😐A single person spends $1,527 per month in Istanbul vs $1,013 in Erzincan, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,348 per month in Istanbul vs $1,551 in Erzincan, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,170 per month in Istanbul vs $2,090 in Erzincan, rent included.
😐Istanbul costs about 51% more than Erzincan, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Istanbul sits 12% above the global median, while Erzincan is 26% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Istanbul
Erzincan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.39₺507
$7.52₺367
38.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$51.3₺2,502
$30.78₺1,502
66.63%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.40₺459
$7.85₺383
19.75%
Cappuccino
$4.09₺200
$3.34₺163
22.46%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.65₺80.3
$1.09₺53.2
51.38%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.57₺27.72
$0.37₺18.20
54.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.10₺200
$2.80₺137
46.43%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.09₺297
$3.66₺179
66.39%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Istanbul
Erzincan
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.27₺62.1
$1.02₺49.97
24.51%
White Bread(500g)
$0.90₺43.73
$0.92₺45.08
-2.17%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.36₺115
$2.19₺107
7.76%
Eggs
$2.43₺119
$2.06₺101
17.96%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.41₺508
$9.21₺449
13.03%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.21₺254
$4.08₺199
27.70%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$20.70₺1,010
$20.25₺988
2.22%
Apples(1kg)
$1.96₺95.8
$1.87₺91.4
4.81%
Banana(1kg)
$2.14₺105
$1.89₺92.3
13.23%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.17₺57.2
$1.05₺51.0
11.43%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.95₺95.2
$1.26₺61.4
54.76%
Potato(1kg)
$0.63₺30.68
$0.50₺24.19
26.00%
Onion(1kg)
$0.56₺27.43
$0.39₺18.78
43.59%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.10₺53.5
$0.85₺41.34
29.41%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.62₺30.18
$0.64₺31.11
-3.13%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.33₺114
$2.21₺108
5.43%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.57₺662
$10.31₺503
31.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.40₺117
$2.05₺100
17.07%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.31₺161
$2.86₺140
15.73%
🚌 Getting Around
Istanbul
Erzincan
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.89₺43.54
$0.73₺35.66
21.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$66.6₺3,251
$34.08₺1,662
95.54%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.38₺67.1
$1.35₺66.1
2.22%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.92₺44.94
$0.84₺41.03
9.52%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$10.69₺521
$5.08₺248
110.43%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35₺65.8
$1.30₺63.2
3.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$52.3K₺2.6M
$42.7K₺2.1M
22.41%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$43.4K₺2.1M
$40.3K₺2.0M
7.83%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Istanbul
Erzincan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$89.1₺4,347
$66.6₺3,249
33.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.64₺568
$10.27₺501
13.34%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.20₺790
$13.33₺650
21.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Istanbul
Erzincan
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$73.5₺3,583
$52.1₺2,544
40.87%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.02₺1,123
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.42₺411
$5.56₺271
51.44%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Istanbul
Erzincan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$972₺47.4K
$565₺27.5K
72.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$27.4K₺1.3M
$11.8K₺577.3K
131.73%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Istanbul
Erzincan
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.2₺2,593
$45.82₺2,235
16.00%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.88₺1,848
$38.69₺1,887
-2.09%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103₺5,017
$86.8₺4,236
18.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$95.2₺4,643
$80.9₺3,944
17.70%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Istanbul
Erzincan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$962₺46.9K
$414₺20.2K
132.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$651₺31.8K
$313₺15.3K
107.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,957₺95.5K
$784₺38.3K
149.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,146₺55.9K
$575₺28.0K
99.48%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,985₺145.6K
$1,315₺64.1K
127.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,689₺82.4K
$1,034₺50.5K
63.30%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Istanbul
Erzincan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,180₺57.6K
$1,221₺59.6K
-3.32%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
41.26
41.26
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Istanbul: September 14, 2026
Last update for Erzincan: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $962 in Istanbul versus $414 in Erzincan. 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 3% higher in Erzincan, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $51.0 in Istanbul versus $31.00 in Erzincan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $258 vs $226 – making Erzincan the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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 Erzincan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Erzincan cheaper than Istanbul?
Yes – Istanbul is pricier by about 51%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,290 per month in Istanbul and $1,519 in Erzincan. 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 Erzincan, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 96% less in Erzincan. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $972 per month in Istanbul and $565 in Erzincan. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Istanbul or in Erzincan?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Erzincan, where all-in costs run around $1,013, than in Istanbul at $1,527. In Erzincan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Istanbul it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Istanbul or Erzincan more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Erzincan – 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 Erzincan?
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 Erzincan. 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.