Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Istanbul and Gliwice

For one person, living is cheaper in Gliwice: $1,315 a month against $1,526 in Istanbul, rent and utilities included – about $2,500 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Istanbul
🇹🇷 Turkey
$1,526
/mo nomad
Gliwice
🇵🇱 Poland
$1,315
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Istanbul and in Gliwice

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

A single person spends $1,526 per month in Istanbul vs $1,315 in Gliwice, rent included.

  • Istanbul $1,526
  • Gliwice $1,315

A couple spends around $2,399 per month in Istanbul vs $1,934 in Gliwice, rent included.

  • Istanbul $2,399
  • Gliwice $1,934

A family of three spends $3,272 per month in Istanbul vs $2,553 in Gliwice, rent included.

  • Istanbul $3,272
  • Gliwice $2,553

Istanbul costs about 16% more than Gliwice, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Istanbul sits 14% above the global median, while Gliwice is 2% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Istanbul
Gliwice
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.88 ₺585
$12.94 zł 50.6
-8.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$55.1 ₺2,714
$40.22 zł 157
36.97%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.14 ₺450
$9.14 zł 35.72
-
Cappuccino
$4.24 ₺209
$2.89 zł 11.30
46.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75 ₺86.0
$1.13 zł 4.43
54.87%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.54 ₺26.83
$1.63 zł 6.39
-66.87%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.69 ₺231
$2.87 zł 11.23
63.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.97 ₺294
$3.04 zł 11.90
96.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Istanbul
Gliwice
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.26 ₺62.1
$1.04 zł 4.06
21.15%
White Bread (500g)
$0.95 ₺46.81
$1.32 zł 5.18
-28.03%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.31 ₺114
$1.81 zł 7.07
27.62%
Eggs
$2.47 ₺122
$2.88 zł 11.26
-14.24%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.55 ₺520
$7.82 zł 30.56
34.91%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.60 ₺276
$6.36 zł 24.86
-11.95%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$21.21 ₺1,045
$9.70 zł 37.90
118.66%
Apples (1kg)
$1.93 ₺95.1
$0.99 zł 3.86
94.95%
Banana (1kg)
$2.29 ₺113
$1.89 zł 7.39
21.16%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.28 ₺63.1
$1.61 zł 6.29
-20.50%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.84 ₺90.8
$2.61 zł 10.22
-29.50%
Potato (1kg)
$0.67 ₺32.86
$0.88 zł 3.46
-23.86%
Onion (1kg)
$0.59 ₺29.31
$1.13 zł 4.41
-47.79%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.33 ₺65.4
$1.40 zł 5.47
-5.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.59 ₺29.10
$0.66 zł 2.58
-10.61%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.36 ₺116
$4.89 zł 19.10
-51.74%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.47 ₺664
$7.58 zł 29.64
77.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.42 ₺119
$1.04 zł 4.07
132.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.54 ₺174
$1.52 zł 5.96
132.89%
🚌 Getting Around
Istanbul
Gliwice
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.83 ₺40.64
$1.06 zł 4.16
-21.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$66.5 ₺3,273
$30.50 zł 119
117.87%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.35 ₺66.6
$1.99 zł 7.79
-32.16%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.85 ₺42.05
$0.61 zł 2.39
39.34%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.86 ₺535
$10.12 zł 39.54
7.31%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.47 ₺72.3
$1.71 zł 6.69
-14.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$51.6K ₺2.5M
$31.4K zł 122.8K
64.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$44.4K ₺2.2M
$26.7K zł 104.2K
66.71%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Istanbul
Gliwice
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$89.2 ₺4,395
$226 zł 885
-60.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.60 ₺572
$14.00 zł 54.7
-17.14%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.10 ₺793
$16.00 zł 62.5
0.63%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Istanbul
Gliwice
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$77.3 ₺3,805
$26.64 zł 104
189.98%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.66 ₺1,116
$16.20 zł 63.3
39.88%
Cinema Ticket
$8.34 ₺411
$6.27 zł 24.51
33.01%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Istanbul
Gliwice
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$974 ₺48.0K
$333 zł 1,302
192.31%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$25.8K ₺1.3M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Istanbul
Gliwice
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.7 ₺2,597
$97.1 zł 380
-45.73%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.16 ₺1,929
$44.25 zł 173
-11.50%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 ₺5,083
$66.1 zł 258
56.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$96.6 ₺4,759
$75.4 zł 295
28.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Istanbul
Gliwice
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$994 ₺49.0K
$516 zł 2,017
92.63%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$629 ₺31.0K
$472 zł 1,845
33.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,024 ₺99.7K
$861 zł 3,367
134.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,155 ₺56.9K
$728 zł 2,845
58.67%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,160 ₺155.7K
$2,431 zł 9,500
30.02%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,838 ₺90.5K
$1,782 zł 6,965
3.13%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Istanbul
Gliwice
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,203 ₺59.3K
$1,354 zł 5,294
-11.14%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
41.09
7.23
468.33%

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

Last update for Istanbul: October 3, 2026

Last update for Gliwice: October 3, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Istanbul
$629
Gliwice
$472 25% $157
Groceries & Markets
Istanbul
$264
Gliwice
$204 22.6% $60
Eating Out
Istanbul
$218
Gliwice
$197 9.5% $21
Clothing & Footwear
Istanbul
$131
Gliwice
$127 3% $4
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Istanbul
$117
Gliwice
$256 119% $139
Sport & Entertainment
Istanbul
$94
Gliwice
$39 58.3% $55
Getting Around
Istanbul
$75
Gliwice
$40 47.2% $36

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $994 in Istanbul versus $516 in Gliwice. 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 13% higher in Gliwice, 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 $55.0 in Istanbul versus $40.00 in Gliwice. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $264 vs $204 – making Gliwice the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇹🇷 Istanbul
🇵🇱 Gliwice
🕒 Local time
12:47 12:47 PM
11:47 11:47 AM
1 h behind Istanbul
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
15,701,602
185,450
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

PLN, USD, EUR 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).

Polish Złoty exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 3.91 PLN (1 PLN = 0.256 USD). 1 EUR = 4.38 PLN (1 PLN = 0.228 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Istanbul Gliwice 1,300 km ≈ 2 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Istanbul
  • Gliwice

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 Gliwice: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Gliwice cheaper than Istanbul?
Yes – Istanbul is pricier by about 16%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,289 per month in Istanbul and $1,972 in Gliwice. 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 Gliwice, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Istanbul or in Gliwice?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $55.0 in Istanbul and $40.00 in Gliwice. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Istanbul and in Gliwice?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,526 in Istanbul and $1,315 in Gliwice. That's a gap of about 16%.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Istanbul or in Gliwice?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Gliwice, where all-in costs run around $1,315, than in Istanbul at $1,526. In Gliwice it covers expenses comfortably, while in Istanbul it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Istanbul or Gliwice more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Gliwice – 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 Gliwice?
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 Gliwice. 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.

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