Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Istanbul and Siddharthanagar

For one person, living is cheaper in Siddharthanagar: $349 a month against $1,550 in Istanbul, rent and utilities included – about $14,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Istanbul
🇹🇷 Turkey
$1,550
/mo nomad
Siddharthanagar
🇳🇵 Nepal
$349
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Istanbul and in Siddharthanagar

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

A single person spends $1,550 per month in Istanbul vs $349 in Siddharthanagar, rent included.

  • Istanbul $1,550
  • Siddharthanagar $349

A couple spends around $2,415 per month in Istanbul vs $572 in Siddharthanagar, rent included.

  • Istanbul $2,415
  • Siddharthanagar $572

A family of three spends $3,281 per month in Istanbul vs $796 in Siddharthanagar, rent included.

  • Istanbul $3,281
  • Siddharthanagar $796

Istanbul costs about 344% more than Siddharthanagar, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Istanbul sits 15% above the global median, while Siddharthanagar is 74% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Istanbul
Siddharthanagar
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.30 ₺609
$2.01 NPR 305
511.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$54.7 ₺2,708
$20.00 NPR 3,038
173.50%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.22 ₺456
$7.77 NPR 1,181
18.66%
Cappuccino
$4.40 ₺218
$1.51 NPR 229
191.39%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68 ₺83.1
$0.54 NPR 82.7
211.11%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.59 ₺29.40
$0.15 NPR 23.18
293.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.70 ₺233
$3.21 NPR 488
46.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.91 ₺292
$3.25 NPR 493
81.85%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Istanbul
Siddharthanagar
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.21 ₺60.0
$0.77 NPR 117
57.14%
White Bread (500g)
$0.89 ₺44.10
$0.58 NPR 88.8
53.45%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.19 ₺108
$0.91 NPR 138
140.66%
Eggs
$2.35 ₺116
$1.71 NPR 260
37.43%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.42 ₺516
$7.16 NPR 1,088
45.53%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.65 ₺280
$3.19 NPR 484
77.12%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.94 ₺1,037
$5.99 NPR 910
249.58%
Apples (1kg)
$1.90 ₺94.1
$2.04 NPR 310
-6.86%
Banana (1kg)
$2.31 ₺114
$1.20 NPR 182
92.50%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.28 ₺63.1
$1.42 NPR 216
-9.86%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.80 ₺89.0
$0.55 NPR 83.4
227.27%
Potato (1kg)
$0.65 ₺32.16
$0.38 NPR 58.0
71.05%
Onion (1kg)
$0.64 ₺31.91
$0.50 NPR 75.7
28.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.25 ₺62.1
$0.49 NPR 74.4
155.10%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 ₺27.58
$0.24 NPR 36.54
133.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.37 ₺118
$2.49 NPR 379
-4.82%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.42 ₺664
$7.69 NPR 1,169
74.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.40 ₺119
$2.19 NPR 333
9.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.48 ₺172
$2.92 NPR 444
19.18%
🚌 Getting Around
Istanbul
Siddharthanagar
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
$1.83 NPR 278
-29.51%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.92 ₺45.70
$1.19 NPR 181
-22.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.96 ₺542
$3.18 NPR 483
244.65%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.47 ₺72.9
$1.40 NPR 213
5.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$50.8K ₺2.5M
$29.4K NPR 4.5M
72.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$44.5K ₺2.2M
$36.3K NPR 5.5M
22.59%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Istanbul
Siddharthanagar
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$88.6 ₺4,387
$31.11 NPR 4,728
184.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.59 ₺574
$3.51 NPR 534
230.20%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.81 ₺783
$8.81 NPR 1,339
79.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Istanbul
Siddharthanagar
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$77.2 ₺3,820
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.74 ₺1,126
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.14 ₺403
$2.97 NPR 451
174.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Istanbul
Siddharthanagar
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,008 ₺49.9K
$65.6 NPR 9,963
1437.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$25.6K ₺1.3M
$5,433 NPR 825.5K
370.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Istanbul
Siddharthanagar
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.0 ₺2,671
$24.96 NPR 3,793
116.15%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.83 ₺2,021
$26.23 NPR 3,985
55.66%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.9 ₺4,895
$63.1 NPR 9,587
56.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$96.6 ₺4,783
$28.70 NPR 4,360
236.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Istanbul
Siddharthanagar
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
Siddharthanagar
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,205 ₺59.7K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
40.92
9.72
320.99%

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

Last update for Istanbul: October 13, 2026

Last update for Siddharthanagar: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Istanbul
$650
Siddharthanagar
- * 100%
Groceries & Markets
Istanbul
$260
Siddharthanagar
$144 44.4% $115
Eating Out
Istanbul
$223
Siddharthanagar
$83 62.9% $140
Clothing & Footwear
Istanbul
$131
Siddharthanagar
$64 50.7% $66
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Istanbul
$116
Siddharthanagar
$43 62.6% $73
Sport & Entertainment
Istanbul
$93
Siddharthanagar
$5.9 * 93.6% $88
Getting Around
Istanbul
$77
Siddharthanagar
$7.8 * 89.9% $69

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 $20.00 in Siddharthanagar. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $260 vs $144 – making Siddharthanagar the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇹🇷 Istanbul
🇳🇵 Siddharthanagar
🕒 Local time
04:42 4:42 AM
07:27 7:27 AM
2 h 45 min ahead of Istanbul
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
15,701,602
63,483
💱 Currency
Nepalese Rupee NPR रु
Exchange rates and currency converter

NPR, 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).

Nepalese Rupee exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 152 NPR (1,000 NPR = 6.58 USD). 1 EUR = 171 NPR (1,000 NPR = 5.85 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Istanbul Siddharthanagar 5,140 km ≈ 7 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Istanbul
  • Siddharthanagar

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 Siddharthanagar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Siddharthanagar cheaper than Istanbul?
Yes – Istanbul is pricier by about 344%, 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 $523 in Siddharthanagar. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Is eating out cheaper in Istanbul or in Siddharthanagar?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $55.0 in Istanbul and $20.00 in Siddharthanagar. 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 Siddharthanagar?
Groceries cost about 80% 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 Siddharthanagar?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Siddharthanagar, where all-in costs run around $349, than in Istanbul at $1,550. In Siddharthanagar it covers expenses comfortably, while in Istanbul it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Istanbul or Siddharthanagar more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Siddharthanagar – 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 Siddharthanagar?
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 Siddharthanagar. 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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