Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Istanbul and Ourem

For one person, living costs are similar in Istanbul and in Ourem: $1,525 and $1,568 a month, rent and utilities included.

Istanbul
🇹🇷 Turkey
$1,525
/mo nomad
Ourem
🇵🇹 Portugal
$1,568
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Istanbul and in Ourem

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

A single person spends $1,525 per month in Istanbul vs $1,568 in Ourem, rent included.

  • Istanbul $1,525
  • Ourem $1,568

A couple spends around $2,390 per month in Istanbul vs $2,326 in Ourem, rent included.

  • Istanbul $2,390
  • Ourem $2,326

A family of three spends $3,256 per month in Istanbul vs $3,084 in Ourem, rent included.

  • Istanbul $3,256
  • Ourem $3,084

Istanbul is about 3% cheaper than Ourem, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Istanbul and Ourem sit above the global median – Istanbul by 13%, Ourem by 16%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Istanbul
Ourem
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.96 ₺592
$13.00 €11.56
-8.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$57.2 ₺2,834
$52.3 €46.52
9.45%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.51 ₺471
$8.89 €7.91
6.97%
Cappuccino
$4.40 ₺218
$1.27 €1.13
246.46%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75 ₺86.6
$1.62 €1.44
8.02%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.56 ₺27.57
$1.22 €1.09
-54.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.71 ₺233
$2.82 €2.51
67.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.14 ₺304
$2.82 €2.51
117.73%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Istanbul
Ourem
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.24 ₺61.6
$1.06 €0.94
16.98%
White Bread (500g)
$0.95 ₺47.25
$2.41 €2.14
-60.58%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.28 ₺113
$1.36 €1.21
67.65%
Eggs
$2.45 ₺121
$3.67 €3.26
-33.24%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.56 ₺523
$9.09 €8.09
16.17%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.50 ₺272
$7.62 €6.77
-27.82%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$21.65 ₺1,072
$10.89 €9.69
98.81%
Apples (1kg)
$1.83 ₺90.6
$1.84 €1.64
-0.54%
Banana (1kg)
$2.29 ₺113
$1.23 €1.09
86.18%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.28 ₺63.4
$1.11 €0.98
15.32%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.82 ₺90.1
$1.69 €1.50
7.69%
Potato (1kg)
$0.66 ₺32.74
$1.97 €1.75
-66.50%
Onion (1kg)
$0.63 ₺31.14
$1.64 €1.46
-61.59%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.27 ₺62.8
$1.64 €1.46
-22.56%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 ₺27.62
$0.63 €0.56
-11.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.36 ₺117
$6.29 €5.60
-62.48%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.98 ₺642
$3.45 €3.07
276.23%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.48 ₺123
$1.25 €1.12
98.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.50 ₺174
$1.39 €1.24
151.80%
🚌 Getting Around
Istanbul
Ourem
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.82 ₺40.77
$2.24 €1.99
-63.39%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$65.2 ₺3,228
$41.44 €36.86
57.34%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.33 ₺65.7
$3.98 €3.54
-66.58%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.90 ₺44.60
$0.75 €0.67
20.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.91 ₺540
$16.62 €14.78
-34.36%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.43 ₺70.7
$2.09 €1.86
-31.58%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$49.6K ₺2.5M
$34.1K €30.3K
45.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$43.2K ₺2.1M
$37.6K €33.4K
14.97%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Istanbul
Ourem
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$88.8 ₺4,395
$110 €98.1
-19.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.69 ₺579
$21.60 €19.21
-45.88%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.09 ₺797
$35.43 €31.52
-54.59%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Istanbul
Ourem
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.3 ₺3,776
$40.72 €36.22
87.28%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.72 ₺1,125
$16.43 €14.61
38.28%
Cinema Ticket
$8.26 ₺409
$8.74 €7.78
-5.49%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Istanbul
Ourem
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,015 ₺50.2K
$613 €545
65.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$25.8K ₺1.3M
$6,221 €5,534
315.31%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Istanbul
Ourem
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.3 ₺2,636
$75.9 €67.5
-29.80%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.55 ₺2,008
$44.79 €39.84
-9.47%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$100 ₺4,956
$83.5 €74.3
19.85%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$93.5 ₺4,630
$104 €92.6
-10.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Istanbul
Ourem
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$977 ₺48.4K
$956 €850
2.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$627 ₺31.0K
$747 €664
-16.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,980 ₺98.0K
$1,509 €1,342
31.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,147 ₺56.8K
$1,188 €1,057
-3.46%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,095 ₺153.2K
$2,958 €2,631
4.66%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,787 ₺88.5K
$2,243 €1,995
-20.32%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Istanbul
Ourem
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,213 ₺60.1K
$1,352 €1,203
-10.30%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
40.69
3.54
1049.44%

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

Last update for Istanbul: October 19, 2026

Last update for Ourem: October 18, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Istanbul
$627
Ourem
$747 19.1% $120
Groceries & Markets
Istanbul
$263
Ourem
$221 15.6% $41
Eating Out
Istanbul
$222
Ourem
$177 20.3% $45
Clothing & Footwear
Istanbul
$129
Ourem
$139 7.3% $9.4
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Istanbul
$117
Ourem
$167 43.5% $51
Sport & Entertainment
Istanbul
$93
Ourem
$58 37.3% $35
Getting Around
Istanbul
$74
Ourem
$58 21.8% $16

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $977 in Istanbul versus $956 in Ourem. 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 11% higher in Ourem, 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 $57.0 in Istanbul versus $52.0 in Ourem. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $263 vs $221 – making Ourem the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇹🇷 Istanbul
🇵🇹 Ourem
🕒 Local time
00:57 12:57 AM
22:57 10:57 PM
2 h behind Istanbul
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
15,701,602
44,538
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR, USD to TRY – Turkish Lira Converter

Turkish Lira exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 49.51 TRY (100 TRY = 2.02 USD). 1 EUR = 55.66 TRY (100 TRY = 1.8 EUR).

Euro exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Istanbul Ourem 3,160 km ≈ 4 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Istanbul
  • Ourem

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 Ourem: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ourem cheaper than Istanbul?
Yes – Ourem is pricier by about 3%, 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 $2,287 per month in Istanbul and $2,352 in Ourem. 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 Istanbul, 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 $1,015 per month in Istanbul and $613 in Ourem. 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 Ourem?
Interestingly, groceries are about 19% cheaper in Ourem – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Istanbul or in Ourem?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Istanbul, where all-in costs run around $1,525, than in Ourem at $1,568. In Istanbul it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ourem it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Istanbul or Ourem more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Istanbul – 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 Ourem?
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 Istanbul. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ourem makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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