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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,451 per month in Istanbul vs $1,129 in Kastamonu, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,235 per month in Istanbul vs $1,781 in Kastamonu, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,020 per month in Istanbul vs $2,433 in Kastamonu, rent included.

Istanbul costs about 28% more than Kastamonu, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Istanbul sits 8% above the global median, while Kastamonu is 16% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.31 ₺509

$9.32 ₺419

21.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$51.5 ₺2,316

$38.70 ₺1,740

33.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.47 ₺336

$8.89 ₺400

-15.97%

Cappuccino

$3.44 ₺155

$3.28 ₺147

4.88%

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

$1.35 ₺60.7

$1.21 ₺54.4

11.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.46 ₺20.51

$0.39 ₺17.41

17.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.91 ₺176

$3.24 ₺146

20.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.02 ₺226

$3.76 ₺169

33.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 ₺49.61

$0.96 ₺43.10

14.58%

White Bread (500g)

$0.77 ₺34.69

$0.71 ₺31.86

8.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.17 ₺97.7

$2.30 ₺103

-5.65%

Eggs

$2.73 ₺123

$2.34 ₺105

16.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.07 ₺453

$9.44 ₺424

6.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.59 ₺296

$6.02 ₺271

9.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.90 ₺894

$19.63 ₺883

1.38%

Apples (1kg)

$1.45 ₺65.3

$1.45 ₺65.1

Banana (1kg)

$2.25 ₺101

$2.27 ₺102

-0.88%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.28 ₺57.5

$1.25 ₺56.4

2.40%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.63 ₺73.4

$1.53 ₺68.9

6.54%

Potato (1kg)

$0.76 ₺34.26

$0.69 ₺31.10

10.14%

Onion (1kg)

$0.73 ₺32.75

$0.56 ₺25.23

30.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.17 ₺52.7

$1.13 ₺50.7

3.54%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.62 ₺27.71

$0.40 ₺17.96

55.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.20 ₺99.0

$2.14 ₺96.2

2.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.16 ₺547

$7.74 ₺348

57.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.21 ₺99.3

$2.08 ₺93.6

6.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.05 ₺137

$3.14 ₺141

-2.87%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.68 ₺30.55

$0.66 ₺29.85

3.03%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ₺2,420

$30.80 ₺1,384

74.81%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.05 ₺47.33

$0.92 ₺41.15

14.13%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.59 ₺26.66

$0.61 ₺27.50

-3.28%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.94 ₺402

$6.33 ₺284

41.23%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ₺51.8

$1.19 ₺53.3

-3.36%

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

$45.8K ₺2.1M

$42.7K ₺1.9M

7.03%

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

$43.0K ₺1.9M

$43.9K ₺2.0M

-1.90%

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

$71.5 ₺3,212

$86.8 ₺3,901

-17.67%

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

$12.33 ₺554

$10.63 ₺478

15.99%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.09 ₺678

$13.72 ₺617

9.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.4 ₺2,714

$44.13 ₺1,983

36.80%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.99 ₺854

Cinema Ticket

$7.46 ₺335

$6.44 ₺289

15.84%

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

$943 ₺42.4K

$598 ₺26.9K

57.54%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.3K ₺822.0K

$13.8K ₺621.8K

32.20%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.7 ₺2,549

$57.7 ₺2,591

-1.63%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.49 ₺2,090

$45.13 ₺2,029

3.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ₺5,155

$106 ₺4,743

8.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 ₺4,683

$95.9 ₺4,309

8.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$970 ₺43.6K

$510 ₺22.9K

90.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$630 ₺28.3K

$390 ₺17.6K

61.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,746 ₺78.5K

$903 ₺40.6K

93.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,064 ₺47.8K

$698 ₺31.4K

52.48%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,310 ₺148.8K

$1,370 ₺61.6K

141.61%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,691 ₺76.0K

$967 ₺43.5K

74.96%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,164 ₺52.3K

$1,356 ₺61.0K

-14.18%

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: April 21, 2026

Last update for Kastamonu: April 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $970 in Istanbul versus $510 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 17% 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 $52 in Istanbul versus $39 in Kastamonu. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $253 vs $231 – 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 28%, 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 $2,176 per month in Istanbul and $1,694 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 $943 per month in Istanbul and $598 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 $1,129, than in Istanbul at $1,451. 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.