Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Istanbul and Maharagama

For one person, living is cheaper in Maharagama: $133 a month against $1,550 in Istanbul, rent and utilities included – about $17,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

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Cost of Living Index in Istanbul
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Istanbul Living Index

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Istanbul

🇹🇷 Turkey

$1,550

/mo nomad

Maharagama

🇱🇰 Sri Lanka

$133

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Istanbul and in Maharagama

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

A single person spends $1,550 per month in Istanbul vs $133 in Maharagama, rent included.

Istanbul $1,550
Maharagama $133

A couple spends around $2,415 per month in Istanbul vs $250 in Maharagama, rent included.

Istanbul $2,415
Maharagama $250

A family of three spends $3,281 per month in Istanbul vs $367 in Maharagama, rent included.

Istanbul $3,281
Maharagama $367

Istanbul costs about 1063% more than Maharagama, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Istanbul sits 15% above the global median, while Maharagama is 90% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.30 ₺609

$5.39 LKR 1,785

128.20%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$54.7 ₺2,708

$20.20 LKR 6,690

170.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.22 ₺456

$6.82 LKR 2,260

35.19%

Cappuccino

$4.40 ₺218

$2.12 LKR 701

107.55%

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

$1.68 ₺83.1

$0.59 LKR 196

184.75%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.59 ₺29.40

$0.29 LKR 94.8

103.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.70 ₺233

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.91 ₺292

Milk (1 liter)

$1.21 ₺60.0

$0.93 LKR 307

30.11%

White Bread (500g)

$0.89 ₺44.10

$0.25 LKR 83.2

256.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.19 ₺108

$0.49 LKR 162

346.94%

Eggs

$2.35 ₺116

$1.49 LKR 494

57.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.42 ₺516

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.65 ₺280

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.94 ₺1,037

Apples (1kg)

$1.90 ₺94.1

Banana (1kg)

$2.31 ₺114

Oranges (1kg)

$1.28 ₺63.1

Tomato (1kg)

$1.80 ₺89.0

Potato (1kg)

$0.65 ₺32.16

Onion (1kg)

$0.64 ₺31.91

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.25 ₺62.1

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ₺27.58

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.37 ₺118

Wine (Bottle)

$13.42 ₺664

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.40 ₺119

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.48 ₺172

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ₺43.84

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$67.4 ₺3,338

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.29 ₺64.1

$0.44 LKR 146

193.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.92 ₺45.70

$0.47 LKR 155

95.74%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.96 ₺542

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.47 ₺72.9

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

$50.8K ₺2.5M

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

$44.5K ₺2.2M

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

$88.6 ₺4,387

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

$11.59 ₺574

$4.63 LKR 1,534

150.32%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.81 ₺783

$13.62 LKR 4,510

16.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$77.2 ₺3,820

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.74 ₺1,126

Cinema Ticket

$8.14 ₺403

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

$1,008 ₺49.9K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$25.6K ₺1.3M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.0 ₺2,671

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.83 ₺2,021

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.9 ₺4,895

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$96.6 ₺4,783

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$985 ₺48.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$650 ₺32.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,983 ₺98.2K

$197 LKR 65.3K

905.47%

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

$244 LKR 80.7K

394.88%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

40.92

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

Last update for Istanbul: October 13, 2026

Last update for Maharagama: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Istanbul

$650 41.9%

Maharagama

–

Groceries & Markets

Istanbul

$260 16.8%

Maharagama

–

Eating Out

Istanbul

$223 14.4%

Maharagama

–

Clothing & Footwear

Istanbul

$131 8.4%

Maharagama

–

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Istanbul

$116 7.5%

Maharagama

–

Sport & Entertainment

Istanbul

$93 6%

Maharagama

–

Getting Around

Istanbul

$77 5%

Maharagama

–

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 395% 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 $20.00 in Maharagama. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $260 vs $20.00 – making Maharagama the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇹🇷 Istanbul

🇱🇰 Maharagama

🕒 Local time

13:42 1:42 PM

16:12 4:12 PM

2 h 30 min ahead of Istanbul

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

15,701,602

196,400

💱 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 →

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Istanbul Maharagama 6,300 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight

From you

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Maharagama

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 Maharagama: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Istanbul is pricier by about 1063%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,325 per month in Istanbul and $200 in Maharagama. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Groceries cost about 1218% 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 mid-range dinner for two costs $55.0 in Istanbul and $20.00 in Maharagama. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Maharagama, where all-in costs run around $133, than in Istanbul at $1,550. In Maharagama it covers expenses comfortably, while in Istanbul it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Maharagama – 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 Maharagama. 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.