Cost of Living Comparison Between Istanbul and Sivas Cost of Living Comparison Between Istanbul and Sivas

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,494 per month in Istanbul vs $934 in Sivas, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,338 per month in Istanbul vs $1,417 in Sivas, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,181 per month in Istanbul vs $1,899 in Sivas, rent included.

Istanbul costs about 60% more than Sivas, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Istanbul sits 8% above the global median, while Sivas is 32% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.14 ₺492

$8.19 ₺397

23.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.7 ₺2,461

$63.1 ₺3,066

-19.73%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.09 ₺441

$7.85 ₺381

15.80%

Cappuccino

$4.05 ₺197

$3.36 ₺163

20.54%

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

$1.74 ₺84.3

$0.91 ₺44.40

91.21%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.57 ₺27.70

$0.25 ₺12.13

128.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.06 ₺197

$1.93 ₺93.7

110.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.03 ₺293

$2.72 ₺132

121.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.22 ₺59.4

$0.93 ₺45.30

31.18%

White Bread (500g)

$0.94 ₺45.81

$0.79 ₺38.16

18.99%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.44 ₺118

$2.47 ₺120

-1.21%

Eggs

$2.46 ₺119

$2.62 ₺127

-6.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.30 ₺500

$8.70 ₺422

18.39%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.35 ₺260

$2.94 ₺143

81.97%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$21.09 ₺1,024

$20.02 ₺972

5.34%

Apples (1kg)

$1.97 ₺95.9

$2.09 ₺101

-5.74%

Banana (1kg)

$2.24 ₺109

$1.61 ₺78.3

39.13%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.20 ₺58.5

$0.84 ₺40.65

42.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.92 ₺93.3

$1.07 ₺51.9

79.44%

Potato (1kg)

$0.59 ₺28.65

$0.46 ₺22.53

28.26%

Onion (1kg)

$0.52 ₺25.04

$0.28 ₺13.45

85.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.09 ₺53.0

$0.81 ₺39.16

34.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 ₺28.62

$0.57 ₺27.76

3.51%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.33 ₺113

$2.03 ₺98.7

14.78%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.24 ₺643

$9.03 ₺438

46.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.40 ₺116

$1.64 ₺79.6

46.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.39 ₺165

$2.29 ₺111

48.03%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 ₺41.57

$0.50 ₺24.20

72.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$67.9 ₺3,298

$15.34 ₺745

342.76%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.31 ₺63.5

$1.89 ₺91.6

-30.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.92 ₺44.88

$0.57 ₺27.91

61.40%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.72 ₺520

$5.13 ₺249

108.97%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.38 ₺66.8

$1.27 ₺61.5

8.66%

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

$50.7K ₺2.5M

$41.3K ₺2.0M

22.80%

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

$44.4K ₺2.2M

$40.5K ₺2.0M

9.67%

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

$88.6 ₺4,302

$91.3 ₺4,435

-2.98%

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

$11.48 ₺557

$11.50 ₺558

-0.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.51 ₺802

$12.80 ₺622

28.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$69.2 ₺3,361

$30.67 ₺1,489

125.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.43 ₺1,138

Cinema Ticket

$8.37 ₺407

$4.04 ₺196

107.18%

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

$978 ₺47.5K

$258 ₺12.5K

278.77%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$28.0K ₺1.4M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.1 ₺2,624

$27.34 ₺1,327

97.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.94 ₺1,890

$60.9 ₺2,956

-36.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 ₺4,881

$71.7 ₺3,481

40.21%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$94.4 ₺4,583

$48.89 ₺2,374

93.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$991 ₺48.1K

$466 ₺22.6K

112.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$638 ₺31.0K

$307 ₺14.9K

107.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,946 ₺94.5K

$509 ₺24.7K

282.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,144 ₺55.5K

$308 ₺15.0K

270.84%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,979 ₺144.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,694 ₺82.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,196 ₺58.1K

$892 ₺43.3K

34.07%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

41.26

14.61%

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

Last update for Istanbul: September 5, 2026

Last update for Sivas: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $991 in Istanbul versus $466 in Sivas. 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 34% 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 $63.0 in Sivas. Groceries tell a different story – $259 in Istanbul vs $210 in Sivas – so Sivas wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Sivas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Istanbul is pricier by about 60%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. 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 $1,401 in Sivas. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Sivas, 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 $258 in Sivas. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 23% 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 $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Sivas, where all-in costs run around $934, than in Istanbul at $1,494. In Sivas it covers expenses comfortably, while in Istanbul it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Sivas – 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 Sivas. 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.