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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,467 per month in Istanbul vs $1,070 in Sivas, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,251 per month in Istanbul vs $1,646 in Sivas, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,035 per month in Istanbul vs $2,223 in Sivas, rent included.

Istanbul costs about 37% more than Sivas, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Istanbul sits 10% above the global median, while Sivas is 20% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.20 ₺528

$6.20 ₺293

80.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$51.0 ₺2,406

$29.90 ₺1,410

70.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.71 ₺363

$7.52 ₺354

2.53%

Cappuccino

$3.60 ₺170

$3.87 ₺183

-6.98%

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

$1.29 ₺61.0

$2.57 ₺121

-49.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.49 ₺23.15

$0.50 ₺23.45

-2.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.77 ₺178

$4.94 ₺233

-23.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.00 ₺236

$6.41 ₺302

-22.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.11 ₺52.2

$1.00 ₺47.32

11.00%

White Bread (500g)

$0.75 ₺35.57

$0.35 ₺16.28

114.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.20 ₺104

$2.12 ₺100

3.77%

Eggs

$2.70 ₺127

$2.50 ₺118

8.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.15 ₺479

$6.20 ₺292

63.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.46 ₺305

$3.87 ₺182

66.93%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.78 ₺933

$11.55 ₺545

71.26%

Apples (1kg)

$1.50 ₺70.9

$1.28 ₺60.5

17.19%

Banana (1kg)

$2.28 ₺107

$2.47 ₺116

-7.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.30 ₺61.2

$1.28 ₺60.4

1.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.63 ₺77.0

$1.31 ₺61.7

24.43%

Potato (1kg)

$0.71 ₺33.62

$1.05 ₺49.54

-32.38%

Onion (1kg)

$0.72 ₺34.18

$0.74 ₺34.69

-2.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.13 ₺53.3

$0.78 ₺36.64

44.87%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.62 ₺29.01

$0.86 ₺40.68

-27.91%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.18 ₺103

$1.98 ₺93.6

10.10%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.99 ₺612

$9.52 ₺449

36.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.22 ₺105

$2.19 ₺103

1.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.08 ₺145

$3.09 ₺146

-0.32%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.72 ₺33.96

$0.62 ₺29.13

16.13%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.5 ₺2,524

$30.11 ₺1,420

77.75%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.05 ₺49.34

$1.04 ₺48.97

0.96%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ₺27.34

$0.60 ₺28.24

-3.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.14 ₺431

$7.44 ₺351

22.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.21 ₺56.9

$1.17 ₺55.3

3.42%

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

$45.2K ₺2.1M

$44.0K ₺2.1M

2.66%

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

$44.0K ₺2.1M

$44.1K ₺2.1M

-0.19%

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

$71.7 ₺3,380

$61.6 ₺2,906

16.33%

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

$12.50 ₺589

$10.90 ₺514

14.68%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.63 ₺690

$13.00 ₺613

12.54%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.1 ₺2,881

$43.65 ₺2,059

39.93%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.31 ₺864

Cinema Ticket

$7.60 ₺359

$5.55 ₺262

36.94%

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

$934 ₺44.0K

$601 ₺28.4K

55.30%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.5K ₺870.8K

$8,709 ₺410.7K

112.01%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.4 ₺2,613

$51.9 ₺2,447

6.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.26 ₺2,229

$44.72 ₺2,109

5.68%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$112 ₺5,275

$102 ₺4,790

10.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 ₺4,977

$89.6 ₺4,225

17.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$946 ₺44.6K

$514 ₺24.3K

84.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$608 ₺28.7K

$400 ₺18.9K

52.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,761 ₺83.0K

$896 ₺42.3K

96.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,060 ₺50.0K

$721 ₺34.0K

47.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,087 ₺145.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,675 ₺79.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,174 ₺55.4K

$943 ₺44.5K

24.43%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

48.43

79.37%

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

Last update for Istanbul: July 11, 2026

Last update for Sivas: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $946 in Istanbul versus $514 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 24% 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 $30.00 in Sivas. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $254 vs $192 – making Sivas 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 Sivas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Istanbul is pricier by about 37%, 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 $2,200 per month in Istanbul and $1,605 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 $934 per month in Istanbul and $601 in Sivas. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 32% 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 $1,070, than in Istanbul at $1,467. 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.