Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Istanbul and Sundbyberg

For one person, living is cheaper in Istanbul: $1,516 a month against $1,799 in Sundbyberg, rent and utilities included – about $3,400 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Istanbul, Turkey
Sundbyberg, Sweden
Istanbul
🇹🇷 Turkey
$1,516
/mo nomad
Sundbyberg
🇸🇪 Sweden
$1,799
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Istanbul and in Sundbyberg

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

A single person spends $1,516 per month in Istanbul vs $1,799 in Sundbyberg, rent included.

  • Istanbul $1,516
  • Sundbyberg $1,799

A couple spends around $2,356 per month in Istanbul vs $2,782 in Sundbyberg, rent included.

  • Istanbul $2,356
  • Sundbyberg $2,782

A family of three spends $3,197 per month in Istanbul vs $3,766 in Sundbyberg, rent included.

  • Istanbul $3,197
  • Sundbyberg $3,766

Istanbul is about 16% cheaper than Sundbyberg, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Istanbul and Sundbyberg sit above the global median – Istanbul by 11%, Sundbyberg by 32%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Istanbul
Sundbyberg
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.59 ₺577
$13.78 SEK 137
-15.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$54.7 ₺2,725
$65.9 SEK 654
-16.98%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.39 ₺468
$10.27 SEK 102
-8.57%
Cappuccino
$4.23 ₺211
$4.50 SEK 44.70
-6.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72 ₺85.6
$2.58 SEK 25.63
-33.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.57 ₺28.26
$2.21 SEK 21.98
-74.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.65 ₺232
$7.15 SEK 71.0
-34.97%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.84 ₺341
$6.94 SEK 68.9
-1.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Istanbul
Sundbyberg
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.20 ₺60.0
$1.73 SEK 17.16
-30.64%
White Bread (500g)
$0.94 ₺46.97
$3.15 SEK 31.29
-70.16%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.24 ₺112
$2.96 SEK 29.42
-24.32%
Eggs
$2.42 ₺121
$4.67 SEK 46.43
-48.18%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.24 ₺510
$11.65 SEK 116
-12.10%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.38 ₺268
$13.34 SEK 132
-59.67%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$21.19 ₺1,056
$27.07 SEK 269
-21.72%
Apples (1kg)
$1.89 ₺94.3
$3.12 SEK 30.99
-39.42%
Banana (1kg)
$2.22 ₺111
$2.70 SEK 26.86
-17.78%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.26 ₺62.7
$1.98 SEK 19.67
-36.36%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.81 ₺90.0
$4.75 SEK 47.12
-61.89%
Potato (1kg)
$0.70 ₺34.84
$1.43 SEK 14.23
-51.05%
Onion (1kg)
$0.64 ₺32.13
$1.78 SEK 17.65
-64.04%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.22 ₺60.9
$2.33 SEK 23.14
-47.64%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 ₺27.35
$1.90 SEK 18.90
-71.05%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.32 ₺116
$5.94 SEK 59.0
-60.94%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.31 ₺663
$9.96 SEK 99.0
33.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.33 ₺116
$2.00 SEK 19.83
16.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.46 ₺172
$2.53 SEK 25.17
36.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Istanbul
Sundbyberg
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.91 ₺45.18
$3.88 SEK 38.50
-76.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$66.3 ₺3,306
$99.2 SEK 985
-33.09%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.29 ₺64.2
$8.59 SEK 85.3
-84.98%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.86 ₺42.66
$1.20 SEK 11.90
-28.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$11.09 ₺553
$22.39 SEK 222
-50.47%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.42 ₺70.8
$1.69 SEK 16.80
-15.98%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$49.2K ₺2.5M
$20.3K SEK 201.4K
142.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$42.8K ₺2.1M
$25.3K SEK 251.5K
69.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Istanbul
Sundbyberg
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$87.7 ₺4,373
$101 SEK 1,007
-13.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.28 ₺562
$28.56 SEK 284
-60.50%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.89 ₺792
$44.49 SEK 442
-64.28%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Istanbul
Sundbyberg
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$75.9 ₺3,783
$32.36 SEK 321
134.55%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.04 ₺1,148
$25.90 SEK 257
-11.04%
Cinema Ticket
$8.20 ₺409
$17.17 SEK 171
-52.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Istanbul
Sundbyberg
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,028 ₺51.2K
$59.4 SEK 590
1631.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$26.0K ₺1.3M
$5,129 SEK 50.9K
406.13%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Istanbul
Sundbyberg
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.3 ₺2,658
$70.6 SEK 701
-24.45%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.69 ₺1,978
$50.0 SEK 497
-20.64%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.8 ₺4,972
$72.5 SEK 720
37.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$93.5 ₺4,661
$134 SEK 1,327
-29.98%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Istanbul
Sundbyberg
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,003 ₺50.0K
$1,063 SEK 10.6K
-5.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$628 ₺31.3K
$617 SEK 6,125
1.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,963 ₺97.8K
$1,736 SEK 17.2K
13.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,122 ₺55.9K
$1,019 SEK 10.1K
10.03%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,075 ₺153.2K
$4,060 SEK 40.3K
-24.28%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,753 ₺87.3K
$2,806 SEK 27.9K
-37.53%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Istanbul
Sundbyberg
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,180 ₺58.8K
$2,541 SEK 25.2K
-53.58%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
40.69
2.8
1353.21%

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

Last update for Istanbul: October 27, 2026

Last update for Sundbyberg: October 27, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Istanbul
$628
Sundbyberg
$617 1.8% $11
Groceries & Markets
Istanbul
$258
Sundbyberg
$401 55.2% $142
Eating Out
Istanbul
$218
Sundbyberg
$264 21.2% $46
Clothing & Footwear
Istanbul
$129
Sundbyberg
$147 14.1% $18
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Istanbul
$115
Sundbyberg
$174 51.8% $59
Sport & Entertainment
Istanbul
$92
Sundbyberg
$67 27.8% $26
Getting Around
Istanbul
$76
Sundbyberg
$129 71.1% $54

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,003 in Istanbul versus $1,063 in Sundbyberg. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries in Sundbyberg are about 2.2 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $55 in Istanbul versus $66 in Sundbyberg. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $258 vs $401 – making Istanbul the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇹🇷 Istanbul
🇸🇪 Sundbyberg
🕒 Local time
23:19 11:19 PM
21:19 9:19 PM
2 h behind Istanbul
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
15,701,602
54,120
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

SEK, USD, EUR to TRY – Turkish Lira Converter

Turkish Lira exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 49.83 TRY (100 TRY = 2.01 USD). 1 EUR = 55.48 TRY (100 TRY = 1.8 EUR).

Swedish Krona exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 9.93 SEK (1 SEK = 0.101 USD). 1 EUR = 11.06 SEK (100 SEK = 9.05 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Istanbul Sundbyberg 2,180 km ≈ 3 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Istanbul
  • Sundbyberg

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 Sundbyberg: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Istanbul cheaper than Sundbyberg?
Yes – Sundbyberg is pricier by about 19%, 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 $2,274 per month in Istanbul and $2,698 in Sundbyberg. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
What is the rent difference between Istanbul and Sundbyberg?
A central 1-bedroom goes for about $1,003 in Istanbul and $1,063 in Sundbyberg. The gap holds across neighborhoods – outer areas show a similar spread, just at lower price points.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $1,028 per month in Istanbul and $59 in Sundbyberg. 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 Sundbyberg?
Groceries cost about 55% more in Sundbyberg, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Is $1,500 enough to cover costs in Istanbul or in Sundbyberg?
$1,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $1,516 in Istanbul and $1,799 in Sundbyberg. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Is it better to live in Istanbul or in Sundbyberg?
It depends on your priorities. Istanbul has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,516 in Istanbul to $1,799 in Sundbyberg. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Istanbul. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Sundbyberg makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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