Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Istanbul and Kaposvár

For one person, living is cheaper in Kaposvár: $1,195 a month against $1,550 in Istanbul, rent and utilities included – about $4,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Istanbul
🇹🇷 Turkey
$1,550
/mo nomad
Kaposvár
🇭🇺 Hungary
$1,195
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Istanbul and in Kaposvár

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

A single person spends $1,550 per month in Istanbul vs $1,195 in Kaposvár, rent included.

  • Istanbul $1,550
  • Kaposvár $1,195

A couple spends around $2,415 per month in Istanbul vs $1,791 in Kaposvár, rent included.

  • Istanbul $2,415
  • Kaposvár $1,791

A family of three spends $3,281 per month in Istanbul vs $2,386 in Kaposvár, rent included.

  • Istanbul $3,281
  • Kaposvár $2,386

Istanbul costs about 30% more than Kaposvár, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Istanbul sits 15% above the global median, while Kaposvár is 11% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Istanbul
Kaposvár
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.30 ₺609
$10.67 Ft 3,459
15.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$54.7 ₺2,708
$36.37 Ft 11.8K
50.40%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.22 ₺456
$9.30 Ft 3,015
-0.86%
Cappuccino
$4.40 ₺218
$1.70 Ft 553
158.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68 ₺83.1
$1.02 Ft 332
64.71%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.59 ₺29.40
$0.58 Ft 188
1.72%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.70 ₺233
$1.28 Ft 414
267.19%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.91 ₺293
$1.43 Ft 463
313.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Istanbul
Kaposvár
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.21 ₺60.0
$1.12 Ft 364
8.04%
White Bread (500g)
$0.89 ₺44.10
$1.23 Ft 398
-27.64%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.19 ₺108
$1.75 Ft 566
25.14%
Eggs
$2.35 ₺116
$3.21 Ft 1,042
-26.79%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.42 ₺516
$7.49 Ft 2,427
39.12%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.65 ₺280
$6.31 Ft 2,044
-10.46%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.94 ₺1,037
$11.74 Ft 3,806
78.36%
Apples (1kg)
$1.90 ₺94.1
$1.41 Ft 457
34.75%
Banana (1kg)
$2.31 ₺114
$2.02 Ft 654
14.36%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.28 ₺63.2
$2.02 Ft 656
-36.63%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.80 ₺89.0
$1.40 Ft 455
28.57%
Potato (1kg)
$0.65 ₺32.17
$0.96 Ft 312
-32.29%
Onion (1kg)
$0.64 ₺31.92
$0.63 Ft 203
1.59%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.25 ₺62.1
$0.45 Ft 146
177.78%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 ₺27.59
$0.52 Ft 168
7.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.37 ₺118
$6.81 Ft 2,208
-65.20%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.42 ₺664
$5.43 Ft 1,759
147.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.40 ₺119
$1.18 Ft 382
103.39%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.48 ₺172
$1.51 Ft 490
130.46%
🚌 Getting Around
Istanbul
Kaposvár
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.89 ₺43.84
$0.91 Ft 296
-2.20%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$67.4 ₺3,339
$27.20 Ft 8,815
147.90%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.29 ₺64.1
$1.49 Ft 482
-13.42%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.92 ₺45.70
$1.57 Ft 509
-41.40%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.96 ₺543
$18.34 Ft 5,944
-40.24%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.47 ₺72.9
$1.89 Ft 612
-22.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$50.8K ₺2.5M
$32.8K Ft 10.6M
55.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$44.5K ₺2.2M
$35.9K Ft 11.6M
24.14%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Istanbul
Kaposvár
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$88.6 ₺4,388
$149 Ft 48.4K
-40.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.59 ₺574
$24.30 Ft 7,877
-52.30%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.81 ₺783
$27.39 Ft 8,877
-42.28%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Istanbul
Kaposvár
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$77.2 ₺3,821
$46.69 Ft 15.1K
65.26%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.74 ₺1,126
$17.68 Ft 5,730
28.62%
Cinema Ticket
$8.14 ₺403
$7.44 Ft 2,412
9.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Istanbul
Kaposvár
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,008 ₺49.9K
$187 Ft 60.6K
438.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$25.6K ₺1.3M
$7,087 Ft 2.3M
260.69%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Istanbul
Kaposvár
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.0 ₺2,671
$90.1 Ft 29.2K
-40.14%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.83 ₺2,021
$27.67 Ft 8,969
47.56%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.9 ₺4,896
$96.5 Ft 31.3K
2.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$96.6 ₺4,783
$105 Ft 34.0K
-8.03%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Istanbul
Kaposvár
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$985 ₺48.7K
$527 Ft 170.9K
86.68%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$650 ₺32.2K
$400 Ft 129.7K
62.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,983 ₺98.2K
$761 Ft 246.6K
160.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,180 ₺58.4K
$661 Ft 214.2K
78.56%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,138 ₺155.4K
$3,029 Ft 981.7K
3.61%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,780 ₺88.1K
$2,599 Ft 842.6K
-31.53%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Istanbul
Kaposvár
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,205 ₺59.7K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
40.92
8.25
396.00%

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

Last update for Istanbul: October 13, 2026

Last update for Kaposvár: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Istanbul
$650
Kaposvár
$400 38.4% $250
Groceries & Markets
Istanbul
$260
Kaposvár
$199 23.5% $61
Eating Out
Istanbul
$223
Kaposvár
$149 33.1% $74
Clothing & Footwear
Istanbul
$131
Kaposvár
$144 10% $13
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Istanbul
$116
Kaposvár
$201 73.4% $85
Sport & Entertainment
Istanbul
$93
Kaposvár
$62 34.1% $32
Getting Around
Istanbul
$77
Kaposvár
$40 47.7% $37

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $985 in Istanbul versus $527 in Kaposvár. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $55.0 in Istanbul versus $36.00 in Kaposvár. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $260 vs $199 – making Kaposvár the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇹🇷 Istanbul
🇭🇺 Kaposvár
🕒 Local time
19:47 7:47 PM
18:47 6:47 PM
1 h behind Istanbul
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
15,701,602
58,830
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

HUF, USD, EUR to TRY – Turkish Lira Converter

Turkish Lira exchange rates as of October 16, 2026: 1 USD = 49.51 TRY (100 TRY = 2.02 USD). 1 EUR = 55.53 TRY (100 TRY = 1.8 EUR).

Hungarian Forint exchange rates as of October 16, 2026: 1 USD = 324 HUF (1,000 HUF = 3.09 USD). 1 EUR = 364 HUF (1,000 HUF = 2.75 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Istanbul Kaposvár 1,080 km ≈ 1 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Istanbul
  • Kaposvár

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 Kaposvár: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kaposvár cheaper than Istanbul?
Yes – Istanbul is pricier by about 30%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,325 per month in Istanbul and $1,792 in Kaposvár. 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 Kaposvár, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $1,008 per month in Istanbul and $187 in Kaposvár. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Istanbul and in Kaposvár?
Groceries cost about 31% 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 $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Istanbul or in Kaposvár?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Kaposvár, where all-in costs run around $1,195, than in Istanbul at $1,550. In Kaposvár it covers expenses comfortably, while in Istanbul it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Istanbul or Kaposvár more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Kaposvár – 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 Kaposvár?
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 Kaposvár. 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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