Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Istanbul and Staffanstorp

For one person, living is cheaper in Istanbul: $1,525 a month against $1,651 in Staffanstorp, rent and utilities included – about $1,500 less a year. The total is higher in Staffanstorp despite lower rent and utilities.

Istanbul
🇹🇷 Turkey
$1,525
/mo nomad
Staffanstorp
🇸🇪 Sweden
$1,651
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Istanbul and in Staffanstorp

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

A single person spends $1,525 per month in Istanbul vs $1,651 in Staffanstorp, rent included.

  • Istanbul $1,525
  • Staffanstorp $1,651

A couple spends around $2,390 per month in Istanbul vs $2,670 in Staffanstorp, rent included.

  • Istanbul $2,390
  • Staffanstorp $2,670

A family of three spends $3,256 per month in Istanbul vs $3,690 in Staffanstorp, rent included.

  • Istanbul $3,256
  • Staffanstorp $3,690

Istanbul is about 8% cheaper than Staffanstorp, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Istanbul and Staffanstorp sit above the global median – Istanbul by 13%, Staffanstorp by 22%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Istanbul
Staffanstorp
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.96 ₺592
$13.20 SEK 131
-9.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$57.2 ₺2,834
$77.7 SEK 770
-26.38%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.51 ₺471
$12.26 SEK 121
-22.43%
Cappuccino
$4.40 ₺218
$4.84 SEK 47.99
-9.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75 ₺86.6
$2.94 SEK 29.14
-40.48%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.56 ₺27.57
$2.28 SEK 22.58
-75.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.71 ₺233
$7.03 SEK 69.7
-33.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.14 ₺304
$7.47 SEK 74.1
-17.80%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Istanbul
Staffanstorp
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.24 ₺61.6
$1.65 SEK 16.32
-24.85%
White Bread (500g)
$0.95 ₺47.25
$2.80 SEK 27.74
-66.07%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.28 ₺113
$3.17 SEK 31.42
-28.08%
Eggs
$2.45 ₺121
$3.93 SEK 38.97
-37.66%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.56 ₺523
$11.46 SEK 114
-7.85%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.50 ₺272
$11.59 SEK 115
-52.55%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$21.65 ₺1,072
$16.61 SEK 165
30.34%
Apples (1kg)
$1.83 ₺90.6
$3.00 SEK 29.71
-39.00%
Banana (1kg)
$2.29 ₺113
$2.42 SEK 23.95
-5.37%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.28 ₺63.4
$3.00 SEK 29.72
-57.33%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.82 ₺90.1
$4.41 SEK 43.68
-58.73%
Potato (1kg)
$0.66 ₺32.74
$1.65 SEK 16.38
-60.00%
Onion (1kg)
$0.63 ₺31.14
$1.56 SEK 15.45
-59.62%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.27 ₺62.8
$1.96 SEK 19.39
-35.20%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 ₺27.62
$1.25 SEK 12.34
-55.20%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.36 ₺117
$7.75 SEK 76.8
-69.55%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.98 ₺642
$11.39 SEK 113
13.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.48 ₺123
$1.99 SEK 19.70
24.62%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.50 ₺174
$2.28 SEK 22.56
53.51%
🚌 Getting Around
Istanbul
Staffanstorp
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.82 ₺40.77
$3.29 SEK 32.60
-75.08%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$65.2 ₺3,228
$84.6 SEK 838
-22.89%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.33 ₺65.7
$6.14 SEK 60.8
-78.34%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.90 ₺44.60
$1.71 SEK 16.98
-47.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.91 ₺540
$49.71 SEK 493
-78.05%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.43 ₺70.7
$1.75 SEK 17.35
-18.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$49.6K ₺2.5M
$33.6K SEK 332.8K
47.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$43.2K ₺2.1M
$33.4K SEK 330.6K
29.43%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Istanbul
Staffanstorp
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$88.8 ₺4,395
$106 SEK 1,050
-16.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.69 ₺579
$20.04 SEK 199
-41.67%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.09 ₺797
$33.57 SEK 333
-52.07%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Istanbul
Staffanstorp
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.3 ₺3,776
$42.66 SEK 423
78.76%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.72 ₺1,125
$29.91 SEK 296
-24.04%
Cinema Ticket
$8.26 ₺409
$17.43 SEK 173
-52.61%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Istanbul
Staffanstorp
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,015 ₺50.2K
$174 SEK 1,728
481.73%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$25.8K ₺1.3M
$3,446 SEK 34.1K
649.87%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Istanbul
Staffanstorp
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.3 ₺2,636
$88.1 SEK 873
-39.58%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.55 ₺2,008
$33.39 SEK 331
21.44%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$100 ₺4,956
$88.1 SEK 873
13.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$93.5 ₺4,630
$131 SEK 1,294
-28.41%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Istanbul
Staffanstorp
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$977 ₺48.4K
$887 SEK 8,786
10.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$627 ₺31.0K
$530 SEK 5,249
18.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,980 ₺98.0K
$1,173 SEK 11.6K
68.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,147 ₺56.8K
$1,029 SEK 10.2K
11.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,095 ₺153.2K
$3,878 SEK 38.4K
-20.18%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,787 ₺88.5K
$2,569 SEK 25.5K
-30.43%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Istanbul
Staffanstorp
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,213 ₺60.1K
$2,889 SEK 28.6K
-58.01%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
40.69
3.05
1234.10%

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

Last update for Istanbul: October 19, 2026

Last update for Staffanstorp: October 17, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Istanbul
$627
Staffanstorp
$530 15.5% $97
Groceries & Markets
Istanbul
$263
Staffanstorp
$347 32.1% $84
Eating Out
Istanbul
$222
Staffanstorp
$272 22.3% $49
Clothing & Footwear
Istanbul
$129
Staffanstorp
$153 18.4% $24
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Istanbul
$117
Staffanstorp
$160 36.9% $43
Sport & Entertainment
Istanbul
$93
Staffanstorp
$78 16.4% $15
Getting Around
Istanbul
$74
Staffanstorp
$112 51.3% $38

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $977 in Istanbul versus $887 in Staffanstorp. 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 138% higher in Staffanstorp, 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 $78.0 in Staffanstorp. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $263 vs $347 – making Istanbul the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇹🇷 Istanbul
🇸🇪 Staffanstorp
🕒 Local time
01:11 1:11 AM
00:11 12:11 AM
1 h behind Istanbul
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
15,701,602
26,652
💱 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 Staffanstorp 1,990 km ≈ 3 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Istanbul
  • Staffanstorp

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 Staffanstorp: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Staffanstorp cheaper than Istanbul?
Yes – Staffanstorp is pricier by about 8%, 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 $2,476 in Staffanstorp. 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 $174 in Staffanstorp. 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 Staffanstorp?
Groceries cost about 32% more in Staffanstorp, 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 Staffanstorp?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Istanbul, where all-in costs run around $1,525, than in Staffanstorp at $1,651. In Istanbul it covers expenses comfortably, while in Staffanstorp it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Istanbul or Staffanstorp 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 Staffanstorp?
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, Staffanstorp makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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