Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Istanbul and Pogradec

For one person, living is cheaper in Pogradec: $816 a month against $1,525 in Istanbul, rent and utilities included – about $8,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

74

Cost of Living Index in Istanbul
Learn more

Istanbul Living Index
40

Cost of Living Index in Pogradec
Learn more

Pogradec Living Index

Jump to prices

Istanbul

🇹🇷 Turkey

$1,525

/mo nomad

Pogradec

🇦🇱 Albania

$816

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Istanbul and in Pogradec

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

A single person spends $1,525 per month in Istanbul vs $816 in Pogradec, rent included.

Istanbul $1,525
Pogradec $816

A couple spends around $2,390 per month in Istanbul vs $1,350 in Pogradec, rent included.

Istanbul $2,390
Pogradec $1,350

A family of three spends $3,256 per month in Istanbul vs $1,884 in Pogradec, rent included.

Istanbul $3,256
Pogradec $1,884

Istanbul costs about 87% more than Pogradec, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Istanbul sits 13% above the global median, while Pogradec is 40% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.96 ₺592

$9.82 ALL 791

21.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$57.2 ₺2,834

$39.52 ALL 3,183

44.81%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.51 ₺471

$7.57 ALL 610

25.63%

Cappuccino

$4.40 ₺218

$1.52 ALL 123

189.47%

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

$1.75 ₺86.6

$1.78 ALL 143

-1.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.56 ₺27.57

$0.65 ALL 52.0

-13.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.71 ₺233

$1.52 ALL 122

209.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.14 ₺304

$2.75 ALL 221

123.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.24 ₺61.6

$1.98 ALL 160

-37.37%

White Bread (500g)

$0.95 ₺47.25

$0.97 ALL 78.1

-2.06%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.28 ₺113

$2.06 ALL 166

10.68%

Eggs

$2.45 ₺121

$2.20 ALL 177

11.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.56 ₺523

$8.00 ALL 644

32.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.50 ₺272

$4.41 ALL 355

24.72%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$21.65 ₺1,072

$13.97 ALL 1,125

54.97%

Apples (1kg)

$1.83 ₺90.6

$1.22 ALL 98.5

50.00%

Banana (1kg)

$2.29 ₺113

$2.25 ALL 181

1.78%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.28 ₺63.4

$1.52 ALL 123

-15.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.82 ₺90.1

$1.26 ALL 102

44.44%

Potato (1kg)

$0.66 ₺32.74

$0.94 ALL 75.8

-29.79%

Onion (1kg)

$0.63 ₺31.14

$1.03 ALL 83.2

-38.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.27 ₺62.8

$1.04 ALL 83.6

22.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ₺27.62

$0.78 ALL 62.8

-28.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.36 ₺117

$4.25 ALL 343

-44.47%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.98 ₺642

$7.98 ALL 643

62.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.48 ₺123

$1.22 ALL 98.0

103.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.50 ₺174

$1.87 ALL 151

87.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.82 ₺40.77

$0.50 ALL 40.63

64.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$65.2 ₺3,228

$18.68 ALL 1,504

249.04%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.33 ₺65.7

$3.73 ALL 300

-64.34%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.90 ₺44.60

$1.82 ALL 147

-50.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.91 ₺540

$18.74 ALL 1,509

-41.78%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 ₺70.7

$2.25 ALL 181

-36.44%

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

$49.6K ₺2.5M

$34.0K ALL 2.7M

45.70%

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

$43.2K ₺2.1M

$24.5K ALL 2.0M

76.15%

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

$88.8 ₺4,395

$61.0 ALL 4,913

45.50%

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

$11.69 ₺579

$16.58 ALL 1,335

-29.49%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.09 ₺797

$17.22 ALL 1,387

-6.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.3 ₺3,776

$35.88 ALL 2,889

112.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.72 ₺1,125

$18.68 ALL 1,504

21.63%

Cinema Ticket

$8.26 ₺409

$8.43 ALL 679

-2.02%

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

$1,015 ₺50.2K

$98.2 ALL 7,910

932.99%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$25.8K ₺1.3M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.3 ₺2,636

$49.70 ALL 4,002

7.14%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.55 ₺2,008

$56.2 ALL 4,523

-27.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100 ₺4,956

$98.3 ALL 7,916

1.83%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$93.5 ₺4,630

$150 ALL 12.1K

-37.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$977 ₺48.4K

$185 ALL 14.9K

428.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$627 ₺31.0K

$123 ALL 9,902

409.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,980 ₺98.0K

$370 ALL 29.8K

435.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,147 ₺56.8K

$249 ALL 20.0K

361.34%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,095 ₺153.2K

$1,597 ALL 128.6K

93.77%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,787 ₺88.5K

$1,467 ALL 118.2K

21.78%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,213 ₺60.1K

$476 ALL 38.4K

154.70%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

40.69

713.80%

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

Last update for Istanbul: October 19, 2026

Last update for Pogradec: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Istanbul

$627 41.1%

Pogradec

$123 15.1% 80.4% $504

Groceries & Markets

Istanbul

$263 17.2%

Pogradec

$211 25.8% 19.8% $52

Eating Out

Istanbul

$222 14.6%

Pogradec

$142 17.4% 35.9% $80

Clothing & Footwear

Istanbul

$129 8.5%

Pogradec

$159 19.5% 23.2% $30

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Istanbul

$117 7.6%

Pogradec

$95 11.6% 18.7% $22

Sport & Entertainment

Istanbul

$93 6.1%

Pogradec

$53 6.5% 43.2% $40

Getting Around

Istanbul

$74 4.9%

Pogradec

$34 4.1% 54.9% $41

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $977 in Istanbul versus $185 in Pogradec. 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 155% 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 $57.0 in Istanbul versus $40.00 in Pogradec. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $263 vs $211 – making Pogradec the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇹🇷 Istanbul

🇦🇱 Pogradec

🕒 Local time

01:39 1:39 AM

00:39 12:39 AM

1 h behind Istanbul

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

15,701,602

20,848

💱 Currency

Turkish Lira TRY ₺

Albanian Lek ALL L

📈 Exchange rate

100 TRY = 2.02 USD

100 TRY = 1.8 EUR

100 ALL = 1.24 USD

100 ALL = 1.1 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

ALL, USD, EUR to TRY – Turkish Lira Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇹🇷 Turkish Lira (₺)

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).

Albanian Lek exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 80.53 ALL (100 ALL = 1.24 USD). 1 EUR = 90.53 ALL (100 ALL = 1.1 EUR).

USD to TRY in detail →

On the map

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Between locations

Istanbul Pogradec 700 km ≈ 1 h 15 min nonstop flight

From you

Istanbul
Pogradec

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 Pogradec: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Istanbul is pricier by about 87%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,287 per month in Istanbul and $1,225 in Pogradec. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $1,015 per month in Istanbul and $98.2 in Pogradec. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 25% 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 $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Pogradec, where all-in costs run around $816, than in Istanbul at $1,525. In Pogradec it covers expenses comfortably, while in Istanbul it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Pogradec – 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 Pogradec. 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.