Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Istanbul and Thun

For one person, living is cheaper in Istanbul: $1,550 a month against $3,388 in Thun, rent and utilities included – about $22,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

75

Cost of Living Index in Istanbul
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Istanbul Living Index
166

Cost of Living Index in Thun
Learn more

Thun Living Index

Jump to prices

Istanbul

🇹🇷 Turkey

$1,550

/mo nomad

Thun

🇨🇭 Switzerland

$3,388

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Istanbul and in Thun

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

A single person spends $1,550 per month in Istanbul vs $3,388 in Thun, rent included.

Istanbul $1,550
Thun $3,388

A couple spends around $2,415 per month in Istanbul vs $5,170 in Thun, rent included.

Istanbul $2,415
Thun $5,170

A family of three spends $3,281 per month in Istanbul vs $6,952 in Thun, rent included.

Istanbul $3,281
Thun $6,952

Istanbul is about 54% cheaper than Thun, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Istanbul and Thun sit above the global median – Istanbul by 15%, Thun by 151%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.30 ₺609

$28.31 CHF 23.32

-56.55%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$54.7 ₺2,708

$122 CHF 100

-55.12%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.22 ₺456

$15.51 CHF 12.77

-40.55%

Cappuccino

$4.40 ₺218

$6.45 CHF 5.31

-31.78%

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

$1.68 ₺83.1

$6.28 CHF 5.17

-73.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.59 ₺29.40

$5.88 CHF 4.84

-89.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.70 ₺233

$8.85 CHF 7.29

-46.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.91 ₺292

$7.67 CHF 6.32

-22.95%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.21 ₺60.0

$2.13 CHF 1.76

-43.19%

White Bread (500g)

$0.89 ₺44.10

$2.99 CHF 2.46

-70.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.19 ₺108

$3.13 CHF 2.58

-30.03%

Eggs

$2.35 ₺116

$7.60 CHF 6.26

-69.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.42 ₺516

$23.82 CHF 19.62

-56.26%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.65 ₺280

$26.88 CHF 22.14

-78.98%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.94 ₺1,037

$39.26 CHF 32.34

-46.66%

Apples (1kg)

$1.90 ₺94.1

$3.55 CHF 2.92

-46.48%

Banana (1kg)

$2.31 ₺114

$1.96 CHF 1.61

17.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.28 ₺63.1

$2.65 CHF 2.18

-51.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.80 ₺89.0

$4.73 CHF 3.90

-61.95%

Potato (1kg)

$0.65 ₺32.16

$1.56 CHF 1.28

-58.33%

Onion (1kg)

$0.64 ₺31.91

$2.00 CHF 1.65

-68.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.25 ₺62.1

$2.19 CHF 1.80

-42.92%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ₺27.58

$1.28 CHF 1.05

-56.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.37 ₺118

$11.25 CHF 9.26

-78.93%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.42 ₺664

$12.09 CHF 9.96

11.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.40 ₺119

$2.26 CHF 1.86

6.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.48 ₺172

$2.92 CHF 2.41

19.18%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ₺43.84

$4.49 CHF 3.70

-80.18%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$67.4 ₺3,338

$100 CHF 82.6

-32.73%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.29 ₺64.1

$8.04 CHF 6.62

-83.96%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.92 ₺45.70

$4.53 CHF 3.73

-79.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.96 ₺542

$82.9 CHF 68.3

-86.78%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.47 ₺72.9

$2.38 CHF 1.96

-38.24%

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

$50.8K ₺2.5M

$42.5K CHF 35.0K

19.41%

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

$44.5K ₺2.2M

$39.4K CHF 32.5K

12.89%

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

$88.6 ₺4,387

$289 CHF 238

-69.36%

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

$11.59 ₺574

$46.36 CHF 38.18

-75.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.81 ₺783

$62.8 CHF 51.7

-74.83%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$77.2 ₺3,820

$89.8 CHF 74.0

-14.10%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.74 ₺1,126

$46.01 CHF 37.89

-50.58%

Cinema Ticket

$8.14 ₺403

$23.22 CHF 19.12

-64.94%

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

$1,008 ₺49.9K

$3,058 CHF 2,519

-67.04%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$25.6K ₺1.3M

$30.5K CHF 25.1K

-16.24%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.0 ₺2,671

$144 CHF 119

-62.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.83 ₺2,021

$78.8 CHF 64.9

-48.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.9 ₺4,895

$159 CHF 131

-37.98%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$96.6 ₺4,783

$192 CHF 158

-49.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$985 ₺48.7K

$1,685 CHF 1,388

-41.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$650 ₺32.2K

$1,432 CHF 1,180

-54.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,983 ₺98.2K

$2,842 CHF 2,341

-30.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,180 ₺58.4K

$2,457 CHF 2,023

-51.96%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,138 ₺155.4K

$16.2K CHF 13.4K

-80.65%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,780 ₺88.1K

$11.8K CHF 9,721

-84.92%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,205 ₺59.7K

$5,785 CHF 4,765

-79.16%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

40.92

2.42

1590.91%

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

Last update for Istanbul: October 13, 2026

Last update for Thun: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Istanbul

$650 41.9%

Thun

$1.4K 42.3% 120% $783

Groceries & Markets

Istanbul

$260 16.8%

Thun

$556 16.4% 114% $296

Eating Out

Istanbul

$223 14.4%

Thun

$459 13.5% 105% $235

Clothing & Footwear

Istanbul

$131 8.4%

Thun

$258 7.6% 97.8% $128

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Istanbul

$116 7.5%

Thun

$398 11.8% 243% $282

Sport & Entertainment

Istanbul

$93 6%

Thun

$136 4% 45.8% $43

Getting Around

Istanbul

$77 5%

Thun

$149 4.4% 93.7% $72

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $985 in Istanbul versus $1,685 in Thun. 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 380% higher in Thun, 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 $55.0 in Istanbul versus $122 in Thun. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $260 vs $556 – making Istanbul the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇹🇷 Istanbul

🇨🇭 Thun

🕒 Local time

12:12 12:12 PM

11:12 11:12 AM

1 h behind Istanbul

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

15,701,602

43,905

💱 Currency

Turkish Lira TRY ₺

Swiss Franc CHF Fr

📈 Exchange rate

100 TRY = 2.02 USD

100 TRY = 1.8 EUR

1 CHF = 1.21 USD

1 CHF = 1.08 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

CHF, USD, EUR to TRY – Turkish Lira Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇹🇷 Turkish Lira (₺)

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).

Swiss Franc exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 0.824 CHF (1 CHF = 1.21 USD). 1 EUR = 0.926 CHF (1 CHF = 1.08 EUR).

USD to TRY in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Istanbul Thun 1,820 km ≈ 2 h 45 min nonstop flight

From you

Istanbul
Thun

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 Thun: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Thun is pricier by about 119%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,325 per month in Istanbul and $5,083 in Thun. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Kindergarten costs $1,008 per month in Istanbul and $3,058 in Thun. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 114% more in Thun, 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 Istanbul, where all-in costs run around $1,550, than in Thun at $3,388. In Istanbul it covers expenses comfortably, while in Thun it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.

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 Istanbul. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Thun makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.