Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Istanbul and Uddevalla

For one person, living is cheaper in Istanbul: $1,516 a month against $1,761 in Uddevalla, rent and utilities included – about $2,900 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Istanbul, Turkey
Uddevalla, Sweden
Istanbul
🇹🇷 Turkey
$1,516
/mo nomad
Uddevalla
🇸🇪 Sweden
$1,761
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Istanbul and in Uddevalla

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

A single person spends $1,516 per month in Istanbul vs $1,761 in Uddevalla, rent included.

  • Istanbul $1,516
  • Uddevalla $1,761

A couple spends around $2,356 per month in Istanbul vs $2,728 in Uddevalla, rent included.

  • Istanbul $2,356
  • Uddevalla $2,728

A family of three spends $3,197 per month in Istanbul vs $3,696 in Uddevalla, rent included.

  • Istanbul $3,197
  • Uddevalla $3,696

Istanbul is about 14% cheaper than Uddevalla, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Istanbul and Uddevalla sit above the global median – Istanbul by 11%, Uddevalla by 29%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Istanbul
Uddevalla
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.59 ₺577
$13.88 SEK 138
-16.50%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$54.7 ₺2,725
$80.0 SEK 794
-31.63%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.39 ₺468
$11.30 SEK 112
-16.90%
Cappuccino
$4.23 ₺211
$4.42 SEK 43.85
-4.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72 ₺85.6
$1.40 SEK 13.86
22.86%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.57 ₺28.26
$1.20 SEK 11.88
-52.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.65 ₺232
$7.35 SEK 73.0
-36.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.84 ₺341
$7.48 SEK 74.3
-8.56%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Istanbul
Uddevalla
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.20 ₺60.0
$1.45 SEK 14.42
-17.24%
White Bread (500g)
$0.94 ₺46.97
$2.09 SEK 20.78
-55.02%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.24 ₺112
$3.64 SEK 36.15
-38.46%
Eggs
$2.42 ₺121
$3.98 SEK 39.48
-39.20%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.24 ₺510
$10.05 SEK 99.8
1.89%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.38 ₺268
$12.90 SEK 128
-58.29%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$21.19 ₺1,056
$10.19 SEK 101
107.95%
Apples (1kg)
$1.89 ₺94.3
$3.18 SEK 31.59
-40.57%
Banana (1kg)
$2.22 ₺111
$2.49 SEK 24.72
-10.84%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.26 ₺62.7
$3.78 SEK 37.59
-66.67%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.81 ₺90.0
$4.46 SEK 44.34
-59.42%
Potato (1kg)
$0.70 ₺34.84
$2.04 SEK 20.26
-65.69%
Onion (1kg)
$0.64 ₺32.13
$1.88 SEK 18.63
-65.96%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.22 ₺60.9
$2.20 SEK 21.89
-44.55%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 ₺27.35
$1.47 SEK 14.62
-62.59%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.32 ₺116
$7.36 SEK 73.1
-68.48%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.31 ₺663
$13.73 SEK 136
-3.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.33 ₺116
$1.40 SEK 13.86
66.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.46 ₺172
$2.22 SEK 22.07
55.86%
🚌 Getting Around
Istanbul
Uddevalla
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.91 ₺45.18
$3.73 SEK 37.08
-75.60%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$66.3 ₺3,306
$77.6 SEK 771
-14.55%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.29 ₺64.2
$3.44 SEK 34.13
-62.50%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.86 ₺42.66
$2.55 SEK 25.36
-66.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$11.09 ₺553
$82.0 SEK 814
-86.47%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.42 ₺70.8
$1.82 SEK 18.08
-21.98%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$49.2K ₺2.5M
$33.3K SEK 330.6K
47.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$42.8K ₺2.1M
$33.9K SEK 336.9K
26.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Istanbul
Uddevalla
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$87.7 ₺4,373
$180 SEK 1,787
-51.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.28 ₺562
$9.98 SEK 99.1
13.03%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.89 ₺792
$43.87 SEK 436
-63.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Istanbul
Uddevalla
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$75.9 ₺3,783
$37.16 SEK 369
104.25%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.04 ₺1,148
$26.02 SEK 258
-11.45%
Cinema Ticket
$8.20 ₺409
$11.88 SEK 118
-30.98%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Istanbul
Uddevalla
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,028 ₺51.2K
$153 SEK 1,517
573.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$26.0K ₺1.3M
$5,022 SEK 49.9K
416.95%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Istanbul
Uddevalla
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.3 ₺2,658
$106 SEK 1,052
-49.67%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.69 ₺1,978
$40.03 SEK 398
-0.85%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.8 ₺4,972
$88.8 SEK 882
12.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$93.5 ₺4,661
$137 SEK 1,362
-31.81%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Istanbul
Uddevalla
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,003 ₺50.0K
$819 SEK 8,139
22.45%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$628 ₺31.3K
$595 SEK 5,909
5.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,963 ₺97.8K
$1,353 SEK 13.4K
45.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,122 ₺55.9K
$1,023 SEK 10.2K
9.65%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,075 ₺153.2K
$3,985 SEK 39.6K
-22.84%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,753 ₺87.3K
$2,850 SEK 28.3K
-38.51%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Istanbul
Uddevalla
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,180 ₺58.8K
$2,786 SEK 27.7K
-57.66%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
40.69
3.53
1052.69%

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

Last update for Istanbul: October 27, 2026

Last update for Uddevalla: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Istanbul
$628
Uddevalla
$595 5.3% $33
Groceries & Markets
Istanbul
$258
Uddevalla
$335 29.6% $76
Eating Out
Istanbul
$218
Uddevalla
$260 19.4% $42
Clothing & Footwear
Istanbul
$129
Uddevalla
$167 29.9% $39
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Istanbul
$115
Uddevalla
$234 103% $119
Sport & Entertainment
Istanbul
$92
Uddevalla
$61 34% $31
Getting Around
Istanbul
$76
Uddevalla
$109 44% $33

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,003 in Istanbul versus $819 in Uddevalla. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries in Uddevalla are about 2.4 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $55 in Istanbul versus $80 in Uddevalla. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $258 vs $335 – making Istanbul the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇹🇷 Istanbul
🇸🇪 Uddevalla
🕒 Local time
19:41 7:41 PM
17:41 5:41 PM
2 h behind Istanbul
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
15,701,602
31,212
💱 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 = 55.46 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 = 11.05 SEK (100 SEK = 9.05 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Istanbul Uddevalla 2,270 km ≈ 3 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Istanbul
  • Uddevalla

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 Uddevalla: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Istanbul cheaper than Uddevalla?
Yes – Uddevalla is pricier by about 16%, 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 $2,641 in Uddevalla. 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 Uddevalla, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $819 there versus $1,003 in Istanbul.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $1,028 per month in Istanbul and $153 in Uddevalla. 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 Uddevalla?
Groceries cost about 30% more in Uddevalla, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 enough to cover costs in Istanbul or in Uddevalla?
$1,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $1,516 in Istanbul and $1,761 in Uddevalla. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Is it better to live in Istanbul or in Uddevalla?
It depends on your priorities. Istanbul has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,516 in Istanbul to $1,761 in Uddevalla. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Which city is safer, Istanbul or Uddevalla?
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 Istanbul. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Uddevalla makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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