Cost of Living Comparison Between Istanbul and Kastamonu Cost of Living Comparison Between Istanbul and Kastamonu

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,422 per month in Istanbul vs $1,155 in Kastamonu, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,196 per month in Istanbul vs $1,796 in Kastamonu, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,971 per month in Istanbul vs $2,437 in Kastamonu, rent included.

Istanbul costs about 23% more than Kastamonu, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Istanbul sits 7% above the global median, while Kastamonu is 13% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.22 ₺533

$9.44 ₺449

18.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.4 ₺2,395

$38.66 ₺1,838

30.32%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.42 ₺353

$8.85 ₺420

-16.16%

Cappuccino

$3.47 ₺165

$3.23 ₺154

7.43%

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

$1.30 ₺61.9

$1.22 ₺58.1

6.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.49 ₺23.43

$0.38 ₺18.18

28.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.76 ₺179

$3.39 ₺161

10.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.20 ₺247

$3.92 ₺186

32.65%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.12 ₺53.0

$0.96 ₺45.42

16.67%

White Bread (500g)

$0.80 ₺38.19

$0.70 ₺33.20

14.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.21 ₺105

$2.30 ₺109

-3.91%

Eggs

$2.59 ₺123

$2.28 ₺108

13.60%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.14 ₺482

$9.74 ₺463

4.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.65 ₺316

$5.86 ₺279

13.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.15 ₺958

$19.15 ₺910

5.22%

Apples (1kg)

$1.50 ₺71.4

$1.52 ₺72.1

-1.32%

Banana (1kg)

$2.20 ₺105

$2.35 ₺112

-6.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.27 ₺60.5

$1.26 ₺59.8

0.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ₺75.5

$1.47 ₺69.9

8.16%

Potato (1kg)

$0.69 ₺33.01

$0.74 ₺35.26

-6.76%

Onion (1kg)

$0.69 ₺32.79

$0.57 ₺27.29

21.05%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.16 ₺55.2

$1.13 ₺53.7

2.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.61 ₺29.21

$0.39 ₺18.56

56.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.11 ₺100

$2.22 ₺106

-4.95%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.49 ₺594

$9.66 ₺459

29.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.23 ₺106

$2.05 ₺97.3

8.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.13 ₺149

$3.11 ₺148

0.64%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.67 ₺31.75

$0.63 ₺29.96

6.35%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.9 ₺2,609

$30.44 ₺1,447

80.32%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.05 ₺50.1

$0.90 ₺42.96

16.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.64 ₺30.23

$0.65 ₺30.90

-1.54%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.02 ₺429

$6.50 ₺309

38.77%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ₺54.6

$1.17 ₺55.8

-1.71%

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

$46.2K ₺2.2M

$42.4K ₺2.0M

8.86%

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

$42.6K ₺2.0M

$43.4K ₺2.1M

-1.86%

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

$74.0 ₺3,518

$85.9 ₺4,083

-13.83%

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

$12.52 ₺595

$11.04 ₺525

13.41%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.10 ₺718

$14.03 ₺667

7.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.2 ₺2,955

$43.05 ₺2,046

44.39%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.36 ₺873

Cinema Ticket

$7.71 ₺366

$6.26 ₺297

23.16%

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

$933 ₺44.4K

$608 ₺28.9K

53.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.3K ₺869.1K

$13.9K ₺659.1K

31.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.5 ₺2,684

$57.7 ₺2,740

-2.05%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.66 ₺2,218

$44.18 ₺2,100

5.61%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$112 ₺5,312

$106 ₺5,026

5.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$105 ₺5,010

$95.9 ₺4,559

9.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$947 ₺45.0K

$509 ₺24.2K

86.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$612 ₺29.1K

$395 ₺18.8K

54.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,771 ₺84.2K

$900 ₺42.8K

96.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,064 ₺50.6K

$704 ₺33.5K

51.12%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,079 ₺146.3K

$1,281 ₺60.9K

140.28%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,695 ₺80.6K

$918 ₺43.6K

84.75%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,195 ₺56.8K

$1,305 ₺62.0K

-8.45%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

48.43

21.07%

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

Last update for Istanbul: July 27, 2026

Last update for Kastamonu: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $947 in Istanbul versus $509 in Kastamonu. 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 9% higher in Kastamonu, 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 $50.0 in Istanbul versus $39.00 in Kastamonu. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $254 vs $233 – making Kastamonu the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Kastamonu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Istanbul is pricier by about 23%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,133 per month in Istanbul and $1,733 in Kastamonu. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Kastamonu, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $933 per month in Istanbul and $608 in Kastamonu. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 9% more in Istanbul, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Kastamonu, where all-in costs run around $1,155, than in Istanbul at $1,422. In Kastamonu it covers expenses comfortably, while in Istanbul it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Kastamonu – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Kastamonu. 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.