Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Istanbul and Izhevsk

For one person, living is cheaper in Izhevsk: $710 a month against $1,526 in Istanbul, rent and utilities included – about $9,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Istanbul
🇹🇷 Turkey
$1,526
/mo nomad
Izhevsk
🇷🇺 Russia
$710
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Istanbul and in Izhevsk

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

A single person spends $1,526 per month in Istanbul vs $710 in Izhevsk, rent included.

  • Istanbul $1,526
  • Izhevsk $710

A couple spends around $2,399 per month in Istanbul vs $1,114 in Izhevsk, rent included.

  • Istanbul $2,399
  • Izhevsk $1,114

A family of three spends $3,272 per month in Istanbul vs $1,518 in Izhevsk, rent included.

  • Istanbul $3,272
  • Izhevsk $1,518

Istanbul costs about 115% more than Izhevsk, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Istanbul sits 14% above the global median, while Izhevsk is 47% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Istanbul
Izhevsk
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.88 ₺585
-
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$55.1 ₺2,714
$35.32 ₽3,006
55.97%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.14 ₺450
$10.79 ₽918
-15.29%
Cappuccino
$4.24 ₺209
$4.07 ₽347
4.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75 ₺86.0
$0.80 ₽68.0
118.75%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.54 ₺26.83
$0.57 ₽48.20
-5.26%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.69 ₺231
$1.20 ₽102
290.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.97 ₺294
$1.04 ₽88.5
474.04%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Istanbul
Izhevsk
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.26 ₺62.1
-
-
White Bread (500g)
$0.95 ₺46.81
-
-
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.31 ₺114
-
-
Eggs
$2.47 ₺122
-
-
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.55 ₺520
-
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.60 ₺276
$5.24 ₽446
6.87%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$21.21 ₺1,045
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$1.93 ₺95.1
-
-
Banana (1kg)
$2.29 ₺113
-
-
Oranges (1kg)
$1.28 ₺63.1
-
-
Tomato (1kg)
$1.84 ₺90.8
-
-
Potato (1kg)
$0.67 ₺32.86
-
-
Onion (1kg)
$0.59 ₺29.31
-
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.33 ₺65.4
-
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.59 ₺29.10
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.36 ₺116
-
-
Wine (Bottle)
$13.47 ₺664
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.42 ₺119
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.54 ₺174
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Istanbul
Izhevsk
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.83 ₺40.64
$0.55 ₽47.04
50.91%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$66.5 ₺3,273
$23.14 ₽1,969
187.17%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.35 ₺66.6
$1.45 ₽124
-6.90%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.85 ₺42.05
$0.23 ₽19.55
269.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.86 ₺535
$7.28 ₽619
49.18%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.47 ₺72.3
$0.81 ₽69.0
81.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$51.6K ₺2.5M
$29.2K ₽2.5M
76.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$44.4K ₺2.2M
$29.3K ₽2.5M
51.49%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Istanbul
Izhevsk
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$89.2 ₺4,395
$140 ₽11.9K
-36.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.60 ₺572
$7.11 ₽605
63.15%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.10 ₺793
$6.66 ₽567
141.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Istanbul
Izhevsk
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$77.3 ₺3,805
$28.97 ₽2,465
166.66%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.66 ₺1,116
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.34 ₺411
$5.41 ₽460
54.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Istanbul
Izhevsk
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$974 ₺48.0K
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$25.8K ₺1.3M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Istanbul
Izhevsk
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.7 ₺2,597
$80.9 ₽6,882
-34.83%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.16 ₺1,929
$23.31 ₽1,984
68.00%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 ₺5,083
$119 ₽10.1K
-12.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$96.6 ₺4,759
$144 ₽12.2K
-32.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Istanbul
Izhevsk
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$994 ₺49.0K
$468 ₽39.8K
112.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$629 ₺31.0K
$211 ₽18.0K
197.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,024 ₺99.7K
$648 ₽55.1K
212.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,155 ₺56.9K
$416 ₽35.4K
177.50%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,160 ₺155.7K
$2,312 ₽196.7K
36.68%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,838 ₺90.5K
$1,031 ₽87.7K
78.27%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Istanbul
Izhevsk
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,203 ₺59.3K
$942 ₽80.2K
27.75%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
41.09
22
86.77%

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

Last update for Istanbul: October 3, 2026

Last update for Izhevsk: October 4, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Istanbul
$629
Izhevsk
$211 66.4% $418
Groceries & Markets
Istanbul
$264
Izhevsk
$26 * 90.1% $238
Eating Out
Istanbul
$218
Izhevsk
$95 * 56.5% $123
Clothing & Footwear
Istanbul
$131
Izhevsk
$165 25.6% $34
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Istanbul
$117
Izhevsk
$154 31.5% $37
Sport & Entertainment
Istanbul
$94
Izhevsk
$40 57.6% $54
Getting Around
Istanbul
$75
Izhevsk
$28 62.9% $47

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

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $994 in Istanbul versus $468 in Izhevsk. 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 28% higher in Istanbul, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $55.0 in Istanbul versus $35.00 in Izhevsk. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $264 vs $26.00 – making Izhevsk the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇹🇷 Istanbul
🇷🇺 Izhevsk
🕒 Local time
15:23 3:23 PM
16:23 4:23 PM
1 h ahead of Istanbul
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
15,701,602
646,468
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

RUB, 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).

Russian Ruble exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 85.09 RUB (100 RUB = 1.18 USD). 1 EUR = 95.35 RUB (100 RUB = 1.05 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Istanbul Izhevsk 2,470 km ≈ 3 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Istanbul
  • Izhevsk

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 Izhevsk: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Izhevsk cheaper than Istanbul?
Yes – Istanbul is pricier by about 115%, 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 $1,065 in Izhevsk. 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 Izhevsk, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 187% less in Izhevsk. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How do food prices compare in Istanbul and in Izhevsk?
Groceries cost about 907% more in Istanbul, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Istanbul or in Izhevsk?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Izhevsk, where all-in costs run around $710, than in Istanbul at $1,526. In Izhevsk it covers expenses comfortably, while in Istanbul it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Istanbul or Izhevsk more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Izhevsk – 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 Izhevsk?
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 Izhevsk. 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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