Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Istanbul and Settat

For one person, living is cheaper in Settat: $647 a month against $1,550 in Istanbul, rent and utilities included – about $10,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Istanbul
🇹🇷 Turkey
$1,550
/mo nomad
Settat
🇲🇦 Morocco
$647
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Istanbul and in Settat

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

A single person spends $1,550 per month in Istanbul vs $647 in Settat, rent included.

  • Istanbul $1,550
  • Settat $647

A couple spends around $2,415 per month in Istanbul vs $1,028 in Settat, rent included.

  • Istanbul $2,415
  • Settat $1,028

A family of three spends $3,281 per month in Istanbul vs $1,410 in Settat, rent included.

  • Istanbul $3,281
  • Settat $1,410

Istanbul costs about 140% more than Settat, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Istanbul sits 15% above the global median, while Settat is 52% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Istanbul
Settat
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.30 ₺609
$3.09 MAD 30.09
298.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$54.7 ₺2,708
$30.63 MAD 299
78.58%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.22 ₺456
$6.11 MAD 59.6
50.90%
Cappuccino
$4.40 ₺218
$1.11 MAD 10.84
296.40%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68 ₺83.1
$0.44 MAD 4.26
281.82%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.59 ₺29.40
$0.32 MAD 3.07
84.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.70 ₺233
$1.16 MAD 11.35
305.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.91 ₺292
$1.48 MAD 14.43
299.32%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Istanbul
Settat
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.21 ₺60.0
$0.84 MAD 8.18
44.05%
White Bread (500g)
$0.89 ₺44.10
$0.78 MAD 7.60
14.10%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.19 ₺108
$1.51 MAD 14.74
45.03%
Eggs
$2.35 ₺116
$1.86 MAD 18.17
26.34%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.42 ₺516
$7.85 MAD 76.5
32.74%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.65 ₺280
$5.30 MAD 51.7
6.60%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.94 ₺1,037
$11.00 MAD 107
90.36%
Apples (1kg)
$1.90 ₺94.1
$1.59 MAD 15.46
19.50%
Banana (1kg)
$2.31 ₺114
$1.34 MAD 13.02
72.39%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.28 ₺63.1
$0.90 MAD 8.82
42.22%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.80 ₺89.0
$0.77 MAD 7.49
133.77%
Potato (1kg)
$0.65 ₺32.16
$0.66 MAD 6.43
-1.52%
Onion (1kg)
$0.64 ₺31.91
$0.79 MAD 7.68
-18.99%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.25 ₺62.1
$0.24 MAD 2.34
420.83%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 ₺27.58
$0.51 MAD 5.00
9.80%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.37 ₺118
$4.08 MAD 39.78
-41.91%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.42 ₺664
$7.58 MAD 73.9
77.04%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.40 ₺119
$2.19 MAD 21.38
9.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.48 ₺172
$3.25 MAD 31.71
7.08%
🚌 Getting Around
Istanbul
Settat
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.89 ₺43.84
$0.50 MAD 4.91
78.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$67.4 ₺3,338
$20.93 MAD 204
222.17%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.29 ₺64.1
$0.73 MAD 7.08
76.71%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.92 ₺45.70
$0.61 MAD 5.96
50.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.96 ₺542
$6.86 MAD 66.9
59.77%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.47 ₺72.9
$1.44 MAD 14.02
2.08%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$50.8K ₺2.5M
$33.6K MAD 327.6K
51.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$44.5K ₺2.2M
$28.9K MAD 281.3K
54.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Istanbul
Settat
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$88.6 ₺4,387
$20.18 MAD 197
339.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.59 ₺574
$5.04 MAD 49.17
129.96%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.81 ₺783
$36.13 MAD 352
-56.24%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Istanbul
Settat
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$77.2 ₺3,820
$18.49 MAD 180
317.31%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.74 ₺1,126
$20.83 MAD 203
9.17%
Cinema Ticket
$8.14 ₺403
$6.11 MAD 59.5
33.22%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Istanbul
Settat
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,008 ₺49.9K
$95.5 MAD 931
955.42%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$25.6K ₺1.3M
$8,175 MAD 79.7K
212.67%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Istanbul
Settat
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.0 ₺2,671
$30.99 MAD 302
74.09%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.83 ₺2,021
$44.10 MAD 430
-7.41%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.9 ₺4,895
$81.3 MAD 793
21.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$96.6 ₺4,783
$80.1 MAD 781
20.60%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Istanbul
Settat
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$985 ₺48.7K
$270 MAD 2,631
264.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$650 ₺32.2K
$174 MAD 1,694
273.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,983 ₺98.2K
$456 MAD 4,450
334.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,180 ₺58.4K
$274 MAD 2,676
329.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,138 ₺155.4K
$1,214 MAD 11.8K
158.53%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,780 ₺88.1K
$851 MAD 8,299
109.09%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Istanbul
Settat
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,205 ₺59.7K
$204 MAD 1,990
490.72%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
40.92
3.5
1069.14%

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

Last update for Istanbul: October 13, 2026

Last update for Settat: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Istanbul
$650
Settat
$174 73.3% $476
Groceries & Markets
Istanbul
$260
Settat
$179 30.9% $80
Eating Out
Istanbul
$223
Settat
$68 69.5% $155
Clothing & Footwear
Istanbul
$131
Settat
$106 18.5% $24
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Istanbul
$116
Settat
$61 47.1% $55
Sport & Entertainment
Istanbul
$93
Settat
$31 67.1% $63
Getting Around
Istanbul
$77
Settat
$27 65.2% $50

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $985 in Istanbul versus $270 in Settat. 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 491% 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 $31.00 in Settat. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $260 vs $179 – making Settat the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇹🇷 Istanbul
🇲🇦 Settat
🕒 Local time
10:02 10:02 AM
08:02 8:02 AM
2 h behind Istanbul
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
15,701,602
142,250
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

MAD, USD, EUR to TRY – Turkish Lira Converter

Turkish Lira exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 49.51 TRY (100 TRY = 2.02 USD). 1 EUR = 55.66 TRY (100 TRY = 1.8 EUR).

Moroccan Dirham exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 9.75 MAD (1 MAD = 0.103 USD). 1 EUR = 10.96 MAD (100 MAD = 9.12 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Istanbul Settat 3,340 km ≈ 4 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Istanbul
  • Settat

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 Settat: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Settat cheaper than Istanbul?
Yes – Istanbul is pricier by about 140%, 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 $970 in Settat. 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 Settat, 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 $95.5 in Settat. 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 Settat?
Groceries cost about 45% 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 $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Istanbul or in Settat?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Settat, where all-in costs run around $647, than in Istanbul at $1,550. In Settat it covers expenses comfortably, while in Istanbul it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Istanbul or Settat more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Settat – 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 Settat?
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 Settat. 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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