Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Istanbul and Ujjain

For one person, living is cheaper in Ujjain: $283 a month against $1,550 in Istanbul, rent and utilities included – about $15,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Istanbul
🇹🇷 Turkey
$1,550
/mo nomad
Ujjain
🇮🇳 India
$283
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Istanbul and in Ujjain

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

A single person spends $1,550 per month in Istanbul vs $283 in Ujjain, rent included.

  • Istanbul $1,550
  • Ujjain $283

A couple spends around $2,415 per month in Istanbul vs $448 in Ujjain, rent included.

  • Istanbul $2,415
  • Ujjain $448

A family of three spends $3,281 per month in Istanbul vs $614 in Ujjain, rent included.

  • Istanbul $3,281
  • Ujjain $614

Istanbul costs about 447% more than Ujjain, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Istanbul sits 15% above the global median, while Ujjain is 79% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Istanbul
Ujjain
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.30 ₺609
$1.61 ₹153
663.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$54.7 ₺2,708
$8.47 ₹804
545.81%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.22 ₺456
$3.23 ₹307
185.45%
Cappuccino
$4.40 ₺218
$1.94 ₹184
126.80%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68 ₺83.1
$0.41 ₹38.54
309.76%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.59 ₺29.40
$0.13 ₹12.62
353.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.70 ₺233
$1.52 ₹145
209.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.91 ₺292
$2.51 ₹238
135.46%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Istanbul
Ujjain
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.21 ₺60.0
$0.64 ₹60.5
89.06%
White Bread (500g)
$0.89 ₺44.10
$0.29 ₹27.56
206.90%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.19 ₺108
$0.70 ₹66.4
212.86%
Eggs
$2.35 ₺116
$0.86 ₹81.4
173.26%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.42 ₺516
$3.50 ₹332
197.71%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.65 ₺280
$2.88 ₹274
96.18%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.94 ₺1,037
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$1.90 ₺94.1
$1.35 ₹129
40.74%
Banana (1kg)
$2.31 ₺114
$0.50 ₹47.54
362.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.28 ₺63.1
$0.56 ₹53.3
128.57%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.80 ₺89.0
$0.29 ₹27.75
520.69%
Potato (1kg)
$0.65 ₺32.16
$0.27 ₹25.67
140.74%
Onion (1kg)
$0.64 ₺31.91
$0.26 ₹24.41
146.15%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.25 ₺62.1
$0.25 ₹23.58
400.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 ₺27.58
$0.25 ₹23.66
124.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.37 ₺118
$5.11 ₹485
-53.62%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.42 ₺664
$5.18 ₹492
159.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.40 ₺119
$1.53 ₹145
56.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.48 ₺172
$2.79 ₹265
24.73%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
-
$4.93 ₹468
-
🚌 Getting Around
Istanbul
Ujjain
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.89 ₺43.84
$0.25 ₹23.49
256.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$67.4 ₺3,338
$5.37 ₹510
1155.68%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.29 ₺64.1
$0.38 ₹36.18
239.47%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.92 ₺45.70
$0.20 ₹18.96
360.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.96 ₺542
$1.59 ₹151
589.31%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.47 ₺72.9
$1.06 ₹100
38.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$50.8K ₺2.5M
$6,743 ₹640.3K
653.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$44.5K ₺2.2M
$13.9K ₹1.3M
220.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Istanbul
Ujjain
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$88.6 ₺4,387
$25.72 ₹2,443
244.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.59 ₺574
$2.65 ₹251
337.36%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.81 ₺783
$6.09 ₹579
159.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Istanbul
Ujjain
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$77.2 ₺3,820
$6.93 ₹658
1013.42%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.74 ₺1,126
$8.65 ₹821
162.89%
Cinema Ticket
$8.14 ₺403
$2.11 ₹201
285.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Istanbul
Ujjain
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,008 ₺49.9K
$43.21 ₹4,103
2232.86%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$25.6K ₺1.3M
$1,426 ₹135.5K
1691.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Istanbul
Ujjain
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.0 ₺2,671
$17.21 ₹1,634
213.48%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.83 ₺2,021
$21.48 ₹2,040
90.08%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.9 ₺4,895
$30.13 ₹2,862
228.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$96.6 ₺4,783
$29.69 ₹2,819
225.36%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Istanbul
Ujjain
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$985 ₺48.7K
$70.9 ₹6,731
1289.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$650 ₺32.2K
$42.23 ₹4,010
1438.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,983 ₺98.2K
$155 ₹14.7K
1177.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,180 ₺58.4K
$93.5 ₹8,876
1162.50%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,138 ₺155.4K
$4,029 ₹382.6K
-22.12%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,780 ₺88.1K
$518 ₹49.2K
243.47%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Istanbul
Ujjain
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,205 ₺59.7K
$331 ₹31.4K
264.63%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
40.92
8.37
388.89%

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

Last update for Istanbul: October 13, 2026

Last update for Ujjain: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Istanbul
$650
Ujjain
$42 93.5% $608
Groceries & Markets
Istanbul
$260
Ujjain
$83 68.1% $177
Eating Out
Istanbul
$223
Ujjain
$61 72.9% $163
Clothing & Footwear
Istanbul
$131
Ujjain
$44 66.1% $86
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Istanbul
$116
Ujjain
$34 70.3% $82
Sport & Entertainment
Istanbul
$93
Ujjain
$11 88.1% $82
Getting Around
Istanbul
$77
Ujjain
$7.7 89.9% $69

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $985 in Istanbul versus $70.9 in Ujjain. 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 265% 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 $55.0 in Istanbul versus $8.00 in Ujjain. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $260 vs $83.0 – making Ujjain the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇹🇷 Istanbul
🇮🇳 Ujjain
🕒 Local time
08:22 8:22 AM
10:52 10:52 AM
2 h 30 min ahead of Istanbul
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
15,701,602
100,000
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

INR, USD, EUR to TRY – Turkish Lira Converter

Turkish Lira exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 49.51 TRY (100 TRY = 2.02 USD). 1 EUR = 55.66 TRY (100 TRY = 1.8 EUR).

Indian Rupee exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 94.96 INR (100 INR = 1.05 USD). 1 EUR = 107 INR (1,000 INR = 9.37 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Istanbul Ujjain 4,760 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Istanbul
  • Ujjain

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 Ujjain: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ujjain cheaper than Istanbul?
Yes – Istanbul is pricier by about 447%, 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 $2,325 per month in Istanbul and $425 in Ujjain. 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 Ujjain, 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 $1,008 per month in Istanbul and $43.21 in Ujjain. 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 Ujjain?
Groceries cost about 214% 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 $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Istanbul or in Ujjain?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Ujjain, where all-in costs run around $283, than in Istanbul at $1,550. In Ujjain it covers expenses comfortably, while in Istanbul it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Istanbul or Ujjain more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Ujjain – 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 Ujjain?
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 Ujjain. 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.

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