Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Istanbul and Rajahmundry

For one person, living is cheaper in Rajahmundry: $318 a month against $1,550 in Istanbul, rent and utilities included – about $14,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Istanbul
🇹🇷 Turkey
$1,550
/mo nomad
Rajahmundry
🇮🇳 India
$318
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Istanbul and in Rajahmundry

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

A single person spends $1,550 per month in Istanbul vs $318 in Rajahmundry, rent included.

  • Istanbul $1,550
  • Rajahmundry $318

A couple spends around $2,415 per month in Istanbul vs $487 in Rajahmundry, rent included.

  • Istanbul $2,415
  • Rajahmundry $487

A family of three spends $3,281 per month in Istanbul vs $656 in Rajahmundry, rent included.

  • Istanbul $3,281
  • Rajahmundry $656

Istanbul costs about 388% more than Rajahmundry, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Istanbul sits 15% above the global median, while Rajahmundry is 76% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Istanbul
Rajahmundry
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.30 ₺609
$1.29 ₹122
853.49%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$54.7 ₺2,708
$8.19 ₹778
567.89%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.22 ₺456
$4.61 ₹438
100.00%
Cappuccino
$4.40 ₺218
$1.17 ₹111
276.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68 ₺83.1
$0.30 ₹28.37
460.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.59 ₺29.40
$0.11 ₹10.01
436.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.70 ₺233
$2.15 ₹204
118.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.91 ₺292
$2.64 ₹250
123.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Istanbul
Rajahmundry
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.21 ₺60.0
$0.66 ₹62.4
83.33%
White Bread (500g)
$0.89 ₺44.10
$0.46 ₹43.47
93.48%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.19 ₺108
$0.61 ₹57.8
259.02%
Eggs
$2.35 ₺116
$0.74 ₹70.2
217.57%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.42 ₺516
$5.49 ₹521
89.80%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.65 ₺280
$2.69 ₹256
110.04%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.94 ₺1,037
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$1.90 ₺94.1
$0.85 ₹80.6
123.53%
Banana (1kg)
$2.31 ₺114
$0.50 ₹47.46
362.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.28 ₺63.1
$0.87 ₹83.0
47.13%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.80 ₺89.0
$0.40 ₹37.64
350.00%
Potato (1kg)
$0.65 ₺32.16
$0.39 ₹36.57
66.67%
Onion (1kg)
$0.64 ₺31.91
$0.38 ₹36.26
68.42%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.25 ₺62.1
$0.59 ₹56.0
111.86%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 ₺27.58
$0.29 ₹27.65
93.10%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.37 ₺118
$2.10 ₹200
12.86%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.42 ₺664
$5.27 ₹500
154.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.40 ₺119
$1.26 ₹120
90.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.48 ₺172
$1.55 ₹147
124.52%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
-
$2.58 ₹245
-
🚌 Getting Around
Istanbul
Rajahmundry
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.89 ₺43.84
$0.30 ₹28.24
196.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$67.4 ₺3,338
$7.37 ₹700
814.93%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.29 ₺64.1
$1.08 ₹102
19.44%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.92 ₺45.70
$0.19 ₹17.99
384.21%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.96 ₺542
$2.06 ₹196
432.04%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.47 ₺72.9
$1.12 ₹107
31.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$50.8K ₺2.5M
$13.8K ₹1.3M
267.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$44.5K ₺2.2M
$21.9K ₹2.1M
103.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Istanbul
Rajahmundry
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$88.6 ₺4,387
$33.13 ₹3,146
167.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.59 ₺574
$2.21 ₹210
424.43%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.81 ₺783
$5.13 ₹487
208.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Istanbul
Rajahmundry
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$77.2 ₺3,820
$7.81 ₹741
887.96%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.74 ₺1,126
$6.63 ₹629
242.99%
Cinema Ticket
$8.14 ₺403
$2.38 ₹226
242.02%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Istanbul
Rajahmundry
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,008 ₺49.9K
$48.51 ₹4,607
1977.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$25.6K ₺1.3M
$1,566 ₹148.8K
1531.76%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Istanbul
Rajahmundry
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.0 ₺2,671
$5.36 ₹509
906.53%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.83 ₺2,021
$21.17 ₹2,010
92.87%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.9 ₺4,895
$30.13 ₹2,862
228.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$96.6 ₺4,783
$31.84 ₹3,023
203.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Istanbul
Rajahmundry
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$985 ₺48.7K
$102 ₹9,705
863.34%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$650 ₺32.2K
$71.7 ₹6,808
806.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,983 ₺98.2K
$189 ₹17.9K
952.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,180 ₺58.4K
$137 ₹13.0K
760.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,138 ₺155.4K
$980 ₹93.0K
220.35%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,780 ₺88.1K
$525 ₹49.8K
239.20%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Istanbul
Rajahmundry
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,205 ₺59.7K
$422 ₹40.1K
185.45%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
40.92
8.58
376.92%

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

Last update for Istanbul: October 13, 2026

Last update for Rajahmundry: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Istanbul
$650
Rajahmundry
$72 89% $578
Groceries & Markets
Istanbul
$260
Rajahmundry
$87 66.5% $173
Eating Out
Istanbul
$223
Rajahmundry
$56 75% $168
Clothing & Footwear
Istanbul
$131
Rajahmundry
$40 69.5% $91
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Istanbul
$116
Rajahmundry
$40 65.1% $76
Sport & Entertainment
Istanbul
$93
Rajahmundry
$13 86.6% $81
Getting Around
Istanbul
$77
Rajahmundry
$11 86.2% $66

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $985 in Istanbul versus $102 in Rajahmundry. 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 185% 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 $8.00 in Rajahmundry. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $260 vs $87.0 – making Rajahmundry the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇹🇷 Istanbul
🇮🇳 Rajahmundry
🕒 Local time
04:39 4:39 AM
07:09 7:09 AM
2 h 30 min ahead of Istanbul
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
15,701,602
341,831
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

INR, 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).

Indian Rupee exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 94.96 INR (100 INR = 1.05 USD). 1 EUR = 107 INR (1,000 INR = 9.37 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Istanbul Rajahmundry 5,680 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Istanbul
  • Rajahmundry

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 Rajahmundry: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Rajahmundry cheaper than Istanbul?
Yes – Istanbul is pricier by about 388%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,325 per month in Istanbul and $477 in Rajahmundry. 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 Rajahmundry, 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 $48.51 in Rajahmundry. 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 Rajahmundry?
Groceries cost about 199% 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 living in Istanbul or in Rajahmundry?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Rajahmundry, where all-in costs run around $318, than in Istanbul at $1,550. In Rajahmundry it covers expenses comfortably, while in Istanbul it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Istanbul or Rajahmundry more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Rajahmundry – 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 Rajahmundry?
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 Rajahmundry. 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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