😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,452 in Istanbul versus $1,046 in Eskisehir.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,224 in Istanbul versus $1,645 in Eskisehir.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,996 in Istanbul versus $2,244 in Eskisehir.
😐Living in Istanbul is roughly 39% more expensive than Eskisehir, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Istanbul is 8% above, Eskisehir is 22% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Istanbul
Eskisehir
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.30₺523
$7.46₺345
51.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$51.7₺2,393
$26.33₺1,218
96.47%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.46₺345
$7.74₺358
-3.62%
Cappuccino
$3.46₺160
$3.25₺151
6.46%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.35₺62.4
$1.34₺62.1
0.75%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47₺21.56
$0.46₺21.38
2.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.83₺177
$3.74₺173
2.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.22₺241
$4.98₺231
4.82%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Istanbul
Eskisehir
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.07₺49.31
$1.04₺47.89
2.88%
White Bread(500g)
$0.83₺38.18
$0.79₺36.33
5.06%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.21₺102
$2.31₺107
-4.33%
Eggs
$2.59₺120
$1.94₺89.8
33.51%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.32₺477
$10.06₺465
2.58%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.53₺302
$6.01₺278
8.65%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.83₺917
$19.68₺910
0.76%
Apples(1kg)
$1.50₺69.6
$1.45₺67.0
3.45%
Banana(1kg)
$2.19₺101
$2.16₺100
1.39%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.29₺59.8
$1.34₺62.0
-3.73%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.58₺73.2
$1.65₺76.4
-4.24%
Potato(1kg)
$0.76₺35.06
$0.70₺32.32
8.57%
Onion(1kg)
$0.73₺33.85
$0.68₺31.57
7.35%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.13₺52.3
$0.86₺39.98
31.40%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.58₺26.89
$0.54₺24.97
7.41%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.20₺102
$2.22₺103
-0.90%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.23₺566
$13.62₺630
-10.21%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.12₺98.2
$2.13₺98.3
-0.47%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.06₺142
$3.03₺140
0.99%
🚌 Getting Around
Istanbul
Eskisehir
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.72₺33.44
$0.60₺27.90
20.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$53.4₺2,469
$14.09₺652
278.71%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.09₺50.5
$1.08₺50.0
0.93%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.64₺29.48
$0.70₺32.38
-8.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$9.01₺417
$9.10₺421
-0.99%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.15₺53.3
$1.16₺53.7
-0.86%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$46.6K₺2.2M
$46.2K₺2.1M
0.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$43.8K₺2.0M
$43.5K₺2.0M
0.64%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Istanbul
Eskisehir
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$71.7₺3,315
$41.69₺1,929
71.89%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.49₺578
$12.45₺576
0.32%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.04₺696
$12.34₺571
21.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Istanbul
Eskisehir
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.2₺2,786
$32.45₺1,501
85.55%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.40₺851
$25.54₺1,182
-27.96%
Cinema Ticket
$7.66₺355
$4.91₺227
56.01%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Istanbul
Eskisehir
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$935₺43.2K
$663₺30.7K
40.96%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.8K₺824.6K
$7,914₺366.1K
125.23%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Istanbul
Eskisehir
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.9₺2,585
$52.2₺2,414
7.13%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.37₺2,145
$47.19₺2,183
-1.74%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115₺5,304
$111₺5,142
3.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106₺4,884
$89.9₺4,158
17.44%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Istanbul
Eskisehir
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$961₺44.4K
$460₺21.3K
109.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$617₺28.6K
$378₺17.5K
63.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,739₺80.4K
$956₺44.2K
81.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,028₺47.5K
$722₺33.4K
42.30%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,097₺143.3K
$1,347₺62.3K
129.98%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,664₺77.0K
$878₺40.6K
89.51%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Istanbul
Eskisehir
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,170₺54.1K
$1,026₺47.4K
14.08%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
48.43
36.83
31.50%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Istanbul: June 7, 2026
Last update for Eskisehir: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $961 in Istanbul and $460 in Eskisehir. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Istanbul pays 14% 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: $52.0 in Istanbul vs $26.00 in Eskisehir for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $251 vs $246 per month, with Eskisehir cheaper across the board.
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 Eskisehir: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Eskisehir cheaper than Istanbul?
Eskisehir is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 39% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Istanbul or Eskisehir?
Istanbul pays 14% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Istanbul and Eskisehir?
Rent for a central apartment: $961 in Istanbul versus $460 in Eskisehir. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $935 in Istanbul versus $663 in Eskisehir. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Istanbul and Eskisehir?
Supermarket bills run roughly 2% higher in Istanbul. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Istanbul or Eskisehir?
At $1,046 in Eskisehir versus $1,452 in Istanbul, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Eskisehir but tight or insufficient in Istanbul. The gap between the two cities makes Eskisehir the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Istanbul or Eskisehir more family-friendly?
For families, Eskisehir is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Istanbul, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Istanbul or Eskisehir?
Safety-wise, Istanbul and Eskisehir 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 Eskisehir gentler on the wallet – expenses run 39% less than in Istanbul. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.