Cost of Living Comparison Between Istanbul and Trabzon Cost of Living Comparison Between Istanbul and Trabzon

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,494 per month in Istanbul vs $957 in Trabzon, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,338 per month in Istanbul vs $1,503 in Trabzon, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,181 per month in Istanbul vs $2,049 in Trabzon, rent included.

Istanbul costs about 56% more than Trabzon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Istanbul sits 8% above the global median, while Trabzon is 31% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.14 ₺492

$8.32 ₺404

21.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.7 ₺2,461

$31.09 ₺1,510

63.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.09 ₺441

$7.57 ₺368

20.08%

Cappuccino

$4.05 ₺197

$3.34 ₺162

21.26%

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

$1.74 ₺84.3

$0.90 ₺43.62

93.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.57 ₺27.70

$0.20 ₺9.70

185.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.06 ₺197

$1.98 ₺96.4

105.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.03 ₺293

$2.70 ₺131

123.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.22 ₺59.4

$1.01 ₺49.25

20.79%

White Bread (500g)

$0.94 ₺45.81

$1.66 ₺80.7

-43.37%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.44 ₺118

$2.23 ₺108

9.42%

Eggs

$2.46 ₺119

$1.56 ₺75.7

57.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.30 ₺500

$6.05 ₺294

70.25%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.35 ₺260

$2.98 ₺145

79.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$21.09 ₺1,024

$17.60 ₺854

19.83%

Apples (1kg)

$1.97 ₺95.9

$2.02 ₺98.0

-2.48%

Banana (1kg)

$2.24 ₺109

$1.80 ₺87.2

24.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.20 ₺58.5

$1.44 ₺69.8

-16.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.92 ₺93.3

$1.11 ₺53.8

72.97%

Potato (1kg)

$0.59 ₺28.65

$0.48 ₺23.07

22.92%

Onion (1kg)

$0.52 ₺25.04

$0.34 ₺16.66

52.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.09 ₺53.0

$0.84 ₺40.88

29.76%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 ₺28.62

$0.57 ₺27.73

3.51%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.33 ₺113

$2.05 ₺99.5

13.66%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.24 ₺643

$9.24 ₺448

43.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.40 ₺116

$1.64 ₺79.6

46.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.39 ₺165

$2.25 ₺109

50.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 ₺41.57

$0.99 ₺47.96

-13.13%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$67.9 ₺3,298

$27.16 ₺1,319

150.07%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.31 ₺63.5

$1.83 ₺89.0

-28.42%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.92 ₺44.88

$0.57 ₺27.79

61.40%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.72 ₺520

$5.06 ₺246

111.86%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.38 ₺66.8

$1.22 ₺59.3

13.11%

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

$50.7K ₺2.5M

$41.6K ₺2.0M

21.82%

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

$44.4K ₺2.2M

$38.6K ₺1.9M

14.96%

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

$88.6 ₺4,302

$49.32 ₺2,395

79.66%

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

$11.48 ₺557

$11.80 ₺573

-2.71%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.51 ₺802

$12.61 ₺612

30.93%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$69.2 ₺3,361

$43.39 ₺2,107

59.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.43 ₺1,138

$17.76 ₺863

31.93%

Cinema Ticket

$8.37 ₺407

$5.73 ₺278

46.07%

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

$978 ₺47.5K

$260 ₺12.6K

275.68%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$28.0K ₺1.4M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.1 ₺2,624

$53.2 ₺2,585

1.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.94 ₺1,890

$44.18 ₺2,145

-11.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 ₺4,881

$77.0 ₺3,739

30.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$94.4 ₺4,583

$30.11 ₺1,462

213.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$991 ₺48.1K

$445 ₺21.6K

122.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$638 ₺31.0K

$367 ₺17.8K

73.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,946 ₺94.5K

$684 ₺33.2K

184.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,144 ₺55.5K

$606 ₺29.4K

88.79%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,979 ₺144.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,694 ₺82.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,196 ₺58.1K

$914 ₺44.4K

30.91%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

41.26

37.53%

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

Last update for Istanbul: September 5, 2026

Last update for Trabzon: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $991 in Istanbul versus $445 in Trabzon. 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 31% 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 $51.0 in Istanbul versus $31.00 in Trabzon. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $259 vs $203 – making Trabzon 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 Trabzon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Istanbul is pricier by about 56%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,242 per month in Istanbul and $1,436 in Trabzon. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Trabzon, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $978 per month in Istanbul and $260 in Trabzon. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 28% more in Istanbul, 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 Trabzon, where all-in costs run around $957, than in Istanbul at $1,494. In Trabzon it covers expenses comfortably, while in Istanbul it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Trabzon – 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 Trabzon. 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.