Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Istanbul and Villeurbanne

For one person, living is cheaper in Istanbul: $1,525 a month against $1,943 in Villeurbanne, rent and utilities included – about $5,000 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Istanbul
🇹🇷 Turkey
$1,525
/mo nomad
Villeurbanne
🇫🇷 France
$1,943
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Istanbul and in Villeurbanne

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

A single person spends $1,525 per month in Istanbul vs $1,943 in Villeurbanne, rent included.

  • Istanbul $1,525
  • Villeurbanne $1,943

A couple spends around $2,390 per month in Istanbul vs $2,817 in Villeurbanne, rent included.

  • Istanbul $2,390
  • Villeurbanne $2,817

A family of three spends $3,256 per month in Istanbul vs $3,691 in Villeurbanne, rent included.

  • Istanbul $3,256
  • Villeurbanne $3,691

Istanbul is about 22% cheaper than Villeurbanne, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Istanbul and Villeurbanne sit above the global median – Istanbul by 13%, Villeurbanne by 43%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Istanbul
Villeurbanne
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.96 ₺592
$16.66 €14.82
-28.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$57.2 ₺2,834
$67.2 €59.7
-14.79%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.51 ₺471
$13.46 €11.97
-29.35%
Cappuccino
$4.40 ₺218
$3.95 €3.51
11.39%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75 ₺86.6
$2.80 €2.49
-37.50%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.56 ₺27.57
$1.71 €1.53
-67.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.71 ₺233
$7.85 €6.99
-40.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.14 ₺304
$6.07 €5.40
1.15%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Istanbul
Villeurbanne
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.24 ₺61.6
$1.20 €1.06
3.33%
White Bread (500g)
$0.95 ₺47.25
$1.78 €1.59
-46.63%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.28 ₺113
$2.45 €2.18
-6.94%
Eggs
$2.45 ₺121
$4.66 €4.15
-47.42%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.56 ₺523
$22.38 €19.90
-52.82%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.50 ₺272
$12.15 €10.81
-54.73%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$21.65 ₺1,072
$23.15 €20.59
-6.48%
Apples (1kg)
$1.83 ₺90.6
$2.44 €2.17
-25.00%
Banana (1kg)
$2.29 ₺113
$2.48 €2.21
-7.66%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.28 ₺63.4
$2.83 €2.52
-54.77%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.82 ₺90.1
$3.15 €2.80
-42.22%
Potato (1kg)
$0.66 ₺32.74
$2.55 €2.27
-74.12%
Onion (1kg)
$0.63 ₺31.14
$2.94 €2.62
-78.57%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.27 ₺62.8
$1.35 €1.20
-5.93%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 ₺27.62
$0.87 €0.77
-35.63%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.36 ₺117
$13.32 €11.85
-82.28%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.98 ₺642
$7.91 €7.03
64.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.48 ₺123
$2.66 €2.36
-6.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.50 ₺174
$3.23 €2.88
8.36%
🚌 Getting Around
Istanbul
Villeurbanne
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.82 ₺40.77
$2.27 €2.02
-63.88%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$65.2 ₺3,228
$82.1 €73.0
-20.60%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.33 ₺65.7
$2.78 €2.47
-52.16%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.90 ₺44.60
$2.14 €1.90
-57.94%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.91 ₺540
$41.61 €37.01
-73.78%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.43 ₺70.7
$2.07 €1.84
-30.92%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$49.6K ₺2.5M
$34.2K €30.4K
44.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$43.2K ₺2.1M
$34.5K €30.7K
25.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Istanbul
Villeurbanne
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$88.8 ₺4,395
$228 €203
-61.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.69 ₺579
$17.89 €15.91
-34.66%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.09 ₺797
$34.85 €31.00
-53.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Istanbul
Villeurbanne
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.3 ₺3,776
$35.36 €31.45
115.67%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.72 ₺1,125
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.26 ₺409
$14.48 €12.88
-42.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Istanbul
Villeurbanne
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,015 ₺50.2K
$625 €556
62.35%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$25.8K ₺1.3M
$11.3K €10.0K
129.32%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Istanbul
Villeurbanne
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.3 ₺2,636
$110 €97.7
-51.53%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.55 ₺2,008
$43.57 €38.75
-6.93%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$100 ₺4,956
$105 €93.3
-4.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$93.5 ₺4,630
$128 €114
-26.83%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Istanbul
Villeurbanne
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$977 ₺48.4K
$1,011 €900
-3.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$627 ₺31.0K
$655 €582
-4.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,980 ₺98.0K
$1,143 €1,017
73.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,147 ₺56.8K
$865 €769
32.61%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,095 ₺153.2K
$3,922 €3,488
-21.07%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,787 ₺88.5K
$2,939 €2,614
-39.19%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Istanbul
Villeurbanne
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,213 ₺60.1K
$4,283 €3,810
-71.68%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
40.69
3.77
979.31%

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

Last update for Istanbul: October 19, 2026

Last update for Villeurbanne: October 17, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Istanbul
$627
Villeurbanne
$655 4.4% $28
Groceries & Markets
Istanbul
$263
Villeurbanne
$375 42.7% $112
Eating Out
Istanbul
$222
Villeurbanne
$290 30.8% $68
Clothing & Footwear
Istanbul
$129
Villeurbanne
$174 34.4% $44
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Istanbul
$117
Villeurbanne
$280 141% $164
Sport & Entertainment
Istanbul
$93
Villeurbanne
$64 30.7% $28
Getting Around
Istanbul
$74
Villeurbanne
$105 40.8% $30

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $977 in Istanbul versus $1,011 in Villeurbanne. 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 253% higher in Villeurbanne, 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 $57.0 in Istanbul versus $67.0 in Villeurbanne. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $263 vs $375 – making Istanbul the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇹🇷 Istanbul
🇫🇷 Villeurbanne
🕒 Local time
14:35 2:35 PM
13:35 1:35 PM
1 h behind Istanbul
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
15,701,602
156,928
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR, USD to TRY – Turkish Lira Converter

Turkish Lira exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 49.51 TRY (100 TRY = 2.02 USD). 1 EUR = 55.66 TRY (100 TRY = 1.8 EUR).

Euro exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Istanbul Villeurbanne 2,010 km ≈ 3 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Istanbul
  • Villeurbanne

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 Villeurbanne: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Villeurbanne cheaper than Istanbul?
Yes – Villeurbanne is pricier by about 27%, 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 $2,287 per month in Istanbul and $2,915 in Villeurbanne. 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 Istanbul, 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 $1,015 per month in Istanbul and $625 in Villeurbanne. 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 Villeurbanne?
Groceries cost about 43% more in Villeurbanne, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Istanbul or in Villeurbanne?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Istanbul, where all-in costs run around $1,525, than in Villeurbanne at $1,943. In Istanbul it covers expenses comfortably, while in Villeurbanne it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Istanbul or Villeurbanne more family-friendly?
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.
Which city is safer, Istanbul or Villeurbanne?
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, Villeurbanne makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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