Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Istanbul and Vasteras

For one person, living is cheaper in Istanbul: $1,550 a month against $1,818 in Vasteras, rent and utilities included – about $3,200 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

75

Cost of Living Index in Istanbul
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Istanbul Living Index
88

Cost of Living Index in Vasteras
Learn more

Vasteras Living Index

Jump to prices

Istanbul

🇹🇷 Turkey

$1,550

/mo nomad

Vasteras

🇸🇪 Sweden

$1,818

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Istanbul and in Vasteras

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

A single person spends $1,550 per month in Istanbul vs $1,818 in Vasteras, rent included.

Istanbul $1,550
Vasteras $1,818

A couple spends around $2,415 per month in Istanbul vs $2,764 in Vasteras, rent included.

Istanbul $2,415
Vasteras $2,764

A family of three spends $3,281 per month in Istanbul vs $3,710 in Vasteras, rent included.

Istanbul $3,281
Vasteras $3,710

Istanbul is about 15% cheaper than Vasteras, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Istanbul and Vasteras sit above the global median – Istanbul by 15%, Vasteras by 35%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.30 ₺609

$13.70 SEK 136

-10.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$54.7 ₺2,708

$64.6 SEK 640

-15.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.22 ₺456

$9.91 SEK 98.2

-6.96%

Cappuccino

$4.40 ₺218

$4.23 SEK 41.92

4.02%

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

$1.68 ₺83.1

$2.25 SEK 22.27

-25.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.59 ₺29.40

$2.22 SEK 21.97

-73.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.70 ₺233

$7.15 SEK 70.8

-34.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.91 ₺292

$7.08 SEK 70.2

-16.53%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.21 ₺60.0

$1.40 SEK 13.87

-13.57%

White Bread (500g)

$0.89 ₺44.10

$3.00 SEK 29.70

-70.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.19 ₺108

$3.57 SEK 35.37

-38.66%

Eggs

$2.35 ₺116

$3.89 SEK 38.55

-39.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.42 ₺516

$12.11 SEK 120

-13.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.65 ₺280

$12.74 SEK 126

-55.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.94 ₺1,037

$22.30 SEK 221

-6.10%

Apples (1kg)

$1.90 ₺94.1

$3.19 SEK 31.59

-40.44%

Banana (1kg)

$2.31 ₺114

$2.53 SEK 25.05

-8.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.28 ₺63.1

$3.67 SEK 36.37

-65.12%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.80 ₺89.0

$4.39 SEK 43.46

-59.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.65 ₺32.16

$1.47 SEK 14.55

-55.78%

Onion (1kg)

$0.64 ₺31.91

$1.70 SEK 16.80

-62.35%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.25 ₺62.1

$2.18 SEK 21.62

-42.66%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ₺27.58

$1.49 SEK 14.73

-62.42%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.37 ₺118

$7.08 SEK 70.2

-66.53%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.42 ₺664

$13.30 SEK 132

0.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.40 ₺119

$1.32 SEK 13.10

81.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.48 ₺172

$2.17 SEK 21.54

60.37%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ₺43.84

$3.32 SEK 32.88

-73.19%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$67.4 ₺3,338

$70.7 SEK 700

-4.61%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.29 ₺64.1

$3.51 SEK 34.78

-63.25%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.92 ₺45.70

$2.50 SEK 24.78

-63.20%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.96 ₺542

$81.0 SEK 802

-86.46%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.47 ₺72.9

$1.66 SEK 16.49

-11.45%

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

$50.8K ₺2.5M

$33.2K SEK 328.6K

53.13%

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

$44.5K ₺2.2M

$32.0K SEK 317.5K

38.99%

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

$88.6 ₺4,387

$183 SEK 1,817

-51.68%

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

$11.59 ₺574

$22.17 SEK 220

-47.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.81 ₺783

$43.15 SEK 428

-63.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$77.2 ₺3,820

$34.14 SEK 338

126.01%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.74 ₺1,126

$19.65 SEK 195

15.73%

Cinema Ticket

$8.14 ₺403

$16.74 SEK 166

-51.37%

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

$1,008 ₺49.9K

$151 SEK 1,499

566.16%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$25.6K ₺1.3M

$4,881 SEK 48.4K

423.70%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.0 ₺2,671

$101 SEK 1,002

-46.65%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.83 ₺2,021

$40.24 SEK 399

1.47%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.9 ₺4,895

$86.7 SEK 859

14.01%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$96.6 ₺4,783

$134 SEK 1,323

-27.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$985 ₺48.7K

$750 SEK 7,429

31.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$650 ₺32.2K

$601 SEK 5,957

8.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,983 ₺98.2K

$1,366 SEK 13.5K

45.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,180 ₺58.4K

$997 SEK 9,880

18.34%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,138 ₺155.4K

$3,564 SEK 35.3K

-11.95%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,780 ₺88.1K

$2,404 SEK 23.8K

-25.98%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,205 ₺59.7K

$2,996 SEK 29.7K

-59.77%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

40.92

3.53

1059.21%

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

Last update for Istanbul: October 13, 2026

Last update for Vasteras: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Istanbul

$650 41.9%

Vasteras

$601 33.1% 7.5% $49

Groceries & Markets

Istanbul

$260 16.8%

Vasteras

$380 20.9% 46.5% $121

Eating Out

Istanbul

$223 14.4%

Vasteras

$258 14.2% 15.5% $35

Clothing & Footwear

Istanbul

$131 8.4%

Vasteras

$163 9% 24.6% $32

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Istanbul

$116 7.5%

Vasteras

$249 13.7% 114% $133

Sport & Entertainment

Istanbul

$93 6%

Vasteras

$68 3.7% 27.6% $26

Getting Around

Istanbul

$77 5%

Vasteras

$100 5.5% 30% $23

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $985 in Istanbul versus $750 in Vasteras. 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 149% higher in Vasteras, 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 $65.0 in Vasteras. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $260 vs $380 – making Istanbul the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇹🇷 Istanbul

🇸🇪 Vasteras

🕒 Local time

02:04 2:04 AM

01:04 1:04 AM

1 h behind Istanbul

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

15,701,602

110,877

💱 Currency

Turkish Lira TRY ₺

Swedish Krona SEK kr

📈 Exchange rate

100 TRY = 2.02 USD

100 TRY = 1.8 EUR

100 SEK = 10.09 USD

100 SEK = 8.98 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

SEK, USD, EUR to TRY – Turkish Lira Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇹🇷 Turkish Lira (₺)

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).

Swedish Krona exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 9.91 SEK (1 SEK = 0.101 USD). 1 EUR = 11.14 SEK (100 SEK = 8.98 EUR).

USD to TRY in detail →

On the map

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Highest

Between locations

Istanbul Vasteras 2,240 km ≈ 3 h 15 min nonstop flight

From you

Istanbul
Vasteras

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 Vasteras: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Vasteras is pricier by about 17%, 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 $2,728 in Vasteras. 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 $151 in Vasteras. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 46% more in Vasteras, 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 Vasteras at $1,818. In Istanbul it covers expenses comfortably, while in Vasteras 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, Vasteras makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.