Cost of Living Comparison Between Istanbul and Sanliurfa Cost of Living Comparison Between Istanbul and Sanliurfa

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,494 per month in Istanbul vs $873 in Sanliurfa, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,338 per month in Istanbul vs $1,312 in Sanliurfa, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,181 per month in Istanbul vs $1,750 in Sanliurfa, rent included.

Istanbul costs about 71% more than Sanliurfa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Istanbul sits 8% above the global median, while Sanliurfa is 37% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.14 ₺492

$4.06 ₺197

149.75%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.7 ₺2,461

$16.22 ₺788

212.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.09 ₺441

$7.37 ₺358

23.34%

Cappuccino

$4.05 ₺197

$3.18 ₺154

27.36%

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

$1.74 ₺84.3

$0.92 ₺44.47

89.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.57 ₺27.70

$0.20 ₺9.69

185.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.06 ₺197

$3.35 ₺163

21.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.03 ₺293

$3.64 ₺177

65.66%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.22 ₺59.4

$0.85 ₺41.46

43.53%

White Bread (500g)

$0.94 ₺45.81

$0.74 ₺35.97

27.03%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.44 ₺118

$1.61 ₺78.0

51.55%

Eggs

$2.46 ₺119

$1.82 ₺88.4

35.16%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.30 ₺500

$5.91 ₺287

74.28%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.35 ₺260

$3.44 ₺167

55.52%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$21.09 ₺1,024

$15.32 ₺744

37.66%

Apples (1kg)

$1.97 ₺95.9

$1.53 ₺74.3

28.76%

Banana (1kg)

$2.24 ₺109

$1.64 ₺79.7

36.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.20 ₺58.5

$0.81 ₺39.20

48.15%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.92 ₺93.3

$0.85 ₺41.18

125.88%

Potato (1kg)

$0.59 ₺28.65

$0.57 ₺27.59

3.51%

Onion (1kg)

$0.52 ₺25.04

$0.49 ₺23.89

6.12%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.09 ₺53.0

$0.81 ₺39.22

34.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 ₺28.62

$0.43 ₺20.87

37.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.33 ₺113

$1.92 ₺93.1

21.35%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.24 ₺643

$7.97 ₺387

66.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.40 ₺116

$2.22 ₺108

8.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.39 ₺165

$2.07 ₺101

63.77%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 ₺41.57

$0.69 ₺33.40

24.64%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$67.9 ₺3,298

$34.21 ₺1,661

98.54%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.31 ₺63.5

$1.61 ₺78.1

-18.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.92 ₺44.88

$0.69 ₺33.33

33.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.72 ₺520

$5.37 ₺261

99.63%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.38 ₺66.8

$1.17 ₺56.6

17.95%

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

$50.7K ₺2.5M

$41.8K ₺2.0M

21.36%

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

$44.4K ₺2.2M

$40.0K ₺1.9M

10.87%

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

$88.6 ₺4,302

$80.9 ₺3,930

9.48%

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

$11.48 ₺557

$10.40 ₺505

10.38%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.51 ₺802

$10.85 ₺527

52.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$69.2 ₺3,361

$52.2 ₺2,536

32.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.43 ₺1,138

$20.79 ₺1,010

12.70%

Cinema Ticket

$8.37 ₺407

$3.63 ₺176

130.58%

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

$978 ₺47.5K

$203 ₺9,873

381.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$28.0K ₺1.4M

$11.7K ₺568.5K

139.22%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.1 ₺2,624

$15.29 ₺743

253.50%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.94 ₺1,890

$14.61 ₺709

166.53%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 ₺4,881

$55.4 ₺2,690

81.48%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$94.4 ₺4,583

$31.58 ₺1,533

198.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$991 ₺48.1K

$416 ₺20.2K

138.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$638 ₺31.0K

$304 ₺14.8K

109.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,946 ₺94.5K

$780 ₺37.9K

149.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,144 ₺55.5K

$577 ₺28.0K

98.25%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,979 ₺144.6K

$1,248 ₺60.6K

138.64%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,694 ₺82.3K

$1,124 ₺54.6K

50.82%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,196 ₺58.1K

$809 ₺39.3K

47.79%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

41.26

-24.98%

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

Last update for Istanbul: September 5, 2026

Last update for Sanliurfa: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $991 in Istanbul versus $416 in Sanliurfa. 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 48% 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 $51.0 in Istanbul versus $16.00 in Sanliurfa. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $259 vs $178 – making Sanliurfa the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Sanliurfa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Istanbul is pricier by about 71%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,242 per month in Istanbul and $1,310 in Sanliurfa. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $978 per month in Istanbul and $203 in Sanliurfa. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 46% 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 $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Sanliurfa, where all-in costs run around $873, than in Istanbul at $1,494. In Sanliurfa it covers expenses comfortably, while in Istanbul it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Sanliurfa – 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 Sanliurfa. 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.