Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Istanbul and Sagamu

For one person, living is cheaper in Sagamu: $479 a month against $1,550 in Istanbul, rent and utilities included – about $12,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Istanbul
🇹🇷 Turkey
$1,550
/mo nomad
Sagamu
🇳🇬 Nigeria
$479
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Istanbul and in Sagamu

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

A single person spends $1,550 per month in Istanbul vs $479 in Sagamu, rent included.

  • Istanbul $1,550
  • Sagamu $479

A couple spends around $2,415 per month in Istanbul vs $804 in Sagamu, rent included.

  • Istanbul $2,415
  • Sagamu $804

A family of three spends $3,281 per month in Istanbul vs $1,129 in Sagamu, rent included.

  • Istanbul $3,281
  • Sagamu $1,129

Istanbul costs about 224% more than Sagamu, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Istanbul sits 15% above the global median, while Sagamu is 65% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Istanbul
Sagamu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.30 ₺609
$3.67 ₦4,883
235.15%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$54.7 ₺2,708
$49.25 ₦65.5K
11.07%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.22 ₺456
$7.38 ₦9,819
24.93%
Cappuccino
$4.40 ₺218
$2.77 ₦3,685
58.84%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68 ₺83.1
$0.44 ₦581
281.82%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.59 ₺29.40
$0.24 ₦320
145.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.70 ₺233
$1.02 ₦1,352
360.78%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.91 ₺292
$1.99 ₦2,642
196.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Istanbul
Sagamu
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.21 ₺60.0
$3.16 ₦4,205
-61.71%
White Bread (500g)
$0.89 ₺44.10
$1.42 ₦1,886
-37.32%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.19 ₺108
$1.25 ₦1,660
75.20%
Eggs
$2.35 ₺116
$2.22 ₦2,947
5.86%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.42 ₺516
$3.63 ₦4,830
187.05%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.65 ₺280
$3.81 ₦5,073
48.29%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.94 ₺1,037
$4.36 ₦5,801
380.28%
Apples (1kg)
$1.90 ₺94.1
$1.71 ₦2,280
11.11%
Banana (1kg)
$2.31 ₺114
$1.29 ₦1,711
79.07%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.28 ₺63.1
$1.10 ₦1,458
16.36%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.80 ₺89.0
$1.27 ₦1,693
41.73%
Potato (1kg)
$0.65 ₺32.16
$1.34 ₦1,778
-51.49%
Onion (1kg)
$0.64 ₺31.91
$1.35 ₦1,795
-52.59%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.25 ₺62.1
$0.83 ₦1,106
50.60%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 ₺27.58
$0.40 ₦530
40.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.37 ₺118
$0.54 ₦721
338.89%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.42 ₺664
$2.40 ₦3,189
459.17%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.40 ₺119
$0.54 ₦720
344.44%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.48 ₺172
$0.50 ₦670
596.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Istanbul
Sagamu
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.89 ₺43.84
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$67.4 ₺3,338
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.29 ₺64.1
$0.67 ₦886
92.54%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.92 ₺45.70
$0.91 ₦1,213
1.10%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.96 ₺542
$2.20 ₦2,920
398.18%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.47 ₺72.9
$0.87 ₦1,163
68.97%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$50.8K ₺2.5M
$11.1K ₦14.8M
356.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$44.5K ₺2.2M
$13.5K ₦17.9M
230.53%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Istanbul
Sagamu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$88.6 ₺4,387
$111 ₦148.0K
-20.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.59 ₺574
$14.97 ₦19.9K
-22.58%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.81 ₺783
$32.51 ₦43.2K
-51.37%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Istanbul
Sagamu
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$77.2 ₺3,820
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.74 ₺1,126
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.14 ₺403
$6.33 ₦8,418
28.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Istanbul
Sagamu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,008 ₺49.9K
$659 ₦876.5K
52.97%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$25.6K ₺1.3M
$19.9K ₦26.5M
28.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Istanbul
Sagamu
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.0 ₺2,671
$14.65 ₦19.5K
268.26%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.83 ₺2,021
$18.30 ₦24.3K
123.11%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.9 ₺4,895
$36.36 ₦48.4K
171.95%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$96.6 ₺4,783
$47.86 ₦63.7K
101.84%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Istanbul
Sagamu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$985 ₺48.7K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$650 ₺32.2K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,983 ₺98.2K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,180 ₺58.4K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,138 ₺155.4K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,780 ₺88.1K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Istanbul
Sagamu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,205 ₺59.7K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
40.92
18.39
122.51%

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

Last update for Istanbul: October 13, 2026

Last update for Sagamu: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Istanbul
$650
Sagamu
- * 100%
Groceries & Markets
Istanbul
$260
Sagamu
$153 41.1% $107
Eating Out
Istanbul
$223
Sagamu
$97 56.8% $127
Clothing & Footwear
Istanbul
$131
Sagamu
$53 59.6% $78
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Istanbul
$116
Sagamu
$159 36.8% $43
Sport & Entertainment
Istanbul
$93
Sagamu
$13 * 86.5% $81
Getting Around
Istanbul
$77
Sagamu
$5.2 * 93.2% $72

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $55.0 in Istanbul versus $49.00 in Sagamu. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $260 vs $153 – making Sagamu the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇹🇷 Istanbul
🇳🇬 Sagamu
🕒 Local time
23:07 11:07 PM
21:07 9:07 PM
2 h behind Istanbul
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
15,701,602
214,558
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

NGN, USD, EUR to TRY – Turkish Lira Converter

Turkish Lira exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 49.51 TRY (100 TRY = 2.02 USD). 1 EUR = 55.67 TRY (100 TRY = 1.8 EUR).

Nigerian Naira exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 1,330 NGN (10,000 NGN = 7.52 USD). 1 EUR = 1,496 NGN (10,000 NGN = 6.69 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Istanbul Sagamu 4,550 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Istanbul
  • Sagamu

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 Sagamu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sagamu cheaper than Istanbul?
Yes – Istanbul is pricier by about 224%, 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 $2,325 per month in Istanbul and $718 in Sagamu. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Is eating out cheaper in Istanbul or in Sagamu?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $55.0 in Istanbul and $49.00 in Sagamu. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Istanbul and in Sagamu?
Groceries cost about 70% 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 $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Istanbul or in Sagamu?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Sagamu, where all-in costs run around $479, than in Istanbul at $1,550. In Sagamu it covers expenses comfortably, while in Istanbul it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Istanbul or Sagamu more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Sagamu – 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 Sagamu?
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 Sagamu. 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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