Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Istanbul and Nowy Sacz

For one person, living is cheaper in Nowy Sacz: $1,302 a month against $1,550 in Istanbul, rent and utilities included – about $3,000 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Istanbul
🇹🇷 Turkey
$1,550
/mo nomad
Nowy Sacz
🇵🇱 Poland
$1,302
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Istanbul and in Nowy Sacz

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

A single person spends $1,550 per month in Istanbul vs $1,302 in Nowy Sacz, rent included.

  • Istanbul $1,550
  • Nowy Sacz $1,302

A couple spends around $2,415 per month in Istanbul vs $1,984 in Nowy Sacz, rent included.

  • Istanbul $2,415
  • Nowy Sacz $1,984

A family of three spends $3,281 per month in Istanbul vs $2,666 in Nowy Sacz, rent included.

  • Istanbul $3,281
  • Nowy Sacz $2,666

Istanbul costs about 19% more than Nowy Sacz, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Istanbul sits 15% above the global median, while Nowy Sacz is 4% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Istanbul
Nowy Sacz
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.30 ₺609
$8.66 zł 33.65
42.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$54.7 ₺2,708
$38.46 zł 149
42.23%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.22 ₺456
$7.80 zł 30.31
18.21%
Cappuccino
$4.40 ₺218
$2.98 zł 11.57
47.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68 ₺83.1
$1.92 zł 7.45
-12.50%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.59 ₺29.40
$1.54 zł 5.99
-61.69%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.70 ₺233
$2.74 zł 10.65
71.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.91 ₺292
$3.25 zł 12.64
81.85%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Istanbul
Nowy Sacz
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.21 ₺60.0
$1.02 zł 3.98
18.63%
White Bread (500g)
$0.89 ₺44.10
$1.31 zł 5.07
-32.06%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.19 ₺108
$1.54 zł 5.97
42.21%
Eggs
$2.35 ₺116
$3.31 zł 12.86
-29.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.42 ₺516
$8.53 zł 33.13
22.16%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.65 ₺280
$6.56 zł 25.47
-13.87%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.94 ₺1,037
$11.37 zł 44.16
84.17%
Apples (1kg)
$1.90 ₺94.1
$1.18 zł 4.60
61.02%
Banana (1kg)
$2.31 ₺114
$1.72 zł 6.68
34.30%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.28 ₺63.1
$1.73 zł 6.72
-26.01%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.80 ₺89.0
$2.55 zł 9.93
-29.41%
Potato (1kg)
$0.65 ₺32.16
$0.93 zł 3.62
-30.11%
Onion (1kg)
$0.64 ₺31.91
$1.04 zł 4.05
-38.46%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.25 ₺62.1
$1.39 zł 5.41
-10.07%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 ₺27.58
$0.73 zł 2.85
-23.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.37 ₺118
$4.81 zł 18.70
-50.73%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.42 ₺664
$6.45 zł 25.08
108.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.40 ₺119
$1.06 zł 4.13
126.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.48 ₺172
$1.75 zł 6.82
98.86%
🚌 Getting Around
Istanbul
Nowy Sacz
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.89 ₺43.84
$0.93 zł 3.63
-4.30%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$67.4 ₺3,338
$28.06 zł 109
140.31%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.29 ₺64.1
$2.00 zł 7.76
-35.50%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.92 ₺45.70
$0.79 zł 3.09
16.46%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.96 ₺542
$9.75 zł 37.89
12.41%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.47 ₺72.9
$1.66 zł 6.43
-11.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$50.8K ₺2.5M
$30.6K zł 118.8K
66.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$44.5K ₺2.2M
$26.4K zł 102.5K
68.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Istanbul
Nowy Sacz
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$88.6 ₺4,387
$295 zł 1,145
-69.92%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.59 ₺574
$9.54 zł 37.08
21.49%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.81 ₺783
$12.80 zł 49.73
23.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Istanbul
Nowy Sacz
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$77.2 ₺3,820
$32.47 zł 126
137.63%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.74 ₺1,126
$20.48 zł 79.6
11.04%
Cinema Ticket
$8.14 ₺403
$7.91 zł 30.73
2.91%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Istanbul
Nowy Sacz
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,008 ₺49.9K
$251 zł 976
301.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$25.6K ₺1.3M
$2,095 zł 8,138
1120.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Istanbul
Nowy Sacz
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.0 ₺2,671
$56.2 zł 219
-4.07%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.83 ₺2,021
$37.64 zł 146
8.48%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.9 ₺4,895
$55.5 zł 216
78.13%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$96.6 ₺4,783
$72.3 zł 281
33.54%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Istanbul
Nowy Sacz
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$985 ₺48.7K
$516 zł 2,003
90.95%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$650 ₺32.2K
$425 zł 1,652
52.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,983 ₺98.2K
$1,064 zł 4,133
86.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,180 ₺58.4K
$912 zł 3,542
29.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,138 ₺155.4K
$1,912 zł 7,428
64.12%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,780 ₺88.1K
$1,126 zł 4,376
58.00%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Istanbul
Nowy Sacz
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,205 ₺59.7K
$917 zł 3,562
31.47%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
40.92
7.02
482.91%

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

Last update for Istanbul: October 13, 2026

Last update for Nowy Sacz: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Istanbul
$650
Nowy Sacz
$425 34.6% $225
Groceries & Markets
Istanbul
$260
Nowy Sacz
$212 18.3% $48
Eating Out
Istanbul
$223
Nowy Sacz
$162 27.2% $61
Clothing & Footwear
Istanbul
$131
Nowy Sacz
$100 23.6% $31
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Istanbul
$116
Nowy Sacz
$317 173% $201
Sport & Entertainment
Istanbul
$93
Nowy Sacz
$48 48.3% $45
Getting Around
Istanbul
$77
Nowy Sacz
$38 50.9% $39

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $985 in Istanbul versus $516 in Nowy Sacz. 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 31% 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 $38.00 in Nowy Sacz. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $260 vs $212 – making Nowy Sacz the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇹🇷 Istanbul
🇵🇱 Nowy Sacz
🕒 Local time
03:07 3:07 AM
02:07 2:07 AM
1 h behind Istanbul
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
15,701,602
83,943
💱 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 Nowy Sacz 1,160 km ≈ 2 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Istanbul
  • Nowy Sacz

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 Nowy Sacz: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Nowy Sacz cheaper than Istanbul?
Yes – Istanbul is pricier by about 19%, 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 $2,325 per month in Istanbul and $1,954 in Nowy Sacz. 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 Nowy Sacz, 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 $251 in Nowy Sacz. 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 Nowy Sacz?
Groceries cost about 22% 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 Nowy Sacz?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Nowy Sacz, where all-in costs run around $1,302, than in Istanbul at $1,550. In Nowy Sacz it covers expenses comfortably, while in Istanbul it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Istanbul or Nowy Sacz more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Nowy Sacz – 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 Nowy Sacz?
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 Nowy Sacz. 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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