๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,451 in Istanbul versus $1,055 in Eskisehir.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,235 in Istanbul versus $1,651 in Eskisehir.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,020 in Istanbul versus $2,248 in Eskisehir.
๐Living in Istanbul is roughly 38% more expensive than Eskisehir, driven mainly by Getting Around.
๐The two cities straddle the global median: Istanbul is 8% above, Eskisehir is 21% below.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Istanbul
Eskisehir
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.31โบ509
$7.67โบ345
47.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$51.5โบ2,320
$26.88โบ1,210
91.70%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.47โบ336
$7.64โบ344
-2.23%
Cappuccino
$3.44โบ155
$3.28โบ148
4.88%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.35โบ60.7
$1.29โบ58.2
4.65%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46โบ20.54
$0.50โบ22.57
-8.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.91โบ176
$3.89โบ175
0.51%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.02โบ226
$5.11โบ230
-1.76%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Istanbul
Eskisehir
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.10โบ49.69
$0.94โบ42.37
17.02%
White Bread(500g)
$0.77โบ34.74
$0.78โบ35.15
-1.28%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.17โบ97.9
$2.19โบ98.7
-0.91%
Eggs
$2.73โบ123
$1.94โบ87.2
40.72%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.07โบ453
$10.23โบ461
-1.56%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.59โบ297
$5.92โบ267
11.32%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.90โบ896
$20.15โบ907
-1.24%
Apples(1kg)
$1.45โบ65.4
$1.51โบ67.9
-3.97%
Banana(1kg)
$2.25โบ101
$2.20โบ99.1
2.27%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.28โบ57.6
$1.33โบ59.7
-3.76%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.63โบ73.5
$1.59โบ71.6
2.52%
Potato(1kg)
$0.76โบ34.31
$0.74โบ33.47
2.70%
Onion(1kg)
$0.73โบ32.81
$0.68โบ30.80
7.35%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.17โบ52.7
$0.86โบ38.76
36.05%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.62โบ27.76
$0.58โบ26.24
6.90%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.20โบ99.1
$2.12โบ95.4
3.77%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.16โบ547
$14.11โบ635
-13.82%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.21โบ99.5
$2.22โบ100
-0.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.05โบ137
$3.02โบ136
0.99%
๐ Getting Around
Istanbul
Eskisehir
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.68โบ30.60
$0.61โบ27.25
11.48%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$53.8โบ2,424
$14.02โบ631
284.02%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.05โบ47.40
$1.05โบ47.34
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.59โบ26.70
$0.69โบ31.16
-14.49%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.94โบ403
$9.02โบ406
-0.89%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.15โบ51.9
$1.19โบ53.7
-3.36%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$45.8Kโบ2.1M
$45.1Kโบ2.0M
1.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$43.0Kโบ1.9M
$43.8Kโบ2.0M
-1.79%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Istanbul
Eskisehir
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$71.5โบ3,217
$41.76โบ1,880
71.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.33โบ555
$12.46โบ561
-1.04%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.09โบ680
$12.48โบ562
20.91%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Istanbul
Eskisehir
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.4โบ2,718
$31.98โบ1,440
88.77%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.99โบ855
$25.10โบ1,130
-24.34%
Cinema Ticket
$7.46โบ336
$4.84โบ218
54.13%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Istanbul
Eskisehir
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$943โบ42.4K
$648โบ29.2K
45.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$18.3Kโบ823.3K
$7,776โบ350.1K
135.18%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Istanbul
Eskisehir
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.7โบ2,553
$51.9โบ2,336
9.31%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.49โบ2,093
$46.74โบ2,104
-0.53%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115โบ5,163
$111โบ5,019
2.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$104โบ4,690
$90.4โบ4,071
15.19%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Istanbul
Eskisehir
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$970โบ43.7K
$468โบ21.1K
107.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$630โบ28.3K
$375โบ16.9K
67.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,746โบ78.6K
$974โบ43.9K
79.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,064โบ47.9K
$733โบ33.0K
45.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,310โบ149.0K
$1,197โบ53.9K
176.52%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,691โบ76.1K
$748โบ33.7K
126.02%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Istanbul
Eskisehir
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,164โบ52.4K
$1,080โบ48.6K
7.77%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
48.43
36.83
31.50%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Istanbul: April 21, 2026
Last update for Eskisehir: April 22, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $970 in Istanbul and $468 in Eskisehir. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐ฐIstanbul pays 8% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
๐Dining out: $52 in Istanbul vs $27 in Eskisehir for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $253 vs $248 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 38% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Istanbul or Eskisehir?
Istanbul pays 8% 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: $970 in Istanbul versus $468 in Eskisehir. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $943 in Istanbul versus $648 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 $1,055 in Eskisehir versus $1,451 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 โ expenses run 38% less than in Istanbul. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.