Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Istanbul and Mohacs

For one person, living is cheaper in Mohacs: $1,250 a month against $1,525 in Istanbul, rent and utilities included – about $3,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Istanbul
🇹🇷 Turkey
$1,525
/mo nomad
Mohacs
🇭🇺 Hungary
$1,250
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Istanbul and in Mohacs

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

A single person spends $1,525 per month in Istanbul vs $1,250 in Mohacs, rent included.

  • Istanbul $1,525
  • Mohacs $1,250

A couple spends around $2,390 per month in Istanbul vs $1,916 in Mohacs, rent included.

  • Istanbul $2,390
  • Mohacs $1,916

A family of three spends $3,256 per month in Istanbul vs $2,583 in Mohacs, rent included.

  • Istanbul $3,256
  • Mohacs $2,583

Istanbul costs about 22% more than Mohacs, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Istanbul sits 13% above the global median, while Mohacs is 8% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Istanbul
Mohacs
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.96 ₺592
$9.55 Ft 3,086
25.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$57.2 ₺2,834
$55.8 Ft 18.0K
2.65%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.51 ₺471
$8.95 Ft 2,891
6.26%
Cappuccino
$4.40 ₺218
$2.38 Ft 768
84.87%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75 ₺86.6
$1.50 Ft 484
16.67%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.56 ₺27.57
$1.23 Ft 396
-54.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.71 ₺233
$2.27 Ft 734
107.49%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.14 ₺304
$2.33 Ft 754
163.52%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Istanbul
Mohacs
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.24 ₺61.6
$1.19 Ft 384
4.20%
White Bread (500g)
$0.95 ₺47.25
$1.52 Ft 490
-37.50%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.28 ₺113
$2.48 Ft 802
-8.06%
Eggs
$2.45 ₺121
$3.49 Ft 1,126
-29.80%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.56 ₺523
$10.51 Ft 3,394
0.48%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.50 ₺272
$6.59 Ft 2,128
-16.54%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$21.65 ₺1,072
$14.79 Ft 4,779
46.38%
Apples (1kg)
$1.83 ₺90.6
$1.99 Ft 643
-8.04%
Banana (1kg)
$2.29 ₺113
$2.11 Ft 683
8.53%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.28 ₺63.4
$2.08 Ft 672
-38.46%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.82 ₺90.1
$3.38 Ft 1,093
-46.15%
Potato (1kg)
$0.66 ₺32.74
$0.99 Ft 318
-33.33%
Onion (1kg)
$0.63 ₺31.14
$1.05 Ft 339
-40.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.27 ₺62.8
$1.57 Ft 509
-19.11%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 ₺27.62
$0.52 Ft 168
7.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.36 ₺117
$7.72 Ft 2,494
-69.43%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.98 ₺642
$4.99 Ft 1,613
160.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.48 ₺123
$1.21 Ft 390
104.96%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.50 ₺174
$1.96 Ft 633
78.57%
🚌 Getting Around
Istanbul
Mohacs
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.82 ₺40.77
$1.25 Ft 405
-34.40%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$65.2 ₺3,228
$26.44 Ft 8,544
146.60%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.33 ₺65.7
$2.93 Ft 947
-54.61%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.90 ₺44.60
$1.42 Ft 459
-36.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.91 ₺540
$18.26 Ft 5,899
-40.25%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.43 ₺70.7
$1.83 Ft 590
-21.86%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$49.6K ₺2.5M
$30.0K Ft 9.7M
65.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$43.2K ₺2.1M
$34.3K Ft 11.1M
26.00%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Istanbul
Mohacs
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$88.8 ₺4,395
$151 Ft 48.9K
-41.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.69 ₺579
$24.12 Ft 7,792
-51.53%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.09 ₺797
$21.17 Ft 6,840
-24.00%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Istanbul
Mohacs
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.3 ₺3,776
$47.26 Ft 15.3K
61.36%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.72 ₺1,125
$18.64 Ft 6,023
21.89%
Cinema Ticket
$8.26 ₺409
$8.73 Ft 2,821
-5.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Istanbul
Mohacs
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,015 ₺50.2K
$249 Ft 80.5K
307.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$25.8K ₺1.3M
$7,655 Ft 2.5M
237.55%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Istanbul
Mohacs
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.3 ₺2,636
$87.0 Ft 28.1K
-38.76%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.55 ₺2,008
$31.31 Ft 10.1K
29.51%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$100 ₺4,956
$87.3 Ft 28.2K
14.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$93.5 ₺4,630
$104 Ft 33.7K
-10.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Istanbul
Mohacs
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$977 ₺48.4K
$529 Ft 170.9K
84.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$627 ₺31.0K
$403 Ft 130.3K
55.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,980 ₺98.0K
$750 Ft 242.3K
164.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,147 ₺56.8K
$641 Ft 207.1K
78.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,095 ₺153.2K
$2,998 Ft 968.5K
3.26%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,787 ₺88.5K
$2,636 Ft 851.7K
-32.22%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Istanbul
Mohacs
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,213 ₺60.1K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
40.69
6.67
510.04%

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

Last update for Istanbul: October 19, 2026

Last update for Mohacs: October 17, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Istanbul
$627
Mohacs
$403 35.7% $224
Groceries & Markets
Istanbul
$263
Mohacs
$245 6.6% $17
Eating Out
Istanbul
$222
Mohacs
$159 28.5% $63
Clothing & Footwear
Istanbul
$129
Mohacs
$139 7.8% $10
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Istanbul
$117
Mohacs
$197 68.8% $80
Sport & Entertainment
Istanbul
$93
Mohacs
$65 30.2% $28
Getting Around
Istanbul
$74
Mohacs
$41 44.2% $33

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $977 in Istanbul versus $529 in Mohacs. 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 $57.0 in Istanbul versus $56.0 in Mohacs. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $263 vs $245 – making Mohacs the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇹🇷 Istanbul
🇭🇺 Mohacs
🕒 Local time
20:58 8:58 PM
19:58 7:58 PM
1 h behind Istanbul
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
15,701,602
17,200
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

HUF, USD, EUR to TRY – Turkish Lira Converter

Turkish Lira exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 49.51 TRY (100 TRY = 2.02 USD). 1 EUR = 55.66 TRY (100 TRY = 1.8 EUR).

Hungarian Forint exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 323 HUF (1,000 HUF = 3.1 USD). 1 EUR = 363 HUF (1,000 HUF = 2.75 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Istanbul Mohacs 1,000 km ≈ 1 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Istanbul
  • Mohacs

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 Mohacs: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mohacs cheaper than Istanbul?
Yes – Istanbul is pricier by about 22%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,287 per month in Istanbul and $1,874 in Mohacs. 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 Mohacs, 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 $1,015 per month in Istanbul and $249 in Mohacs. 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 Mohacs?
Groceries cost about 7% 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 $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Istanbul or in Mohacs?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Mohacs, where all-in costs run around $1,250, than in Istanbul at $1,525. In Mohacs it covers expenses comfortably, while in Istanbul it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Istanbul or Mohacs more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Mohacs – 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 Mohacs?
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 Mohacs. 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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