Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Istanbul and Koszalin

For one person, living is cheaper in Koszalin: $1,286 a month against $1,550 in Istanbul, rent and utilities included – about $3,200 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Istanbul
🇹🇷 Turkey
$1,550
/mo nomad
Koszalin
🇵🇱 Poland
$1,286
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Istanbul and in Koszalin

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

A single person spends $1,550 per month in Istanbul vs $1,286 in Koszalin, rent included.

  • Istanbul $1,550
  • Koszalin $1,286

A couple spends around $2,415 per month in Istanbul vs $1,910 in Koszalin, rent included.

  • Istanbul $2,415
  • Koszalin $1,910

A family of three spends $3,281 per month in Istanbul vs $2,534 in Koszalin, rent included.

  • Istanbul $3,281
  • Koszalin $2,534

Istanbul costs about 21% more than Koszalin, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Istanbul sits 15% above the global median, while Koszalin is 5% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Istanbul
Koszalin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.30 ₺609
$8.18 zł 31.78
50.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$54.7 ₺2,708
$38.27 zł 149
42.93%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.22 ₺456
$8.84 zł 34.34
4.30%
Cappuccino
$4.40 ₺218
$2.94 zł 11.41
49.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68 ₺83.1
$1.58 zł 6.13
6.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.59 ₺29.40
$1.30 zł 5.07
-54.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.70 ₺233
$3.73 zł 14.51
26.01%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.91 ₺292
$2.57 zł 10.00
129.96%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Istanbul
Koszalin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.21 ₺60.0
$0.99 zł 3.84
22.22%
White Bread (500g)
$0.89 ₺44.10
$1.11 zł 4.33
-19.82%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.19 ₺108
$0.80 zł 3.10
173.75%
Eggs
$2.35 ₺116
$2.89 zł 11.23
-18.69%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.42 ₺516
$8.30 zł 32.26
25.54%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.65 ₺280
$6.42 zł 24.92
-11.99%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.94 ₺1,037
$9.51 zł 36.94
120.19%
Apples (1kg)
$1.90 ₺94.1
$0.83 zł 3.22
128.92%
Banana (1kg)
$2.31 ₺114
$1.12 zł 4.36
106.25%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.28 ₺63.1
$1.74 zł 6.77
-26.44%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.80 ₺89.0
$2.33 zł 9.05
-22.75%
Potato (1kg)
$0.65 ₺32.16
$0.66 zł 2.56
-1.52%
Onion (1kg)
$0.64 ₺31.91
$0.77 zł 3.00
-16.88%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.25 ₺62.1
$0.85 zł 3.32
47.06%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 ₺27.58
$0.56 zł 2.18
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.37 ₺118
$4.68 zł 18.20
-49.36%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.42 ₺664
$6.52 zł 25.33
105.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.40 ₺119
$1.05 zł 4.06
128.57%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.48 ₺172
$1.33 zł 5.16
161.65%
🚌 Getting Around
Istanbul
Koszalin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.89 ₺43.84
$1.00 zł 3.87
-11.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$67.4 ₺3,338
$27.92 zł 108
141.51%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.29 ₺64.1
$2.08 zł 8.10
-37.98%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.92 ₺45.70
$0.64 zł 2.47
43.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.96 ₺542
$9.03 zł 35.09
21.37%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.47 ₺72.9
$1.65 zł 6.40
-10.91%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$50.8K ₺2.5M
$29.7K zł 115.3K
71.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$44.5K ₺2.2M
$27.1K zł 105.4K
64.08%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Istanbul
Koszalin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$88.6 ₺4,387
$287 zł 1,115
-69.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.59 ₺574
$10.15 zł 39.42
14.19%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.81 ₺783
$17.18 zł 66.8
-7.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Istanbul
Koszalin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$77.2 ₺3,820
$35.42 zł 138
117.84%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.74 ₺1,126
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.14 ₺403
$7.52 zł 29.23
8.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Istanbul
Koszalin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,008 ₺49.9K
$521 zł 2,024
93.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$25.6K ₺1.3M
$7,925 zł 30.8K
222.55%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Istanbul
Koszalin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.0 ₺2,671
$87.3 zł 339
-38.19%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.83 ₺2,021
$48.05 zł 187
-15.03%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.9 ₺4,895
$91.1 zł 354
8.55%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$96.6 ₺4,783
$102 zł 395
-5.06%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Istanbul
Koszalin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$985 ₺48.7K
$630 zł 2,449
56.22%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$650 ₺32.2K
$388 zł 1,508
67.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,983 ₺98.2K
$1,030 zł 4,000
92.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,180 ₺58.4K
$759 zł 2,948
55.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,138 ₺155.4K
$2,128 zł 8,268
47.46%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,780 ₺88.1K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Istanbul
Koszalin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,205 ₺59.7K
$1,236 zł 4,802
-2.47%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
40.92
6.67
513.49%

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

Last update for Istanbul: October 13, 2026

Last update for Koszalin: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Istanbul
$650
Koszalin
$388 40.3% $262
Groceries & Markets
Istanbul
$260
Koszalin
$185 28.6% $74
Eating Out
Istanbul
$223
Koszalin
$163 27.2% $61
Clothing & Footwear
Istanbul
$131
Koszalin
$148 13.1% $17
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Istanbul
$116
Koszalin
$314 171% $198
Sport & Entertainment
Istanbul
$93
Koszalin
$50 46% $43
Getting Around
Istanbul
$77
Koszalin
$37 51.7% $40

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $985 in Istanbul versus $630 in Koszalin. 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 3% higher in Koszalin, 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 $55.0 in Istanbul versus $38.00 in Koszalin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $260 vs $185 – making Koszalin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇹🇷 Istanbul
🇵🇱 Koszalin
🕒 Local time
07:28 7:28 AM
06:28 6:28 AM
1 h behind Istanbul
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
15,701,602
105,143
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

PLN, USD, EUR to TRY – Turkish Lira Converter

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).

Polish Złoty exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 3.89 PLN (1 PLN = 0.257 USD). 1 EUR = 4.37 PLN (1 PLN = 0.229 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Istanbul Koszalin 1,750 km ≈ 2 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Istanbul
  • Koszalin

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 Koszalin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Koszalin cheaper than Istanbul?
Yes – Istanbul is pricier by about 21%, 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 $2,325 per month in Istanbul and $1,929 in Koszalin. 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 Koszalin, 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 $521 in Koszalin. 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 Koszalin?
Groceries cost about 40% 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 $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Istanbul or in Koszalin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Koszalin, where all-in costs run around $1,286, than in Istanbul at $1,550. In Koszalin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Istanbul it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Istanbul or Koszalin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Koszalin – 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 Koszalin?
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 Koszalin. 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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