Cost of Living Comparison Between Istanbul and Ubud, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between Istanbul and Ubud, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,472 per month in Istanbul vs $1,419 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,221 per month in Istanbul vs $2,540 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,970 per month in Istanbul vs $3,660 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Istanbul costs about 4% more than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Istanbul and Ubud, Bali sit above the global median – Istanbul by 10%, Ubud, Bali by 6%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.62 ₺535

$3.56 Rp 64.3K

226.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$51.6 ₺2,375

$32.73 Rp 590.3K

57.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.52 ₺346

$4.95 Rp 89.2K

51.92%

Cappuccino

$3.45 ₺159

$2.71 Rp 48.9K

27.31%

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

$1.30 ₺60.1

$1.34 Rp 24.2K

-2.99%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.46 ₺21.38

$0.70 Rp 12.6K

-34.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.75 ₺173

$2.92 Rp 52.7K

28.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.96 ₺228

$3.96 Rp 71.4K

25.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 ₺49.02

$1.81 Rp 32.6K

-41.44%

White Bread (500g)

$0.83 ₺38.06

$2.52 Rp 45.4K

-67.06%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.27 ₺105

$1.16 Rp 20.9K

95.69%

Eggs

$2.63 ₺121

$2.46 Rp 44.4K

6.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.13 ₺467

$14.71 Rp 265.3K

-31.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.50 ₺299

$4.32 Rp 77.9K

50.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.52 ₺899

$12.14 Rp 218.9K

60.79%

Apples (1kg)

$1.50 ₺69.2

$3.84 Rp 69.3K

-60.94%

Banana (1kg)

$2.28 ₺105

$1.56 Rp 28.1K

46.15%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.29 ₺59.3

$2.83 Rp 51.1K

-54.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.63 ₺75.1

$2.33 Rp 41.9K

-30.04%

Potato (1kg)

$0.71 ₺32.78

$1.91 Rp 34.5K

-62.83%

Onion (1kg)

$0.73 ₺33.60

$2.20 Rp 39.7K

-66.82%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.13 ₺51.9

$1.01 Rp 18.3K

11.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 ₺26.34

$0.78 Rp 14.0K

-26.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.15 ₺99.0

$3.32 Rp 59.8K

-35.24%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.15 ₺560

$23.74 Rp 428.0K

-48.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.14 ₺98.5

$2.79 Rp 50.3K

-23.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 ₺146

$2.86 Rp 51.6K

11.19%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.72 ₺33.33

$0.27 Rp 4,848

166.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.7 ₺2,520

$8.03 Rp 144.8K

581.57%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.05 ₺48.53

$0.46 Rp 8,230

128.26%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ₺26.79

$0.45 Rp 8,116

28.89%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.94 ₺412

$6.10 Rp 109.9K

46.56%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.21 ₺55.7

$0.79 Rp 14.3K

53.16%

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

$45.1K ₺2.1M

$26.1K Rp 471.6M

72.66%

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

$43.3K ₺2.0M

$32.1K Rp 579.2M

34.88%

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

$73.2 ₺3,370

$79.9 Rp 1.4M

-8.47%

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

$12.25 ₺564

$4.06 Rp 73.3K

201.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.15 ₺697

$23.52 Rp 424.1K

-35.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.7 ₺2,843

$98.7 Rp 1.8M

-37.45%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.77 ₺864

$6.63 Rp 119.6K

183.11%

Cinema Ticket

$7.73 ₺356

$4.15 Rp 74.8K

86.27%

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

$938 ₺43.2K

$304 Rp 5.5M

208.72%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.3K ₺841.2K

$6,613 Rp 119.3M

176.22%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.9 ₺2,574

$55.5 Rp 1.0M

0.63%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.45 ₺2,185

$38.31 Rp 690.9K

23.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ₺5,277

$88.6 Rp 1.6M

29.32%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 ₺4,876

$77.9 Rp 1.4M

35.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$950 ₺43.7K

$1,006 Rp 18.1M

-5.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$619 ₺28.5K

$675 Rp 12.2M

-8.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,771 ₺81.5K

$3,442 Rp 62.1M

-48.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,047 ₺48.2K

$2,039 Rp 36.8M

-48.65%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,147 ₺144.9K

$2,841 Rp 51.2M

10.77%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,664 ₺76.6K

$2,264 Rp 40.8M

-26.50%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,203 ₺55.4K

$165 Rp 3.0M

628.05%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

48.43

13.28

264.68%

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

Last update for Istanbul: May 31, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $950 in Istanbul versus $1,006 in Ubud, Bali. 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 628% 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 $52.0 in Istanbul versus $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries tell a different story – $251 in Istanbul vs $302 in Ubud, Bali – so Istanbul wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Istanbul is pricier by about 4%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,207 per month in Istanbul and $2,129 in Ubud, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $938 per month in Istanbul and $304 in Ubud, Bali. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 20% cheaper in Istanbul – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ubud, Bali, where all-in costs run around $1,419, than in Istanbul at $1,472. In Ubud, Bali it covers expenses comfortably, while in Istanbul it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Ubud, Bali – 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 Ubud, Bali. 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.