Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Istanbul and Siggiewi

For one person, living is cheaper in Istanbul: $1,550 a month against $1,804 in Siggiewi, rent and utilities included – about $3,000 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Siggiewi outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Istanbul
🇹🇷 Turkey
$1,550
/mo nomad
Siggiewi
🇲🇹 Malta
$1,804
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Istanbul and in Siggiewi

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

A single person spends $1,550 per month in Istanbul vs $1,804 in Siggiewi, rent included.

  • Istanbul $1,550
  • Siggiewi $1,804

A couple spends around $2,415 per month in Istanbul vs $2,721 in Siggiewi, rent included.

  • Istanbul $2,415
  • Siggiewi $2,721

A family of three spends $3,281 per month in Istanbul vs $3,639 in Siggiewi, rent included.

  • Istanbul $3,281
  • Siggiewi $3,639

Istanbul is about 14% cheaper than Siggiewi, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Istanbul and Siggiewi sit above the global median – Istanbul by 15%, Siggiewi by 34%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Istanbul
Siggiewi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.30 ₺609
$16.79 €14.94
-26.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$54.7 ₺2,708
$66.5 €59.1
-17.68%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.22 ₺456
$11.28 €10.03
-18.26%
Cappuccino
$4.40 ₺218
$0.90 €0.80
388.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68 ₺83.1
$1.14 €1.02
47.37%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.59 ₺29.40
$0.70 €0.62
-15.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.70 ₺233
$3.38 €3.01
39.05%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.91 ₺292
$4.02 €3.58
47.01%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Istanbul
Siggiewi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.21 ₺60.0
$1.39 €1.24
-12.95%
White Bread (500g)
$0.89 ₺44.10
$1.36 €1.21
-34.56%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.19 ₺108
$4.23 €3.76
-48.23%
Eggs
$2.35 ₺116
$4.20 €3.74
-44.05%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.42 ₺516
$8.28 €7.36
25.85%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.65 ₺280
$10.42 €9.27
-45.78%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.94 ₺1,037
$18.19 €16.18
15.12%
Apples (1kg)
$1.90 ₺94.1
$4.08 €3.63
-53.43%
Banana (1kg)
$2.31 ₺114
$2.69 €2.39
-14.13%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.28 ₺63.1
$3.68 €3.28
-65.22%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.80 ₺89.0
$3.29 €2.93
-45.29%
Potato (1kg)
$0.65 ₺32.16
$2.42 €2.15
-73.14%
Onion (1kg)
$0.64 ₺31.91
$1.99 €1.77
-67.84%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.25 ₺62.1
$2.33 €2.07
-46.35%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 ₺27.58
$0.51 €0.45
9.80%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.37 ₺118
$6.84 €6.08
-65.35%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.42 ₺664
$8.08 €7.19
66.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.40 ₺119
$1.36 €1.21
76.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.48 ₺172
$2.34 €2.08
48.72%
🚌 Getting Around
Istanbul
Siggiewi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.89 ₺43.84
$2.44 €2.17
-63.52%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$67.4 ₺3,338
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.29 ₺64.1
$5.49 €4.88
-76.50%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.92 ₺45.70
$2.17 €1.93
-57.60%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.96 ₺542
$27.23 €24.22
-59.75%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.47 ₺72.9
$1.52 €1.35
-3.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$50.8K ₺2.5M
$37.5K €33.3K
35.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$44.5K ₺2.2M
$38.3K €34.1K
16.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Istanbul
Siggiewi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$88.6 ₺4,387
$55.7 €49.58
58.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.59 ₺574
$17.55 €15.61
-33.96%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.81 ₺783
$29.50 €26.24
-46.41%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Istanbul
Siggiewi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$77.2 ₺3,820
$61.3 €54.5
25.85%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.74 ₺1,126
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.14 ₺403
$7.64 €6.80
6.54%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Istanbul
Siggiewi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,008 ₺49.9K
$370 €329
172.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$25.6K ₺1.3M
$11.0K €9,816
131.61%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Istanbul
Siggiewi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.0 ₺2,671
$87.4 €77.8
-38.30%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.83 ₺2,021
$22.48 €20.00
81.63%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.9 ₺4,895
$99.8 €88.8
-0.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$96.6 ₺4,783
$77.1 €68.6
25.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Istanbul
Siggiewi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$985 ₺48.7K
$1,144 €1,018
-13.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$650 ₺32.2K
$943 €839
-31.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,983 ₺98.2K
$1,734 €1,543
14.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,180 ₺58.4K
$1,508 €1,342
-21.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,138 ₺155.4K
$3,724 €3,312
-15.73%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,780 ₺88.1K
$2,664 €2,370
-33.20%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Istanbul
Siggiewi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,205 ₺59.7K
$1,656 €1,473
-27.22%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
40.92
2.9
1311.03%

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

Last update for Istanbul: October 13, 2026

Last update for Siggiewi: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Istanbul
$650
Siggiewi
$943 45.1% $293
Groceries & Markets
Istanbul
$260
Siggiewi
$315 21.3% $55
Eating Out
Istanbul
$223
Siggiewi
$211 5.4% $12
Clothing & Footwear
Istanbul
$131
Siggiewi
$129 1.2% $1.6
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Istanbul
$116
Siggiewi
$103 11.4% $13
Sport & Entertainment
Istanbul
$93
Siggiewi
$77 18% $17
Getting Around
Istanbul
$77
Siggiewi
$26 * 66.1% $51

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

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $985 in Istanbul versus $1,144 in Siggiewi. 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 37% higher in Siggiewi, 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 $66.0 in Siggiewi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $260 vs $315 – making Istanbul the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇹🇷 Istanbul
🇲🇹 Siggiewi
🕒 Local time
20:05 8:05 PM
19:05 7:05 PM
1 h behind Istanbul
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
15,701,602
8,400
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR, USD 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).

Euro exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Istanbul Siggiewi 1,390 km ≈ 2 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Istanbul
  • Siggiewi

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 Siggiewi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Siggiewi cheaper than Istanbul?
Yes – Siggiewi is pricier by about 16%, 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 $2,325 per month in Istanbul and $2,705 in Siggiewi. 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 Istanbul, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Istanbul or in Siggiewi?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $55.0 in Istanbul and $66.0 in Siggiewi. 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 Siggiewi?
Groceries cost about 21% more in Siggiewi, 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 Siggiewi?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Istanbul, where all-in costs run around $1,550, than in Siggiewi at $1,804. In Istanbul it covers expenses comfortably, while in Siggiewi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Istanbul or Siggiewi more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Istanbul – 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 Siggiewi?
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 Istanbul. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Siggiewi makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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