Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Istanbul and Norrkoping

For one person, living is cheaper in Istanbul: $1,525 a month against $1,783 in Norrkoping, rent and utilities included – about $3,100 less a year. The total is higher in Norrkoping despite lower rent and utilities.

Istanbul
🇹🇷 Turkey
$1,525
/mo nomad
Norrkoping
🇸🇪 Sweden
$1,783
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Istanbul and in Norrkoping

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

A single person spends $1,525 per month in Istanbul vs $1,783 in Norrkoping, rent included.

  • Istanbul $1,525
  • Norrkoping $1,783

A couple spends around $2,390 per month in Istanbul vs $2,735 in Norrkoping, rent included.

  • Istanbul $2,390
  • Norrkoping $2,735

A family of three spends $3,256 per month in Istanbul vs $3,687 in Norrkoping, rent included.

  • Istanbul $3,256
  • Norrkoping $3,687

Istanbul is about 14% cheaper than Norrkoping, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Istanbul and Norrkoping sit above the global median – Istanbul by 13%, Norrkoping by 32%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Istanbul
Norrkoping
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.96 ₺592
$13.88 SEK 138
-13.83%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$57.2 ₺2,834
$80.0 SEK 792
-28.44%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.51 ₺471
$10.01 SEK 99.2
-5.00%
Cappuccino
$4.40 ₺218
$4.81 SEK 47.63
-8.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75 ₺86.6
$3.16 SEK 31.32
-44.62%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.56 ₺27.57
$2.37 SEK 23.49
-76.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.71 ₺233
$7.67 SEK 76.0
-38.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.14 ₺304
$8.21 SEK 81.3
-25.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Istanbul
Norrkoping
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.24 ₺61.6
$1.85 SEK 18.36
-32.97%
White Bread (500g)
$0.95 ₺47.25
$2.96 SEK 29.29
-67.91%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.28 ₺113
$4.40 SEK 43.57
-48.18%
Eggs
$2.45 ₺121
$3.87 SEK 38.35
-36.69%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.56 ₺523
$10.21 SEK 101
3.43%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.50 ₺272
$14.45 SEK 143
-61.94%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$21.65 ₺1,072
$17.94 SEK 178
20.68%
Apples (1kg)
$1.83 ₺90.6
$3.16 SEK 31.26
-42.09%
Banana (1kg)
$2.29 ₺113
$2.77 SEK 27.42
-17.33%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.28 ₺63.4
$3.45 SEK 34.18
-62.90%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.82 ₺90.1
$5.22 SEK 51.8
-65.13%
Potato (1kg)
$0.66 ₺32.74
$1.46 SEK 14.44
-54.79%
Onion (1kg)
$0.63 ₺31.14
$1.76 SEK 17.48
-64.20%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.27 ₺62.8
$2.07 SEK 20.55
-38.65%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 ₺27.62
$1.29 SEK 12.76
-56.59%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.36 ₺117
$7.68 SEK 76.1
-69.27%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.98 ₺642
$10.15 SEK 101
27.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.48 ₺123
$1.89 SEK 18.70
31.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.50 ₺174
$1.97 SEK 19.57
77.66%
🚌 Getting Around
Istanbul
Norrkoping
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.82 ₺40.77
$3.50 SEK 34.66
-76.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$65.2 ₺3,228
$103 SEK 1,019
-36.59%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.33 ₺65.7
$5.42 SEK 53.7
-75.46%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.90 ₺44.60
$1.33 SEK 13.15
-32.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.91 ₺540
$62.2 SEK 616
-82.45%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.43 ₺70.7
$1.75 SEK 17.36
-18.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$49.6K ₺2.5M
$30.9K SEK 306.4K
60.30%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$43.2K ₺2.1M
$32.4K SEK 321.0K
33.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Istanbul
Norrkoping
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$88.8 ₺4,395
$99.4 SEK 985
-10.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.69 ₺579
$28.20 SEK 279
-58.55%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.09 ₺797
$44.25 SEK 438
-63.64%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Istanbul
Norrkoping
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.3 ₺3,776
$33.74 SEK 334
126.02%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.72 ₺1,125
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.26 ₺409
$15.18 SEK 150
-45.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Istanbul
Norrkoping
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,015 ₺50.2K
$126 SEK 1,250
704.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$25.8K ₺1.3M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Istanbul
Norrkoping
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.3 ₺2,636
$69.2 SEK 686
-23.07%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.55 ₺2,008
$30.21 SEK 299
34.23%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$100 ₺4,956
$97.5 SEK 966
2.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$93.5 ₺4,630
$202 SEK 2,001
-53.68%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Istanbul
Norrkoping
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$977 ₺48.4K
$681 SEK 6,752
43.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$627 ₺31.0K
$588 SEK 5,823
6.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,980 ₺98.0K
$1,162 SEK 11.5K
70.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,147 ₺56.8K
$878 SEK 8,700
30.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,095 ₺153.2K
$4,566 SEK 45.2K
-32.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,787 ₺88.5K
$3,396 SEK 33.6K
-47.38%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Istanbul
Norrkoping
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,213 ₺60.1K
$3,035 SEK 30.1K
-60.03%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
40.69
4.09
894.87%

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

Last update for Istanbul: October 19, 2026

Last update for Norrkoping: October 18, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Istanbul
$627
Norrkoping
$588 6.3% $39
Groceries & Markets
Istanbul
$263
Norrkoping
$376 43% $113
Eating Out
Istanbul
$222
Norrkoping
$276 24.1% $54
Clothing & Footwear
Istanbul
$129
Norrkoping
$179 38.8% $50
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Istanbul
$117
Norrkoping
$172 47.4% $55
Sport & Entertainment
Istanbul
$93
Norrkoping
$64 30.9% $29
Getting Around
Istanbul
$74
Norrkoping
$129 73.4% $55

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $977 in Istanbul versus $681 in Norrkoping. 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 150% higher in Norrkoping, 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 $57.0 in Istanbul versus $80.0 in Norrkoping. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $263 vs $376 – making Istanbul the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇹🇷 Istanbul
🇸🇪 Norrkoping
🕒 Local time
21:47 9:47 PM
20:47 8:47 PM
1 h behind Istanbul
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
15,701,602
98,088
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

SEK, 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).

Swedish Krona exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 9.91 SEK (1 SEK = 0.101 USD). 1 EUR = 11.14 SEK (100 SEK = 8.98 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Istanbul Norrkoping 2,150 km ≈ 3 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Istanbul
  • Norrkoping

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 Norrkoping: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Norrkoping cheaper than Istanbul?
Yes – Norrkoping is pricier by about 17%, 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 $2,287 per month in Istanbul and $2,675 in Norrkoping. 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 Istanbul, 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 $126 in Norrkoping. 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 Norrkoping?
Groceries cost about 43% more in Norrkoping, 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 Norrkoping?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Istanbul, where all-in costs run around $1,525, than in Norrkoping at $1,783. In Istanbul it covers expenses comfortably, while in Norrkoping it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Istanbul or Norrkoping more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Istanbul – 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 Norrkoping?
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 Istanbul. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Norrkoping makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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