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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,527 per month in Istanbul vs $733 in Ordu, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,348 per month in Istanbul vs $1,118 in Ordu, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,170 per month in Istanbul vs $1,504 in Ordu, rent included.

Istanbul costs about 108% more than Ordu, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Istanbul sits 12% above the global median, while Ordu is 46% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.39 ₺507

$8.38 ₺409

23.99%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$51.3 ₺2,502

$24.51 ₺1,196

109.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.40 ₺459

$8.45 ₺412

11.24%

Cappuccino

$4.09 ₺200

$2.52 ₺123

62.30%

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

$1.65 ₺80.3

$1.05 ₺51.2

57.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.57 ₺27.72

$0.27 ₺13.27

111.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.10 ₺200

$1.98 ₺96.7

107.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.09 ₺297

$2.01 ₺98.2

202.99%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 ₺62.1

$0.78 ₺38.11

62.82%

White Bread (500g)

$0.90 ₺43.73

$0.40 ₺19.56

125.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.36 ₺115

$1.53 ₺74.6

54.25%

Eggs

$2.43 ₺119

$1.64 ₺79.9

48.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.41 ₺508

$8.79 ₺429

18.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.21 ₺254

$3.64 ₺177

43.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.70 ₺1,010

$14.29 ₺697

44.86%

Apples (1kg)

$1.96 ₺95.8

$1.25 ₺61.0

56.80%

Banana (1kg)

$2.14 ₺105

$2.08 ₺101

2.88%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.17 ₺57.2

$0.74 ₺36.13

58.11%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.95 ₺95.2

$1.06 ₺51.5

83.96%

Potato (1kg)

$0.63 ₺30.68

$0.32 ₺15.78

96.88%

Onion (1kg)

$0.56 ₺27.43

$0.22 ₺10.68

154.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.10 ₺53.5

$0.82 ₺39.90

34.15%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.62 ₺30.18

$0.62 ₺30.08

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.33 ₺114

$2.10 ₺102

10.95%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.57 ₺662

$25.60 ₺1,249

-46.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.40 ₺117

$1.63 ₺79.4

47.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.31 ₺161

$1.50 ₺73.3

120.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ₺43.54

$0.72 ₺35.08

23.61%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$66.6 ₺3,251

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.38 ₺67.1

$1.81 ₺88.4

-23.76%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.92 ₺44.94

$0.61 ₺29.83

50.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.69 ₺521

$5.10 ₺249

109.61%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 ₺65.8

$1.22 ₺59.5

10.66%

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

$52.3K ₺2.6M

$41.7K ₺2.0M

25.36%

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

$43.4K ₺2.1M

$40.0K ₺2.0M

8.52%

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

$89.1 ₺4,347

$69.3 ₺3,379

28.66%

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

$11.64 ₺568

$10.18 ₺497

14.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.20 ₺790

$10.47 ₺511

54.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$73.5 ₺3,583

$20.73 ₺1,011

254.32%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.02 ₺1,123

Cinema Ticket

$8.42 ₺411

$4.05 ₺198

107.90%

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

$972 ₺47.4K

$258 ₺12.6K

276.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$27.4K ₺1.3M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.2 ₺2,593

$26.97 ₺1,315

97.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.88 ₺1,848

$35.64 ₺1,739

6.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 ₺5,017

$40.50 ₺1,976

153.93%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$95.2 ₺4,643

$25.14 ₺1,226

278.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$962 ₺46.9K

$305 ₺14.9K

215.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$651 ₺31.8K

$206 ₺10.0K

215.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,957 ₺95.5K

$515 ₺25.1K

280.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,146 ₺55.9K

$347 ₺16.9K

230.02%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,985 ₺145.6K

$823 ₺40.1K

262.77%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,689 ₺82.4K

$644 ₺31.4K

162.25%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,180 ₺57.6K

$1,222 ₺59.6K

-3.40%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

41.26

106.30%

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

Last update for Istanbul: September 14, 2026

Last update for Ordu: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $962 in Istanbul versus $305 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 4% 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 $51.0 in Istanbul versus $25.00 in Ordu. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $258 vs $213 – 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 108%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,290 per month in Istanbul and $1,099 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $51.0 in Istanbul and $25.00 in Ordu. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap 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 $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Ordu, where all-in costs run around $733, than in Istanbul at $1,527. 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.