Cost of Living Comparison Between Istanbul and Giresun Cost of Living Comparison Between Istanbul and Giresun

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,494 in Istanbul versus $930 in Giresun.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,338 in Istanbul versus $1,518 in Giresun.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,181 in Istanbul versus $2,106 in Giresun.

Living in Istanbul is roughly 61% more expensive than in Giresun, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Istanbul is 8% above, Giresun is 33% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.14 ₺492

$4.11 ₺200

146.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.7 ₺2,461

$61.5 ₺2,987

-17.61%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.09 ₺441

$7.84 ₺380

15.94%

Cappuccino

$4.05 ₺197

$3.33 ₺162

21.62%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.74 ₺84.3

$0.90 ₺43.82

93.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.57 ₺27.70

$0.27 ₺13.24

111.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.06 ₺197

$1.57 ₺76.0

158.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.03 ₺293

$2.64 ₺128

128.41%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.22 ₺59.4

$1.17 ₺56.8

4.27%

White Bread (500g)

$0.94 ₺45.81

$0.60 ₺29.37

56.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.44 ₺118

$1.91 ₺92.9

27.75%

Eggs

$2.46 ₺119

$1.93 ₺93.5

27.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.30 ₺500

$8.51 ₺413

21.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.35 ₺260

$5.14 ₺250

4.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$21.09 ₺1,024

$16.47 ₺800

28.05%

Apples (1kg)

$1.97 ₺95.9

$1.56 ₺75.9

26.28%

Banana (1kg)

$2.24 ₺109

$2.10 ₺102

6.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.20 ₺58.5

$1.12 ₺54.6

7.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.92 ₺93.3

$1.11 ₺53.7

72.97%

Potato (1kg)

$0.59 ₺28.65

$0.44 ₺21.35

34.09%

Onion (1kg)

$0.52 ₺25.04

$0.33 ₺15.80

57.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.09 ₺53.0

$0.88 ₺42.75

23.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 ₺28.62

$0.19 ₺9.09

210.53%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.33 ₺113

$1.81 ₺87.9

28.73%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.24 ₺643

$9.21 ₺447

43.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.40 ₺116

$1.58 ₺76.8

51.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.39 ₺165

$2.27 ₺110

49.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 ₺41.57

$0.63 ₺30.79

36.51%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$67.9 ₺3,298

$32.84 ₺1,594

106.82%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.31 ₺63.5

$1.88 ₺91.2

-30.32%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.92 ₺44.88

$0.60 ₺29.28

53.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.72 ₺520

$5.04 ₺245

112.70%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.38 ₺66.8

$1.21 ₺58.9

14.05%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$50.7K ₺2.5M

$41.0K ₺2.0M

23.55%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$44.4K ₺2.2M

$41.2K ₺2.0M

7.82%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$88.6 ₺4,302

$91.6 ₺4,448

-3.29%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$11.48 ₺557

$11.45 ₺556

0.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.51 ₺802

$12.51 ₺607

31.97%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$69.2 ₺3,361

$56.8 ₺2,758

21.87%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.43 ₺1,138

Cinema Ticket

$8.37 ₺407

$4.22 ₺205

98.34%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$978 ₺47.5K

$263 ₺12.8K

272.45%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$28.0K ₺1.4M

$11.2K ₺542.6K

150.65%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.1 ₺2,624

$28.34 ₺1,376

90.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.94 ₺1,890

$30.52 ₺1,482

27.59%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 ₺4,881

$73.2 ₺3,554

37.32%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$94.4 ₺4,583

$48.28 ₺2,344

95.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$991 ₺48.1K

$405 ₺19.7K

144.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$638 ₺31.0K

$273 ₺13.2K

133.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,946 ₺94.5K

$843 ₺40.9K

130.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,144 ₺55.5K

$549 ₺26.7K

108.18%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,979 ₺144.6K

$1,443 ₺70.1K

106.40%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,694 ₺82.3K

$977 ₺47.4K

73.51%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,196 ₺58.1K

$849 ₺41.2K

40.98%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

41.26

-15.80%

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

Last update for Istanbul: September 5, 2026

Last update for Giresun: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $991 in Istanbul and $405 in Giresun. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Istanbul pays 41% 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: $51.0 in Istanbul vs $62.0 in Giresun. Groceries flip the comparison at $259 vs $203, with Giresun cheaper for home cooking.

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 Giresun: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Istanbul and Giresun differ by about 61% in total monthly costs ($1,494 vs $930 including rent). Giresun is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 41% higher in Istanbul, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $991 in Istanbul versus $405 in Giresun. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Giresun – a meal for two runs $62.0 versus $51.0 in Istanbul. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,494 per month in Istanbul versus $930 in Giresun – a 61% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $930 in Giresun versus $1,494 in Istanbul, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Giresun but tight or insufficient in Istanbul. The gap between the two cities makes Giresun the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Istanbul and Giresun are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Giresun gentler on the wallet – expenses run 61% less than in Istanbul. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.