Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Istanbul and Ohrid

For one person, living is cheaper in Ohrid: $968 a month against $1,550 in Istanbul, rent and utilities included – about $7,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

75

Cost of Living Index in Istanbul
Learn more

Istanbul Living Index
47

Cost of Living Index in Ohrid
Learn more

Ohrid Living Index

Jump to prices

Istanbul

🇹🇷 Turkey

$1,550

/mo nomad

Ohrid

🇲🇰 North Macedonia

$968

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Istanbul and in Ohrid

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

A single person spends $1,550 per month in Istanbul vs $968 in Ohrid, rent included.

Istanbul $1,550
Ohrid $968

A couple spends around $2,415 per month in Istanbul vs $1,539 in Ohrid, rent included.

Istanbul $2,415
Ohrid $1,539

A family of three spends $3,281 per month in Istanbul vs $2,110 in Ohrid, rent included.

Istanbul $3,281
Ohrid $2,110

Istanbul costs about 60% more than Ohrid, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Istanbul sits 15% above the global median, while Ohrid is 28% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.30 ₺609

$7.19 MKD 392

71.07%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$54.7 ₺2,708

$36.12 MKD 1,970

51.44%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.22 ₺456

$7.27 MKD 397

26.82%

Cappuccino

$4.40 ₺218

$2.62 MKD 143

67.94%

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

$1.68 ₺83.1

$2.93 MKD 160

-42.66%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.59 ₺29.40

$1.84 MKD 100

-67.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.70 ₺233

$3.71 MKD 202

26.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.91 ₺292

$4.47 MKD 244

32.21%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.21 ₺60.0

$1.27 MKD 69.5

-4.72%

White Bread (500g)

$0.89 ₺44.10

$0.72 MKD 39.05

23.61%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.19 ₺108

$1.74 MKD 94.8

25.86%

Eggs

$2.35 ₺116

$2.26 MKD 123

3.98%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.42 ₺516

$8.24 MKD 450

26.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.65 ₺280

$8.53 MKD 465

-33.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.94 ₺1,037

$14.71 MKD 803

42.35%

Apples (1kg)

$1.90 ₺94.1

$1.06 MKD 57.7

79.25%

Banana (1kg)

$2.31 ₺114

$1.26 MKD 68.5

83.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.28 ₺63.1

$1.50 MKD 81.8

-14.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.80 ₺89.0

$1.99 MKD 108

-9.55%

Potato (1kg)

$0.65 ₺32.16

$1.10 MKD 60.3

-40.91%

Onion (1kg)

$0.64 ₺31.91

$1.36 MKD 74.1

-52.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.25 ₺62.1

$1.04 MKD 56.6

20.19%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ₺27.58

$0.79 MKD 42.94

-29.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.37 ₺118

$3.34 MKD 182

-29.04%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.42 ₺664

$5.57 MKD 304

140.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.40 ₺119

$1.09 MKD 59.5

120.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.48 ₺172

$1.54 MKD 84.3

125.97%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ₺43.84

$1.06 MKD 57.9

-16.04%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$67.4 ₺3,338

$23.66 MKD 1,291

185.00%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.29 ₺64.1

$1.11 MKD 60.5

16.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.92 ₺45.70

$0.94 MKD 51.4

-2.13%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.96 ₺542

$8.81 MKD 481

24.40%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.47 ₺72.9

$1.50 MKD 81.6

-2.00%

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

$50.8K ₺2.5M

$30.4K MKD 1.7M

67.30%

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

$44.5K ₺2.2M

$30.8K MKD 1.7M

44.65%

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

$88.6 ₺4,387

$127 MKD 6,949

-30.44%

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

$11.59 ₺574

$17.88 MKD 975

-35.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.81 ₺783

$26.68 MKD 1,456

-40.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$77.2 ₺3,820

$33.72 MKD 1,839

128.83%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.74 ₺1,126

$18.05 MKD 985

25.98%

Cinema Ticket

$8.14 ₺403

$6.18 MKD 337

31.72%

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

$1,008 ₺49.9K

$269 MKD 14.7K

275.23%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$25.6K ₺1.3M

$3,382 MKD 184.5K

655.90%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.0 ₺2,671

$95.3 MKD 5,196

-43.37%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.83 ₺2,021

$53.3 MKD 2,909

-23.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.9 ₺4,895

$102 MKD 5,544

-2.72%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$96.6 ₺4,783

$135 MKD 7,348

-28.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$985 ₺48.7K

$286 MKD 15.6K

244.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$650 ₺32.2K

$170 MKD 9,269

282.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,983 ₺98.2K

$540 MKD 29.4K

267.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,180 ₺58.4K

$361 MKD 19.7K

226.76%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,138 ₺155.4K

$2,038 MKD 111.2K

53.97%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,780 ₺88.1K

$1,334 MKD 72.8K

33.38%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,205 ₺59.7K

$613 MKD 33.4K

96.67%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

40.92

7.3

460.55%

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

Last update for Istanbul: October 13, 2026

Last update for Ohrid: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Istanbul

$650 41.9%

Ohrid

$170 17.6% 73.9% $480

Groceries & Markets

Istanbul

$260 16.8%

Ohrid

$215 22.3% 17% $44

Eating Out

Istanbul

$223 14.4%

Ohrid

$157 16.3% 29.6% $66

Clothing & Footwear

Istanbul

$131 8.4%

Ohrid

$173 17.9% 32.6% $43

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Istanbul

$116 7.5%

Ohrid

$172 17.8% 48.2% $56

Sport & Entertainment

Istanbul

$93 6%

Ohrid

$46 4.8% 50.7% $47

Getting Around

Istanbul

$77 5%

Ohrid

$34 3.5% 56.1% $43

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $985 in Istanbul versus $286 in Ohrid. 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 97% 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 $36.00 in Ohrid. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $260 vs $215 – making Ohrid the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇹🇷 Istanbul

🇲🇰 Ohrid

🕒 Local time

04:36 4:36 AM

03:36 3:36 AM

1 h behind Istanbul

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

15,701,602

38,940

💱 Currency

Turkish Lira TRY ₺

North Macedonian Denar MKD ден

📈 Exchange rate

100 TRY = 2.02 USD

100 TRY = 1.8 EUR

100 MKD = 1.83 USD

100 MKD = 1.63 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

MKD, 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).

North Macedonian Denar exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 54.55 MKD (100 MKD = 1.83 USD). 1 EUR = 61.33 MKD (100 MKD = 1.63 EUR).

USD to TRY in detail →

On the map

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Between locations

Istanbul Ohrid 690 km ≈ 1 h 15 min nonstop flight

From you

Istanbul
Ohrid

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 Ohrid: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Istanbul is pricier by about 60%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,325 per month in Istanbul and $1,451 in Ohrid. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $1,008 per month in Istanbul and $269 in Ohrid. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 21% 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 Ohrid, where all-in costs run around $968, than in Istanbul at $1,550. In Ohrid it covers expenses comfortably, while in Istanbul it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Ohrid – 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 Ohrid. 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.