Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Istanbul and Sollentuna

For one person, living is cheaper in Istanbul: $1,525 a month against $2,306 in Sollentuna, rent and utilities included – about $9,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Istanbul
🇹🇷 Turkey
$1,525
/mo nomad
Sollentuna
🇸🇪 Sweden
$2,306
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Istanbul and in Sollentuna

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

A single person spends $1,525 per month in Istanbul vs $2,306 in Sollentuna, rent included.

  • Istanbul $1,525
  • Sollentuna $2,306

A couple spends around $2,390 per month in Istanbul vs $3,348 in Sollentuna, rent included.

  • Istanbul $2,390
  • Sollentuna $3,348

A family of three spends $3,256 per month in Istanbul vs $4,390 in Sollentuna, rent included.

  • Istanbul $3,256
  • Sollentuna $4,390

Istanbul is about 34% cheaper than Sollentuna, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Istanbul and Sollentuna sit above the global median – Istanbul by 13%, Sollentuna by 70%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Istanbul
Sollentuna
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.96 ₺592
$15.87 SEK 157
-24.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$57.2 ₺2,834
$81.1 SEK 803
-29.41%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.51 ₺471
$9.88 SEK 97.9
-3.74%
Cappuccino
$4.40 ₺218
$4.50 SEK 44.55
-2.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75 ₺86.6
$3.72 SEK 36.83
-52.96%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.56 ₺27.57
$2.16 SEK 21.37
-74.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.71 ₺233
$6.91 SEK 68.4
-31.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.14 ₺304
$7.20 SEK 71.4
-14.72%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Istanbul
Sollentuna
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.24 ₺61.6
$1.77 SEK 17.57
-29.94%
White Bread (500g)
$0.95 ₺47.25
$3.14 SEK 31.11
-69.75%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.28 ₺113
$3.82 SEK 37.80
-40.31%
Eggs
$2.45 ₺121
$5.10 SEK 50.5
-51.96%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.56 ₺523
$13.09 SEK 130
-19.33%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.50 ₺272
$13.16 SEK 130
-58.21%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$21.65 ₺1,072
$22.07 SEK 219
-1.90%
Apples (1kg)
$1.83 ₺90.6
$3.22 SEK 31.90
-43.17%
Banana (1kg)
$2.29 ₺113
$2.44 SEK 24.21
-6.15%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.28 ₺63.4
$2.89 SEK 28.68
-55.71%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.82 ₺90.1
$4.56 SEK 45.18
-60.09%
Potato (1kg)
$0.66 ₺32.74
$1.56 SEK 15.50
-57.69%
Onion (1kg)
$0.63 ₺31.14
$1.73 SEK 17.19
-63.58%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.27 ₺62.8
$2.33 SEK 23.04
-45.49%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 ₺27.62
$1.89 SEK 18.75
-70.37%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.36 ₺117
$7.92 SEK 78.5
-70.20%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.98 ₺642
$9.98 SEK 98.9
30.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.48 ₺123
$2.00 SEK 19.77
24.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.50 ₺174
$2.29 SEK 22.66
52.84%
🚌 Getting Around
Istanbul
Sollentuna
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.82 ₺40.77
$4.32 SEK 42.83
-81.02%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$65.2 ₺3,228
$103 SEK 1,019
-36.58%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.33 ₺65.7
$5.92 SEK 58.7
-77.53%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.90 ₺44.60
$1.54 SEK 15.28
-41.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.91 ₺540
$57.2 SEK 567
-80.93%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.43 ₺70.7
$1.82 SEK 17.99
-21.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$49.6K ₺2.5M
$33.2K SEK 328.7K
49.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$43.2K ₺2.1M
$33.7K SEK 334.2K
28.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Istanbul
Sollentuna
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$88.8 ₺4,395
$174 SEK 1,723
-48.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.69 ₺579
$21.24 SEK 210
-44.96%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.09 ₺797
$39.58 SEK 392
-59.35%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Istanbul
Sollentuna
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.3 ₺3,776
$37.22 SEK 369
104.89%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.72 ₺1,125
$24.58 SEK 244
-7.57%
Cinema Ticket
$8.26 ₺409
$17.59 SEK 174
-53.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Istanbul
Sollentuna
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,015 ₺50.2K
$162 SEK 1,604
526.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$25.8K ₺1.3M
$4,945 SEK 49.0K
422.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Istanbul
Sollentuna
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.3 ₺2,636
$97.2 SEK 963
-45.22%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.55 ₺2,008
$53.5 SEK 530
-24.25%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$100 ₺4,956
$94.9 SEK 940
5.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$93.5 ₺4,630
$186 SEK 1,847
-49.83%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Istanbul
Sollentuna
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$977 ₺48.4K
$1,357 SEK 13.4K
-27.99%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$627 ₺31.0K
$992 SEK 9,828
-36.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,980 ₺98.0K
$1,332 SEK 13.2K
48.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,147 ₺56.8K
$1,365 SEK 13.5K
-15.95%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,095 ₺153.2K
$4,023 SEK 39.9K
-23.05%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,787 ₺88.5K
$2,750 SEK 27.2K
-35.01%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Istanbul
Sollentuna
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,213 ₺60.1K
$3,617 SEK 35.8K
-66.46%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
40.69
3.37
1107.42%

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

Last update for Istanbul: October 19, 2026

Last update for Sollentuna: October 20, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Istanbul
$627
Sollentuna
$992 58.2% $365
Groceries & Markets
Istanbul
$263
Sollentuna
$396 50.8% $133
Eating Out
Istanbul
$222
Sollentuna
$283 27.4% $61
Clothing & Footwear
Istanbul
$129
Sollentuna
$194 50.3% $65
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Istanbul
$117
Sollentuna
$235 101% $118
Sport & Entertainment
Istanbul
$93
Sollentuna
$72 22% $20
Getting Around
Istanbul
$74
Sollentuna
$134 79.9% $59

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $977 in Istanbul versus $1,357 in Sollentuna. 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 198% higher in Sollentuna, 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 $57.0 in Istanbul versus $81.0 in Sollentuna. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $263 vs $396 – making Istanbul the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇹🇷 Istanbul
🇸🇪 Sollentuna
🕒 Local time
00:26 12:26 AM
23:26 11:26 PM
1 h behind Istanbul
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
15,701,602
76,131
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

SEK, USD, EUR to TRY – Turkish Lira Converter

Turkish Lira exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 49.51 TRY (100 TRY = 2.02 USD). 1 EUR = 55.66 TRY (100 TRY = 1.8 EUR).

Swedish Krona exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 9.91 SEK (1 SEK = 0.101 USD). 1 EUR = 11.14 SEK (100 SEK = 8.98 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Istanbul Sollentuna 2,190 km ≈ 3 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Istanbul
  • Sollentuna

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 Sollentuna: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sollentuna cheaper than Istanbul?
Yes – Sollentuna is pricier by about 51%, 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 $2,287 per month in Istanbul and $3,459 in Sollentuna. 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.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $1,015 per month in Istanbul and $162 in Sollentuna. 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 Sollentuna?
Groceries cost about 51% more in Sollentuna, 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 Sollentuna?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Istanbul, where all-in costs run around $1,525, than in Sollentuna at $2,306. In Istanbul it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sollentuna it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Istanbul or Sollentuna 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 Sollentuna?
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, Sollentuna makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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