Cost of Living Comparison Between Istanbul and Mugla Cost of Living Comparison Between Istanbul and Mugla

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,538 per month in Istanbul vs $928 in Mugla, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,390 per month in Istanbul vs $1,472 in Mugla, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,241 per month in Istanbul vs $2,016 in Mugla, rent included.

Istanbul costs about 66% more than Mugla, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Istanbul sits 12% above the global median, while Mugla is 32% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.28 ₺497

$7.12 ₺344

44.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$51.9 ₺2,508

$48.44 ₺2,341

7.14%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.15 ₺442

$7.98 ₺386

14.66%

Cappuccino

$4.20 ₺203

$3.82 ₺184

9.95%

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

$1.68 ₺81.4

$1.75 ₺84.5

-4.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.59 ₺28.61

$0.52 ₺25.33

13.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.08 ₺197

$3.06 ₺148

33.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.04 ₺292

$3.84 ₺186

57.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.22 ₺59.2

$1.11 ₺53.7

9.91%

White Bread (500g)

$0.94 ₺45.66

$1.00 ₺48.08

-6.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.37 ₺114

$2.07 ₺100

14.49%

Eggs

$2.45 ₺119

$2.16 ₺105

13.43%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.80 ₺522

$9.43 ₺456

14.53%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.38 ₺260

$5.00 ₺242

7.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$21.07 ₺1,018

$20.43 ₺987

3.13%

Apples (1kg)

$1.97 ₺95.4

$1.72 ₺83.2

14.53%

Banana (1kg)

$2.27 ₺109

$1.84 ₺88.9

23.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.17 ₺56.6

$0.99 ₺47.74

18.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.94 ₺93.9

$1.49 ₺72.1

30.20%

Potato (1kg)

$0.63 ₺30.20

$0.52 ₺25.03

21.15%

Onion (1kg)

$0.56 ₺27.21

$0.44 ₺21.15

27.27%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.09 ₺52.7

$1.00 ₺48.37

9.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.62 ₺30.13

$0.70 ₺33.90

-11.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.34 ₺113

$2.39 ₺115

-2.09%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.70 ₺662

$10.20 ₺493

34.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.43 ₺117

$2.26 ₺109

7.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.35 ₺162

$2.60 ₺125

28.85%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ₺43.01

$1.28 ₺61.7

-30.47%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$68.7 ₺3,318

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.37 ₺66.3

$0.97 ₺46.85

41.24%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.89 ₺42.97

$0.73 ₺35.29

21.92%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.86 ₺525

$8.50 ₺410

27.76%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.37 ₺66.0

$1.35 ₺65.3

1.48%

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

$52.1K ₺2.5M

$44.2K ₺2.1M

17.85%

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

$43.6K ₺2.1M

$40.7K ₺2.0M

7.15%

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

$90.0 ₺4,350

$73.8 ₺3,565

21.99%

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

$11.49 ₺555

$10.52 ₺509

9.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.30 ₺788

$15.70 ₺759

3.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$71.4 ₺3,452

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.13 ₺1,118

Cinema Ticket

$8.09 ₺391

$5.57 ₺269

45.24%

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

$989 ₺47.8K

$712 ₺34.4K

38.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$27.6K ₺1.3M

$13.5K ₺650.5K

105.21%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.6 ₺2,591

$46.67 ₺2,255

14.91%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.45 ₺1,954

$33.35 ₺1,611

21.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 ₺4,878

$93.0 ₺4,493

8.57%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$93.1 ₺4,500

$80.4 ₺3,884

15.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$975 ₺47.1K

$412 ₺19.9K

136.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$643 ₺31.0K

$316 ₺15.2K

103.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,925 ₺93.0K

$823 ₺39.7K

134.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,178 ₺56.9K

$518 ₺25.0K

127.68%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,080 ₺148.8K

$1,750 ₺84.6K

75.97%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,690 ₺81.7K

$1,051 ₺50.8K

60.89%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,219 ₺58.9K

$1,549 ₺74.8K

-21.30%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

41.09

40.44

1.61%

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

Last update for Istanbul: August 31, 2026

Last update for Mugla: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $975 in Istanbul versus $412 in Mugla. 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 27% higher in Mugla, 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 $52.0 in Istanbul versus $48.00 in Mugla. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $262 vs $235 – making Mugla the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Mugla: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Istanbul is pricier by about 66%, and the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,307 per month in Istanbul and $1,392 in Mugla. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $52.0 in Istanbul and $48.00 in Mugla. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 11% 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 Mugla, where all-in costs run around $928, than in Istanbul at $1,538. In Mugla it covers expenses comfortably, while in Istanbul it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Mugla – 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 Mugla. 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.