,701,602
140,838
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR, USD to TRY – Turkish Lira Converter

Turkish Lira exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 49.26 TRY (100 TRY = 2.03 USD). 1 EUR = 55.2 TRY (100 TRY = 1.81 EUR).

Euro exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 0.892 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Istanbul Coimbra 3,130 km ≈ 4 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Istanbul
  • Coimbra

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 Coimbra: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Coimbra cheaper than Istanbul?
Istanbul is cheaper overall, especially in clothing and utilities. The 1% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Istanbul or Coimbra?
On paper, salaries run 10% lower in Coimbra. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Istanbul and Coimbra?
Rent for a central apartment: $994 in Istanbul versus $873 in Coimbra. 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 Istanbul runs roughly 95% less than in Coimbra. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $974 in Istanbul versus $721 in Coimbra. 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 Coimbra?
At $1,526 in Istanbul versus $1,540 in Coimbra, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Istanbul but tight or insufficient in Coimbra. The gap between the two cities makes Istanbul the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Istanbul or Coimbra more family-friendly?
For families, Istanbul is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Coimbra, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Istanbul or Coimbra?
Safety-wise, Istanbul and Coimbra 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 Istanbul gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Coimbra. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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