Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Istanbul and Kegalle

For one person, living is cheaper in Kegalle: $594 a month against $1,550 in Istanbul, rent and utilities included – about $11,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

75

Cost of Living Index in Istanbul
Learn more

Istanbul Living Index
29

Cost of Living Index in Kegalle
Learn more

Kegalle Living Index

Jump to prices

Istanbul

🇹🇷 Turkey

$1,550

/mo nomad

Kegalle

🇱🇰 Sri Lanka

$594

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Istanbul and in Kegalle

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

A single person spends $1,550 per month in Istanbul vs $594 in Kegalle, rent included.

Istanbul $1,550
Kegalle $594

A couple spends around $2,415 per month in Istanbul vs $865 in Kegalle, rent included.

Istanbul $2,415
Kegalle $865

A family of three spends $3,281 per month in Istanbul vs $1,136 in Kegalle, rent included.

Istanbul $3,281
Kegalle $1,136

Istanbul costs about 161% more than Kegalle, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Istanbul sits 15% above the global median, while Kegalle is 56% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.30 ₺609

$3.05 LKR 1,009

303.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$54.7 ₺2,708

$24.54 LKR 8,130

122.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.22 ₺456

$7.47 LKR 2,474

23.43%

Cappuccino

$4.40 ₺218

$2.44 LKR 810

80.33%

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

$1.68 ₺83.1

$0.47 LKR 155

257.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.59 ₺29.40

$0.27 LKR 90.0

118.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.70 ₺233

$2.23 LKR 738

110.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.91 ₺292

$3.06 LKR 1,014

93.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.21 ₺60.0

$1.56 LKR 515

-22.44%

White Bread (500g)

$0.89 ₺44.10

$0.47 LKR 155

89.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.19 ₺108

$0.67 LKR 224

226.87%

Eggs

$2.35 ₺116

$1.60 LKR 528

46.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.42 ₺516

$14.02 LKR 4,643

-25.68%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.65 ₺280

$4.83 LKR 1,599

16.98%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.94 ₺1,037

$7.37 LKR 2,440

184.12%

Apples (1kg)

$1.90 ₺94.1

$6.08 LKR 2,013

-68.75%

Banana (1kg)

$2.31 ₺114

$0.81 LKR 270

185.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.28 ₺63.1

$4.35 LKR 1,442

-70.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.80 ₺89.0

$1.23 LKR 409

46.34%

Potato (1kg)

$0.65 ₺32.16

$0.87 LKR 289

-25.29%

Onion (1kg)

$0.64 ₺31.91

$0.77 LKR 254

-16.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.25 ₺62.1

$0.37 LKR 123

237.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ₺27.58

$0.43 LKR 142

30.23%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.37 ₺118

$9.79 LKR 3,242

-75.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.42 ₺664

$12.70 LKR 4,208

5.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.40 ₺119

$1.95 LKR 646

23.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.48 ₺172

$2.68 LKR 889

29.85%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ₺43.84

$0.59 LKR 194

50.85%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$67.4 ₺3,338

$7.43 LKR 2,461

807.54%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.29 ₺64.1

$0.35 LKR 115

268.57%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.92 ₺45.70

$0.35 LKR 114

162.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.96 ₺542

$0.87 LKR 287

1159.77%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.47 ₺72.9

$1.37 LKR 455

7.30%

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

$50.8K ₺2.5M

$37.3K LKR 12.4M

36.11%

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

$44.5K ₺2.2M

$36.8K LKR 12.2M

20.91%

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

$88.6 ₺4,387

$59.7 LKR 19.8K

48.55%

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

$11.59 ₺574

$4.31 LKR 1,428

168.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.81 ₺783

$21.15 LKR 7,005

-25.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$77.2 ₺3,820

$19.26 LKR 6,381

300.62%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.74 ₺1,126

$15.06 LKR 4,988

51.00%

Cinema Ticket

$8.14 ₺403

$4.48 LKR 1,485

81.70%

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

$1,008 ₺49.9K

$38.17 LKR 12.6K

2540.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$25.6K ₺1.3M

$1,222 LKR 404.7K

1992.08%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.0 ₺2,671

$18.04 LKR 5,976

199.06%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.83 ₺2,021

$15.02 LKR 4,975

171.84%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.9 ₺4,895

$45.07 LKR 14.9K

119.39%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$96.6 ₺4,783

$41.44 LKR 13.7K

133.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$985 ₺48.7K

$119 LKR 39.4K

727.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$650 ₺32.2K

$91.2 LKR 30.2K

612.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,983 ₺98.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,180 ₺58.4K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,138 ₺155.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,780 ₺88.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,205 ₺59.7K

$181 LKR 59.9K

566.60%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

40.92

12.69

222.46%

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

Last update for Istanbul: October 13, 2026

Last update for Kegalle: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Istanbul

$650 41.9%

Kegalle

$91 15.4% 86% $559

Groceries & Markets

Istanbul

$260 16.8%

Kegalle

$228 38.3% 12.3% $32

Eating Out

Istanbul

$223 14.4%

Kegalle

$96 16.2% 56.9% $127

Clothing & Footwear

Istanbul

$131 8.4%

Kegalle

$54 9.1% 58.8% $77

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Istanbul

$116 7.5%

Kegalle

$85 14.3% 26.6% $31

Sport & Entertainment

Istanbul

$93 6%

Kegalle

$28 4.8% 69.8% $65

Getting Around

Istanbul

$77 5%

Kegalle

$12 2% 84.6% $65

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $985 in Istanbul versus $119 in Kegalle. 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 567% 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 $25.00 in Kegalle. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $260 vs $228 – making Kegalle the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇹🇷 Istanbul

🇱🇰 Kegalle

🕒 Local time

19:57 7:57 PM

22:27 10:27 PM

2 h 30 min ahead of Istanbul

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

15,701,602

17,900

💱 Currency

Turkish Lira TRY ₺

Sri Lankan Rupee LKR Rs

📈 Exchange rate

100 TRY = 2.02 USD

100 TRY = 1.8 EUR

1,000 LKR = 3.02 USD

1,000 LKR = 2.69 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

LKR, USD, EUR to TRY – Turkish Lira Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇹🇷 Turkish Lira (₺)

Turkish Lira exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 49.51 TRY (100 TRY = 2.02 USD). 1 EUR = 55.66 TRY (100 TRY = 1.8 EUR).

Sri Lankan Rupee exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 331 LKR (1,000 LKR = 3.02 USD). 1 EUR = 372 LKR (1,000 LKR = 2.69 EUR).

USD to TRY in detail →

On the map

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Between locations

Istanbul Kegalle 6,300 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight

From you

Istanbul
Kegalle

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 Kegalle: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Istanbul is pricier by about 161%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,325 per month in Istanbul and $891 in Kegalle. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $1,008 per month in Istanbul and $38.17 in Kegalle. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 14% 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 $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Kegalle, where all-in costs run around $594, than in Istanbul at $1,550. In Kegalle it covers expenses comfortably, while in Istanbul it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Kegalle – 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 Kegalle. 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.