Cost of Living Comparison Between Istanbul and Ordu Cost of Living Comparison Between Istanbul and Ordu

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,472 per month in Istanbul vs $1,017 in Ordu, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,221 per month in Istanbul vs $1,527 in Ordu, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,970 per month in Istanbul vs $2,036 in Ordu, rent included.

Istanbul costs about 45% more than Ordu, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Istanbul sits 10% above the global median, while Ordu is 24% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.62 ₺534

$6.25 ₺287

85.92%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$51.6 ₺2,370

$21.69 ₺996

137.81%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.52 ₺345

$5.19 ₺239

44.89%

Cappuccino

$3.45 ₺159

$3.06 ₺141

12.75%

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

$1.30 ₺59.9

$0.66 ₺30.13

96.97%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.46 ₺21.33

$0.21 ₺9.50

119.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.75 ₺172

$1.94 ₺89.0

93.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.96 ₺228

$2.57 ₺118

93.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 ₺48.91

$0.61 ₺28.08

73.77%

White Bread (500g)

$0.83 ₺37.97

$0.31 ₺14.16

167.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.27 ₺104

$2.19 ₺101

3.65%

Eggs

$2.63 ₺121

$1.86 ₺85.3

41.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.13 ₺466

$9.78 ₺450

3.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.50 ₺298

$5.19 ₺239

25.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.52 ₺897

$12.46 ₺573

56.66%

Apples (1kg)

$1.50 ₺69.1

$1.31 ₺60.0

14.50%

Banana (1kg)

$2.28 ₺105

$2.17 ₺99.6

5.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.29 ₺59.2

$1.06 ₺48.61

21.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.63 ₺74.9

$1.26 ₺58.1

29.37%

Potato (1kg)

$0.71 ₺32.71

$0.74 ₺34.15

-4.05%

Onion (1kg)

$0.73 ₺33.53

$0.61 ₺28.01

19.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.13 ₺51.8

$0.92 ₺42.19

22.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 ₺26.28

$0.52 ₺24.01

9.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.15 ₺98.7

$2.05 ₺94.1

4.88%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.15 ₺558

$9.52 ₺438

27.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.14 ₺98.3

$2.09 ₺95.9

2.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 ₺146

$3.00 ₺138

6.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.72 ₺33.25

$0.64 ₺29.62

12.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.7 ₺2,514

$30.56 ₺1,404

79.09%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.05 ₺48.42

$1.10 ₺50.4

-4.55%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ₺26.73

$0.66 ₺30.33

-12.12%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.94 ₺411

$7.43 ₺341

20.32%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.21 ₺55.6

$1.17 ₺53.6

3.42%

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

$45.1K ₺2.1M

$43.3K ₺2.0M

4.29%

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

$43.3K ₺2.0M

$43.8K ₺2.0M

-1.01%

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

$73.2 ₺3,362

$68.5 ₺3,146

6.88%

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

$12.25 ₺563

$7.47 ₺343

63.99%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.15 ₺696

$10.32 ₺474

46.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.7 ₺2,837

$25.45 ₺1,169

142.59%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.77 ₺862

Cinema Ticket

$7.73 ₺355

$5.14 ₺236

50.39%

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

$938 ₺43.1K

$603 ₺27.7K

55.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.3K ₺839.3K

$8,938 ₺410.7K

104.37%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.9 ₺2,568

$51.2 ₺2,350

9.27%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.45 ₺2,180

$44.17 ₺2,029

7.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ₺5,265

$102 ₺4,670

12.72%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 ₺4,865

$89.2 ₺4,098

18.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$950 ₺43.6K

$509 ₺23.4K

86.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$619 ₺28.5K

$393 ₺18.1K

57.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,771 ₺81.4K

$905 ₺41.6K

95.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,047 ₺48.1K

$709 ₺32.6K

47.81%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,147 ₺144.6K

$888 ₺40.8K

254.29%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,664 ₺76.5K

$685 ₺31.5K

142.77%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,203 ₺55.3K

$1,284 ₺59.0K

-6.29%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

48.43

36.83

31.50%

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

Last update for Istanbul: May 31, 2026

Last update for Ordu: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $950 in Istanbul versus $509 in Ordu. 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 7% higher in Ordu, 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 $22.00 in Ordu. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $251 vs $197 – making Ordu 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 Ordu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Istanbul is pricier by about 45%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,207 per month in Istanbul and $1,526 in Ordu. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $938 per month in Istanbul and $603 in Ordu. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 27% 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 $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Ordu, where all-in costs run around $1,017, than in Istanbul at $1,472. In Ordu it covers expenses comfortably, while in Istanbul it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Ordu – 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 Ordu. 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.