Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Istanbul and Rezekne

For one person, living is cheaper in Rezekne: $319 a month against $1,519 in Istanbul, rent and utilities included – about $14,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Istanbul, Turkey
Rezekne, Latvia
Istanbul
🇹🇷 Turkey
$1,519
/mo nomad
Rezekne
🇱🇻 Latvia
$319
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Istanbul and in Rezekne

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

A single person spends $1,519 per month in Istanbul vs $319 in Rezekne, rent included.

  • Istanbul $1,519
  • Rezekne $319

A couple spends around $2,365 per month in Istanbul vs $523 in Rezekne, rent included.

  • Istanbul $2,365
  • Rezekne $523

A family of three spends $3,212 per month in Istanbul vs $728 in Rezekne, rent included.

  • Istanbul $3,212
  • Rezekne $728

Istanbul costs about 376% more than Rezekne, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Istanbul sits 12% above the global median, while Rezekne is 76% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Istanbul
Rezekne
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.81 ₺592
$8.92 €7.94
32.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$54.9 ₺2,754
$27.72 €24.68
98.09%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.26 ₺465
$7.17 €6.39
29.15%
Cappuccino
$4.30 ₺216
$2.77 €2.47
55.23%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.77 ₺89.0
$1.72 €1.53
2.91%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.56 ₺28.32
$0.85 €0.76
-34.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.69 ₺235
$2.74 €2.44
71.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.12 ₺357
$2.22 €1.98
220.72%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Istanbul
Rezekne
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.25 ₺62.7
-
-
White Bread (500g)
$0.88 ₺44.17
-
-
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.20 ₺111
-
-
Eggs
$2.43 ₺122
-
-
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.48 ₺526
-
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.31 ₺267
-
-
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$21.10 ₺1,058
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$1.86 ₺93.1
-
-
Banana (1kg)
$2.30 ₺115
-
-
Oranges (1kg)
$1.22 ₺61.0
-
-
Tomato (1kg)
$1.80 ₺90.2
-
-
Potato (1kg)
$0.69 ₺34.83
-
-
Onion (1kg)
$0.64 ₺32.16
-
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.36 ₺68.0
-
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.58 ₺28.94
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.34 ₺117
-
-
Wine (Bottle)
$13.03 ₺653
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.36 ₺118
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.32 ₺166
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Istanbul
Rezekne
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.88 ₺44.07
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$66.1 ₺3,316
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.28 ₺64.4
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.85 ₺42.80
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$11.09 ₺556
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.48 ₺74.0
$1.79 €1.60
-17.32%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$48.6K ₺2.4M
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$42.0K ₺2.1M
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Istanbul
Rezekne
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$92.7 ₺4,650
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.20 ₺562
-
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.89 ₺797
-
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Istanbul
Rezekne
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$74.7 ₺3,745
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.95 ₺1,151
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.05 ₺404
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Istanbul
Rezekne
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$948 ₺47.6K
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$36.9K ₺1.9M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Istanbul
Rezekne
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.9 ₺2,702
-
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.49 ₺2,081
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 ₺5,060
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$91.3 ₺4,580
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Istanbul
Rezekne
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,014 ₺50.8K
$199 €177
408.97%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$625 ₺31.3K
$165 €147
279.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,005 ₺100.6K
$282 €251
611.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,126 ₺56.5K
$280 €249
302.23%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,988 ₺149.8K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,730 ₺86.8K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Istanbul
Rezekne
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,136 ₺57.0K
$779 €694
45.81%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
40.42
0
-

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

Last update for Istanbul: November 2, 2026

Last update for Rezekne: October 31, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Istanbul
$625
Rezekne
–
Groceries & Markets
Istanbul
$258
Rezekne
–
Eating Out
Istanbul
$221
Rezekne
–
Clothing & Footwear
Istanbul
$129
Rezekne
–
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Istanbul
$120
Rezekne
–
Sport & Entertainment
Istanbul
$91
Rezekne
–
Getting Around
Istanbul
$75
Rezekne
–

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,014 in Istanbul versus $199 in Rezekne. 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 46% 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 in Istanbul versus $28 in Rezekne. Use this as a proxy for overall food spending across the two cities.

Good to know
🇹🇷 Istanbul
🇱🇻 Rezekne
🕒 Local time
13:13 1:13 PM
12:13 12:13 PM
1 h behind Istanbul
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
15,701,602
33,936
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR, USD to TRY – Turkish Lira Converter

Turkish Lira exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 50.15 TRY (100 TRY = 1.99 USD). 1 EUR = 56.33 TRY (100 TRY = 1.78 EUR).

Euro exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 0.89 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Istanbul Rezekne 1,730 km ≈ 2 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Istanbul
  • Rezekne

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 Rezekne: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Rezekne cheaper than Istanbul?
Yes – Istanbul is pricier by about 376%, 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 $2,278 per month in Istanbul and $479 in Rezekne. 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 Rezekne, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $199 there versus $1,014 in Istanbul.
What are total monthly expenses in Istanbul and in Rezekne?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,519 in Istanbul and $319 in Rezekne. That makes Rezekne about 79% cheaper.
Is eating out cheaper in Istanbul or in Rezekne?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $55 in Istanbul and $28 in Rezekne. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $800 a realistic budget for living in Istanbul or in Rezekne?
A $800 monthly budget goes further in Rezekne, where all-in costs run around $319, than in Istanbul at $1,519. In Rezekne it covers expenses comfortably, while in Istanbul it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is it better to live in Istanbul or in Rezekne?
It depends on your priorities. Istanbul has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $319 in Rezekne to $1,519 in Istanbul. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Which city is safer, Istanbul or Rezekne?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Rezekne. If higher salaries 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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