😐A single person spends $1,422 per month in Istanbul vs $917 in Tekirdag, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,196 per month in Istanbul vs $1,440 in Tekirdag, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,971 per month in Istanbul vs $1,963 in Tekirdag, rent included.
😐Istanbul costs about 55% more than Tekirdag, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Istanbul sits 7% above the global median, while Tekirdag is 31% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Istanbul
Tekirdag
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.22₺531
$6.90₺327
62.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$50.4₺2,386
$30.30₺1,435
66.27%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.42₺352
$6.30₺298
17.78%
Cappuccino
$3.47₺164
$2.33₺110
48.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.30₺61.7
$1.03₺48.99
26.21%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49₺23.34
$0.36₺17.12
36.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.76₺178
$2.01₺95.4
87.06%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.20₺246
$2.50₺118
108.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Istanbul
Tekirdag
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.12₺52.9
$0.95₺44.83
17.89%
White Bread(500g)
$0.80₺38.06
$0.36₺17.19
122.22%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.21₺105
$2.51₺119
-11.95%
Eggs
$2.59₺123
$2.24₺106
15.62%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.14₺480
$9.22₺437
9.98%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.65₺315
$5.06₺240
31.42%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$20.15₺954
$21.06₺997
-4.32%
Apples(1kg)
$1.50₺71.1
$1.24₺58.7
20.97%
Banana(1kg)
$2.20₺104
$2.45₺116
-10.20%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.27₺60.3
$1.62₺76.5
-21.60%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.59₺75.2
$2.06₺97.5
-22.82%
Potato(1kg)
$0.69₺32.89
$1.00₺47.31
-31.00%
Onion(1kg)
$0.69₺32.67
$0.69₺32.80
-
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.16₺55.0
$0.66₺31.41
75.76%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.61₺29.10
$1.46₺69.3
-58.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.11₺100
$2.46₺116
-14.23%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.49₺591
$6.28₺297
98.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.23₺106
$2.09₺98.8
6.70%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.13₺148
$6.09₺288
-48.60%
🚌 Getting Around
Istanbul
Tekirdag
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.67₺31.64
$0.75₺35.63
-10.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$54.9₺2,600
$15.24₺722
260.17%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.05₺49.93
$1.99₺94.1
-47.24%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.64₺30.13
$0.66₺31.14
-3.03%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$9.02₺427
$7.40₺351
21.89%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.15₺54.4
$1.19₺56.2
-3.36%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$46.2K₺2.2M
$35.6K₺1.7M
29.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$42.6K₺2.0M
$37.6K₺1.8M
13.24%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Istanbul
Tekirdag
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$74.0₺3,506
$61.2₺2,900
20.89%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.52₺593
$11.39₺540
9.92%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.10₺715
$12.66₺600
19.27%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Istanbul
Tekirdag
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$62.2₺2,944
$23.35₺1,106
166.21%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.36₺870
$29.65₺1,404
-38.08%
Cinema Ticket
$7.71₺365
$3.84₺182
100.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Istanbul
Tekirdag
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$933₺44.2K
$309₺14.7K
201.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$18.3K₺866.1K
$6,052₺286.6K
202.16%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Istanbul
Tekirdag
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.5₺2,674
$40.86₺1,935
38.20%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.66₺2,210
$98.2₺4,650
-52.48%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$112₺5,293
$56.8₺2,690
96.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$105₺4,992
$153₺7,229
-30.95%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Istanbul
Tekirdag
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$947₺44.8K
$364₺17.2K
160.17%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$612₺29.0K
$267₺12.7K
129.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,771₺83.9K
$579₺27.4K
206.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,064₺50.4K
$402₺19.1K
164.37%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,079₺145.8K
$663₺31.4K
364.21%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,695₺80.3K
$562₺26.6K
201.42%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Istanbul
Tekirdag
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,195₺56.6K
$928₺44.0K
28.72%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
48.43
32
51.34%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Istanbul: July 27, 2026
Last update for Tekirdag: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $947 in Istanbul versus $364 in Tekirdag. 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 29% 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 $50.0 in Istanbul versus $30.00 in Tekirdag. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $254 vs $246 – making Tekirdag 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 Tekirdag: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tekirdag cheaper than Istanbul?
Yes – Istanbul is pricier by about 55%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,133 per month in Istanbul and $1,375 in Tekirdag. 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 Tekirdag, 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 $933 per month in Istanbul and $309 in Tekirdag. 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 Tekirdag?
Groceries cost about 3% more in Istanbul, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Istanbul or in Tekirdag?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Tekirdag, where all-in costs run around $917, than in Istanbul at $1,422. In Tekirdag it covers expenses comfortably, while in Istanbul it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Istanbul or Tekirdag more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Tekirdag – 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 Tekirdag?
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 Tekirdag. 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.