Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Istanbul and Kasur

For one person, living is cheaper in Kasur: $480 a month against $1,519 in Istanbul, rent and utilities included – about $12,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Istanbul, Turkey
Kasur, Pakistan
Istanbul
🇹🇷 Turkey
$1,519
/mo nomad
Kasur
🇵🇰 Pakistan
$480
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Istanbul and in Kasur

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

A single person spends $1,519 per month in Istanbul vs $480 in Kasur, rent included.

  • Istanbul $1,519
  • Kasur $480

A couple spends around $2,365 per month in Istanbul vs $688 in Kasur, rent included.

  • Istanbul $2,365
  • Kasur $688

A family of three spends $3,212 per month in Istanbul vs $895 in Kasur, rent included.

  • Istanbul $3,212
  • Kasur $895

Istanbul costs about 216% more than Kasur, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Istanbul sits 12% above the global median, while Kasur is 64% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Istanbul
Kasur
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.81 ₺591
$1.09 PKR 302
983.49%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$54.9 ₺2,748
$7.17 PKR 1,982
665.83%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.26 ₺463
$5.33 PKR 1,474
73.73%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.69 PKR 743
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$5.31 PKR 1,469
-
Cappuccino
$4.30 ₺215
$1.83 PKR 507
134.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.77 ₺88.8
$0.28 PKR 76.7
532.14%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.56 ₺28.26
$0.16 PKR 45.12
250.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.69 ₺234
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.12 ₺356
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Istanbul
Kasur
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.25 ₺62.6
$0.72 PKR 200
73.61%
White Bread (500g)
$0.88 ₺44.07
$0.34 PKR 95.0
158.82%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.20 ₺110
$0.87 PKR 240
152.87%
Eggs
$2.43 ₺122
$0.85 PKR 235
185.88%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.48 ₺524
$3.60 PKR 995
191.11%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.31 ₺266
$2.44 PKR 675
117.62%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$21.10 ₺1,056
$3.69 PKR 1,020
471.82%
Apples (1kg)
$1.86 ₺92.9
$0.70 PKR 195
165.71%
Banana (1kg)
$2.30 ₺115
$0.47 PKR 129
389.36%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.22 ₺60.8
$0.67 PKR 185
82.09%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.80 ₺90.0
$0.38 PKR 104
373.68%
Potato (1kg)
$0.69 ₺34.75
$0.40 PKR 109
72.50%
Onion (1kg)
$0.64 ₺32.09
$0.35 PKR 95.8
82.86%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.36 ₺67.8
$0.47 PKR 129
189.36%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.58 ₺28.88
$0.37 PKR 103
56.76%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
-
$1.89 PKR 523
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.05 PKR 291
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.36 PKR 654
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.34 ₺117
$0.86 PKR 238
172.09%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.03 ₺652
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.36 ₺118
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.32 ₺166
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Istanbul
Kasur
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.88 ₺43.97
$0.17 PKR 46.07
417.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$66.1 ₺3,309
$9.77 PKR 2,703
576.77%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.28 ₺64.3
$1.41 PKR 391
-9.22%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.85 ₺42.70
$0.38 PKR 104
123.68%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$11.09 ₺555
$0.88 PKR 245
1160.23%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.48 ₺73.9
$1.18 PKR 327
25.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$48.6K ₺2.4M
$24.7K PKR 6.8M
96.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$42.0K ₺2.1M
$23.1K PKR 6.4M
81.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Istanbul
Kasur
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$92.7 ₺4,639
$143 PKR 39.5K
-35.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.20 ₺560
$4.86 PKR 1,344
130.45%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.89 ₺795
$19.32 PKR 5,344
-17.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Istanbul
Kasur
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$74.7 ₺3,737
$15.18 PKR 4,199
391.96%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.95 ₺1,149
$8.19 PKR 2,266
180.22%
Cinema Ticket
$8.05 ₺403
$4.41 PKR 1,219
82.54%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Istanbul
Kasur
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$948 ₺47.5K
$42.73 PKR 11.8K
2119.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$36.9K ₺1.8M
$1,031 PKR 285.3K
3479.50%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Istanbul
Kasur
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.9 ₺2,696
$18.34 PKR 5,073
193.78%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.49 ₺2,076
$19.21 PKR 5,315
115.98%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 ₺5,049
$92.8 PKR 25.7K
8.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$91.3 ₺4,570
$26.06 PKR 7,208
250.38%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Istanbul
Kasur
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,014 ₺50.7K
$137 PKR 37.9K
640.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$625 ₺31.3K
$86.1 PKR 23.8K
625.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,005 ₺100.4K
$266 PKR 73.6K
653.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,126 ₺56.3K
$184 PKR 50.8K
512.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,988 ₺149.5K
$826 PKR 228.5K
261.73%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,730 ₺86.6K
$499 PKR 137.9K
246.92%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Istanbul
Kasur
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,136 ₺56.9K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
40.42
13
210.92%

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

Last update for Istanbul: November 2, 2026

Last update for Kasur: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Istanbul
$625
Kasur
$86 86.2% $538
Groceries & Markets
Istanbul
$258
Kasur
$71 72.6% $188
Eating Out
Istanbul
$221
Kasur
$48 78.1% $172
Clothing & Footwear
Istanbul
$129
Kasur
$70 45.6% $59
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Istanbul
$120
Kasur
$167 39.3% $47
Sport & Entertainment
Istanbul
$91
Kasur
$24 73.6% $67
Getting Around
Istanbul
$75
Kasur
$14 81.7% $61

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,014 in Istanbul versus $137 in Kasur. 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 in Istanbul versus $7 in Kasur. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $258 vs $71 – making Kasur the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇹🇷 Istanbul
🇵🇰 Kasur
🕒 Local time
23:09 11:09 PM
01:09 1:09 AM
2 h ahead of Istanbul
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
15,701,602
358,409
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

PKR, USD, EUR to TRY – Turkish Lira Converter

Turkish Lira exchange rates as of November 5, 2026: 1 USD = 50.04 TRY (100 TRY = 2 USD). 1 EUR = 56.18 TRY (100 TRY = 1.78 EUR).

Pakistani Rupee exchange rates as of November 5, 2026: 1 USD = 277 PKR (1,000 PKR = 3.62 USD). 1 EUR = 311 PKR (1,000 PKR = 3.22 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Istanbul Kasur 4,180 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Istanbul
  • Kasur

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 Kasur: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kasur cheaper than Istanbul?
Yes – Istanbul is pricier by about 216%, 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 $2,278 per month in Istanbul and $720 in Kasur. 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 Kasur, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $137 there versus $1,014 in Istanbul.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $948 per month in Istanbul and $43 in Kasur. 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 Kasur?
Groceries cost about 265% more in Istanbul, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Istanbul or in Kasur?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Kasur, where all-in costs run around $480, than in Istanbul at $1,519. In Kasur it covers expenses comfortably, while in Istanbul it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Istanbul or Kasur more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Kasur – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
For expats, Kasur is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and overall it costs about 68% less, which matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.

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