😐A single person spends $1,431 per month in Istanbul vs $1,279 in Panevezys, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,191 per month in Istanbul vs $1,950 in Panevezys, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,952 per month in Istanbul vs $2,621 in Panevezys, rent included.
😐Istanbul costs about 12% more than Panevezys, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Istanbul sits 7% above the global median, while Panevezys is 4% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Istanbul
Panevezys
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.52₺520
$11.44€9.79
0.70%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$51.0₺2,304
$69.4€59.4
-26.46%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.60₺343
$6.75€5.78
12.59%
Cappuccino
$3.63₺164
$3.10€2.65
17.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.35₺61.1
$2.36€2.02
-42.80%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47₺21.13
$1.70€1.45
-72.35%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.92₺177
$3.53€3.02
11.05%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.20₺235
$3.42€2.92
52.05%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Istanbul
Panevezys
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.10₺49.69
$1.33€1.14
-17.29%
White Bread(500g)
$0.83₺37.38
$1.84€1.58
-54.89%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.26₺102
$1.99€1.70
13.57%
Eggs
$2.71₺122
$2.97€2.54
-8.75%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.45₺472
$10.72€9.17
-2.52%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.59₺297
$5.36€4.58
22.95%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$20.07₺906
$10.18€8.71
97.15%
Apples(1kg)
$1.44₺65.2
$1.35€1.16
6.67%
Banana(1kg)
$2.29₺103
$1.52€1.30
50.66%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.29₺58.4
$1.77€1.52
-27.12%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.63₺73.5
$3.16€2.71
-48.42%
Potato(1kg)
$0.71₺32.24
$0.57€0.49
24.56%
Onion(1kg)
$0.73₺33.08
$0.94€0.80
-22.34%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.17₺52.6
$1.53€1.31
-23.53%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.59₺26.48
$0.82€0.70
-28.05%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.15₺96.9
$5.54€4.75
-61.19%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.99₺541
$8.68€7.43
38.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.15₺97.0
$1.75€1.50
22.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02₺136
$1.74€1.49
73.56%
🚌 Getting Around
Istanbul
Panevezys
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.72₺32.32
$0.57€0.49
26.32%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$53.1₺2,396
$35.65€30.52
48.86%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.09₺49.28
$3.55€3.04
-69.30%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.64₺28.73
$1.17€1.00
-45.30%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.74₺395
$13.84€11.85
-36.85%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.21₺54.5
$1.62€1.39
-25.31%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$44.8K₺2.0M
$38.3K€32.8K
16.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$43.2K₺1.9M
$28.4K€24.3K
52.07%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Istanbul
Panevezys
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$71.4₺3,221
$210€180
-66.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.44₺562
$15.50€13.27
-19.74%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.58₺658
$14.82€12.69
-1.62%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Istanbul
Panevezys
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$62.4₺2,818
$68.9€59.0
-9.38%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.58₺839
$23.38€20.02
-20.53%
Cinema Ticket
$7.57₺342
$9.00€7.70
-15.89%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Istanbul
Panevezys
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$950₺42.9K
$465€398
104.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$18.0K₺814.5K
$10.4K€8,934
72.89%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Istanbul
Panevezys
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.0₺2,572
$115€98.2
-50.34%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.42₺2,096
$22.82€19.54
103.42%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113₺5,108
$82.8€70.9
36.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108₺4,869
$177€151
-39.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Istanbul
Panevezys
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$982₺44.3K
$441€378
122.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$631₺28.5K
$305€261
106.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,769₺79.8K
$684€586
158.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,057₺47.7K
$446€382
137.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,300₺149.0K
$1,868€1,599
76.67%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,659₺74.9K
$1,048€897
58.32%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Istanbul
Panevezys
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,198₺54.1K
$1,454€1,244
-17.62%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
48.43
4.13
1072.64%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Istanbul: April 27, 2026
Last update for Panevezys: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $982 in Istanbul versus $441 in Panevezys. 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 21% higher in Panevezys, 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 $69.0 in Panevezys. Groceries tell a different story – $254 in Istanbul vs $229 in Panevezys – so Panevezys wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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 Panevezys: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Panevezys cheaper than Istanbul?
Yes – Istanbul is pricier by about 12%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,146 per month in Istanbul and $1,918 in Panevezys. 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 Panevezys, 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 $950 per month in Istanbul and $465 in Panevezys. 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 Panevezys?
Groceries cost about 11% 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 $1,500 a realistic budget for Istanbul or Panevezys?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Panevezys, where all-in costs run around $1,279, than in Istanbul at $1,431. In Panevezys it covers expenses comfortably, while in Istanbul it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Istanbul or Panevezys more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Panevezys – 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 Panevezys?
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 Panevezys. 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.