Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Istanbul and Gozo

For one person, living is cheaper in Istanbul: $1,550 a month against $1,801 in Gozo, rent and utilities included – about $3,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Istanbul
🇹🇷 Turkey
$1,550
/mo nomad
Gozo
🇲🇹 Malta
$1,801
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Istanbul and in Gozo

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,550 in Istanbul versus $1,801 in Gozo.

  • Istanbul $1,550
  • Gozo $1,801

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,415 in Istanbul versus $2,747 in Gozo.

  • Istanbul $2,415
  • Gozo $2,747

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,281 in Istanbul versus $3,694 in Gozo.

  • Istanbul $3,281
  • Gozo $3,694

Living in Istanbul costs roughly 14% less than in Gozo, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Istanbul 15% above, Gozo 33% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Istanbul
Gozo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.30 ₺609
$30.99 €27.57
-60.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$54.7 ₺2,708
$95.8 €85.2
-42.89%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.22 ₺456
$11.03 €9.81
-16.41%
Cappuccino
$4.40 ₺218
$2.86 €2.55
53.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68 ₺83.1
$2.38 €2.12
-29.41%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.59 ₺29.40
$1.32 €1.18
-55.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.70 ₺233
$3.30 €2.94
42.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.91 ₺292
$4.65 €4.14
27.10%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Istanbul
Gozo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.21 ₺60.0
$1.19 €1.06
1.68%
White Bread (500g)
$0.89 ₺44.10
$1.17 €1.04
-23.93%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.19 ₺108
$2.80 €2.49
-21.79%
Eggs
$2.35 ₺116
$2.86 €2.55
-17.83%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.42 ₺516
$10.20 €9.07
2.16%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.65 ₺280
$7.81 €6.94
-27.66%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.94 ₺1,037
$18.33 €16.30
14.24%
Apples (1kg)
$1.90 ₺94.1
$2.70 €2.40
-29.63%
Banana (1kg)
$2.31 ₺114
$2.31 €2.06
-
Oranges (1kg)
$1.28 ₺63.1
$2.55 €2.26
-49.80%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.80 ₺89.0
$1.54 €1.37
16.88%
Potato (1kg)
$0.65 ₺32.16
$1.86 €1.66
-65.05%
Onion (1kg)
$0.64 ₺31.91
$1.41 €1.25
-54.61%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.25 ₺62.1
$1.42 €1.26
-11.97%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 ₺27.58
$1.05 €0.93
-46.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.37 ₺118
$6.22 €5.53
-61.90%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.42 ₺664
$3.24 €2.88
314.20%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.40 ₺119
$1.49 €1.33
61.07%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.48 ₺172
$1.16 €1.03
200.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Istanbul
Gozo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.89 ₺43.84
$2.84 €2.53
-68.66%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$67.4 ₺3,338
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.29 ₺64.1
$3.99 €3.55
-67.67%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.92 ₺45.70
$1.80 €1.60
-48.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.96 ₺542
$33.01 €29.36
-66.80%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.47 ₺72.9
$1.48 €1.32
-0.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$50.8K ₺2.5M
$28.4K €25.3K
78.72%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$44.5K ₺2.2M
$39.1K €34.7K
13.99%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Istanbul
Gozo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$88.6 ₺4,387
$94.1 €83.7
-5.85%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.59 ₺574
$31.19 €27.74
-62.84%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.81 ₺783
$29.57 €26.31
-46.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Istanbul
Gozo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$77.2 ₺3,820
$50.3 €44.78
53.28%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.74 ₺1,126
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.14 ₺403
$11.15 €9.92
-27.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Istanbul
Gozo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,008 ₺49.9K
$282 €251
257.69%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$25.6K ₺1.3M
$12.1K €10.8K
111.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Istanbul
Gozo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.0 ₺2,671
$57.4 €51.1
-6.03%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.83 ₺2,021
$49.45 €43.98
-17.43%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.9 ₺4,895
$64.4 €57.2
53.66%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$96.6 ₺4,783
$132 €118
-26.93%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Istanbul
Gozo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$985 ₺48.7K
$917 €815
7.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$650 ₺32.2K
$797 €709
-18.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,983 ₺98.2K
$1,382 €1,229
43.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,180 ₺58.4K
$1,161 €1,033
1.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,138 ₺155.4K
$4,350 €3,869
-27.86%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,780 ₺88.1K
$3,948 €3,512
-54.92%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Istanbul
Gozo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,205 ₺59.7K
$1,287 €1,145
-6.35%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
40.92
3.78
982.54%

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

Last update for Istanbul: October 13, 2026

Last update for Gozo: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Istanbul
$650
Gozo
$797 22.7% $148
Groceries & Markets
Istanbul
$260
Gozo
$259 0.3% $0.8
Eating Out
Istanbul
$223
Gozo
$356 59.5% $133
Clothing & Footwear
Istanbul
$131
Gozo
$137 4.5% $5.9
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Istanbul
$116
Gozo
$155 33.5% $39
Sport & Entertainment
Istanbul
$93
Gozo
$73 22.3% $21
Getting Around
Istanbul
$77
Gozo
$24 * 68.3% $53

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $985 in Istanbul and $917 in Gozo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Gozo pays 7% 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: $55.0 in Istanbul vs $96.0 in Gozo. Groceries flip the comparison at $260 vs $259, with Gozo cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇹🇷 Istanbul
🇲🇹 Gozo
🕒 Local time
21:11 9:11 PM
20:11 8:11 PM
1 h behind Istanbul
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
15,701,602
3,680
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR, USD to TRY – Turkish Lira Converter

Turkish Lira exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 49.51 TRY (100 TRY = 2.02 USD). 1 EUR = 55.66 TRY (100 TRY = 1.8 EUR).

Euro exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Istanbul Gozo 1,390 km ≈ 2 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Istanbul
  • Gozo

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 Gozo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Istanbul or Gozo?
Istanbul wins on cost – living expenses run 16% lower than in Gozo. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Istanbul the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Istanbul or in Gozo?
On paper, salaries run 7% lower in Gozo. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Istanbul compared to Gozo?
Rent for a central apartment: $985 in Istanbul versus $917 in Gozo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Istanbul or in Gozo?
Shoppers in Gozo pay roughly 0% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
How much does it cost to live in Istanbul compared to Gozo?
All in, you'll spend $1,550 per month in Istanbul versus $1,801 in Gozo – a 16% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Istanbul or in Gozo?
At $1,550 in Istanbul versus $1,801 in Gozo, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Istanbul but tight or insufficient in Gozo. The gap between the two cities makes Istanbul the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Istanbul or Gozo?
Both work as nomad bases, but Istanbul delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,550 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Istanbul hard to pass up.
How safe is Istanbul compared to Gozo?
Safety-wise, Istanbul and Gozo 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Istanbul gentler on the wallet – expenses run 16% less than in Gozo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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