Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Istanbul and Oujda

For one person, living is cheaper in Oujda: $629 a month against $1,550 in Istanbul, rent and utilities included – about $11,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Istanbul
🇹🇷 Turkey
$1,550
/mo nomad
Oujda
🇲🇦 Morocco
$629
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Istanbul and in Oujda

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

A single person spends $1,550 per month in Istanbul vs $629 in Oujda, rent included.

  • Istanbul $1,550
  • Oujda $629

A couple spends around $2,415 per month in Istanbul vs $988 in Oujda, rent included.

  • Istanbul $2,415
  • Oujda $988

A family of three spends $3,281 per month in Istanbul vs $1,348 in Oujda, rent included.

  • Istanbul $3,281
  • Oujda $1,348

Istanbul costs about 146% more than Oujda, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Istanbul sits 15% above the global median, while Oujda is 53% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Istanbul
Oujda
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.30 ₺609
$3.95 MAD 38.52
211.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$54.7 ₺2,708
$17.95 MAD 175
204.74%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.22 ₺456
$5.07 MAD 49.42
81.85%
Cappuccino
$4.40 ₺218
$1.54 MAD 14.98
185.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68 ₺83.1
$0.48 MAD 4.63
250.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.59 ₺29.40
$0.43 MAD 4.20
37.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.70 ₺233
$2.62 MAD 25.59
79.39%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.91 ₺292
$3.64 MAD 35.44
62.36%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Istanbul
Oujda
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.21 ₺60.0
$0.87 MAD 8.46
39.08%
White Bread (500g)
$0.89 ₺44.10
$0.27 MAD 2.65
229.63%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.19 ₺108
$1.83 MAD 17.87
19.67%
Eggs
$2.35 ₺116
$1.90 MAD 18.53
23.68%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.42 ₺516
$12.04 MAD 117
-13.46%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.65 ₺280
$3.82 MAD 37.24
47.91%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.94 ₺1,037
$8.87 MAD 86.5
136.08%
Apples (1kg)
$1.90 ₺94.1
$1.54 MAD 15.06
23.38%
Banana (1kg)
$2.31 ₺114
$1.38 MAD 13.45
67.39%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.28 ₺63.1
$0.99 MAD 9.67
29.29%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.80 ₺89.0
$0.98 MAD 9.57
83.67%
Potato (1kg)
$0.65 ₺32.16
$0.75 MAD 7.29
-13.33%
Onion (1kg)
$0.64 ₺31.91
$1.01 MAD 9.85
-36.63%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.25 ₺62.1
$0.51 MAD 5.01
145.10%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 ₺27.58
$0.67 MAD 6.49
-16.42%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.37 ₺118
$4.09 MAD 39.91
-42.05%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.42 ₺664
$11.80 MAD 115
13.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.40 ₺119
$2.30 MAD 22.45
4.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.48 ₺172
$2.71 MAD 26.44
28.41%
🚌 Getting Around
Istanbul
Oujda
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.89 ₺43.84
$0.35 MAD 3.40
154.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$67.4 ₺3,338
$20.81 MAD 203
224.03%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.29 ₺64.1
$0.75 MAD 7.34
72.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.92 ₺45.70
$0.65 MAD 6.32
41.54%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.96 ₺542
$4.70 MAD 45.81
133.19%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.47 ₺72.9
$1.47 MAD 14.37
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$50.8K ₺2.5M
$35.6K MAD 347.4K
42.55%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$44.5K ₺2.2M
$31.1K MAD 303.1K
43.23%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Istanbul
Oujda
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$88.6 ₺4,387
$35.73 MAD 348
148.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.59 ₺574
$10.18 MAD 99.3
13.85%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.81 ₺783
$48.06 MAD 469
-67.10%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Istanbul
Oujda
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$77.2 ₺3,820
$18.92 MAD 184
307.82%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.74 ₺1,126
$15.58 MAD 152
45.96%
Cinema Ticket
$8.14 ₺403
$5.22 MAD 50.9
55.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Istanbul
Oujda
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,008 ₺49.9K
$101 MAD 986
896.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$25.6K ₺1.3M
$5,710 MAD 55.7K
347.62%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Istanbul
Oujda
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.0 ₺2,671
$18.41 MAD 180
193.05%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.83 ₺2,021
$45.62 MAD 445
-10.50%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.9 ₺4,895
$54.9 MAD 535
80.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$96.6 ₺4,783
$50.9 MAD 496
89.97%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Istanbul
Oujda
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$985 ₺48.7K
$199 MAD 1,942
394.17%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$650 ₺32.2K
$126 MAD 1,227
416.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,983 ₺98.2K
$378 MAD 3,684
424.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,180 ₺58.4K
$264 MAD 2,569
347.82%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,138 ₺155.4K
$762 MAD 7,425
312.07%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,780 ₺88.1K
$499 MAD 4,864
256.77%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Istanbul
Oujda
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,205 ₺59.7K
$369 MAD 3,599
226.55%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
40.92
4.55
799.34%

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

Last update for Istanbul: October 13, 2026

Last update for Oujda: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Istanbul
$650
Oujda
$126 80.6% $524
Groceries & Markets
Istanbul
$260
Oujda
$188 27.6% $72
Eating Out
Istanbul
$223
Oujda
$89 60% $134
Clothing & Footwear
Istanbul
$131
Oujda
$76 41.5% $54
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Istanbul
$116
Oujda
$94 19% $22
Sport & Entertainment
Istanbul
$93
Oujda
$29 68.6% $64
Getting Around
Istanbul
$77
Oujda
$26 65.9% $51

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $985 in Istanbul versus $199 in Oujda. 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 227% 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 $18.00 in Oujda. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $260 vs $188 – making Oujda the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇹🇷 Istanbul
🇲🇦 Oujda
🕒 Local time
21:29 9:29 PM
19:29 7:29 PM
2 h behind Istanbul
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
15,701,602
494,252
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

MAD, 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).

Moroccan Dirham exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 9.75 MAD (1 MAD = 0.103 USD). 1 EUR = 10.96 MAD (100 MAD = 9.12 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Istanbul Oujda 2,790 km ≈ 4 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Istanbul
  • Oujda

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 Oujda: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Oujda cheaper than Istanbul?
Yes – Istanbul is pricier by about 146%, 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 $943 in Oujda. 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 Oujda, 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 $101 in Oujda. 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 Oujda?
Groceries cost about 38% 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 $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Istanbul or in Oujda?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Oujda, where all-in costs run around $629, than in Istanbul at $1,550. In Oujda it covers expenses comfortably, while in Istanbul it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Istanbul or Oujda more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Oujda – 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 Oujda?
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 Oujda. 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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