Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Istanbul and Zhytomyr

For one person, living is cheaper in Zhytomyr: $746 a month against $1,519 in Istanbul, rent and utilities included – about $9,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

73

Cost of Living Index in Istanbul
Learn more

Istanbul Living Index
36

Cost of Living Index in Zhytomyr
Learn more

Zhytomyr Living Index

Jump to prices

Istanbul

🇹🇷 Turkey

$1,519

/mo nomad

Zhytomyr

🇺🇦 Ukraine

$746

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Istanbul and in Zhytomyr

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

A single person spends $1,519 per month in Istanbul vs $746 in Zhytomyr, rent included.

Istanbul $1,519
Zhytomyr $746

A couple spends around $2,365 per month in Istanbul vs $1,160 in Zhytomyr, rent included.

Istanbul $2,365
Zhytomyr $1,160

A family of three spends $3,212 per month in Istanbul vs $1,575 in Zhytomyr, rent included.

Istanbul $3,212
Zhytomyr $1,575

Istanbul costs about 104% more than Zhytomyr, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Istanbul sits 12% above the global median, while Zhytomyr is 45% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.81 ₺592

$8.78 ₴400

34.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$54.9 ₺2,754

$25.30 ₴1,152

117.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.26 ₺465

$4.83 ₴220

91.72%

Cappuccino

$4.30 ₺216

$1.40 ₴63.6

207.14%

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

$1.77 ₺89.0

$0.58 ₴26.34

205.17%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.56 ₺28.32

$0.34 ₴15.65

64.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.69 ₺235

$0.63 ₴28.85

644.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.12 ₺357

$1.28 ₴58.4

456.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.25 ₺62.7

$1.06 ₴48.32

17.92%

White Bread (500g)

$0.88 ₺44.17

$0.72 ₴32.85

22.22%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.20 ₺111

$1.74 ₴79.4

26.44%

Eggs

$2.43 ₺122

$1.89 ₴86.1

28.57%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.48 ₺526

$10.39 ₴473

0.87%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.31 ₺267

$3.84 ₴175

38.28%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$21.10 ₺1,058

$6.22 ₴283

239.23%

Apples (1kg)

$1.86 ₺93.1

$0.95 ₴43.13

95.79%

Banana (1kg)

$2.30 ₺115

$1.44 ₴65.5

59.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.22 ₺61.0

$1.45 ₴66.1

-15.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.80 ₺90.2

$4.15 ₴189

-56.63%

Potato (1kg)

$0.69 ₺34.83

$0.76 ₴34.54

-9.21%

Onion (1kg)

$0.64 ₺32.16

$0.86 ₴38.97

-25.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.36 ₺68.0

$1.07 ₴48.63

27.10%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 ₺28.94

$0.64 ₴28.99

-9.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.34 ₺117

$3.46 ₴158

-32.37%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.03 ₺653

$4.33 ₴197

200.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.36 ₺118

$0.91 ₴41.26

159.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.32 ₺166

$1.51 ₴68.8

119.87%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ₺44.07

$0.32 ₴14.49

175.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$66.1 ₺3,316

$9.21 ₴419

617.92%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.28 ₺64.4

$1.74 ₴79.1

-26.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.85 ₺42.80

$0.36 ₴16.20

136.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.09 ₺556

$3.42 ₴156

224.27%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.48 ₺74.0

$1.47 ₴66.8

0.68%

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

$48.6K ₺2.4M

$29.9K ₴1.4M

62.42%

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

$42.0K ₺2.1M

$23.6K ₴1.1M

77.84%

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

$92.7 ₺4,650

$84.2 ₴3,836

10.05%

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

$11.20 ₺562

$5.08 ₴231

120.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.89 ₺797

$4.58 ₴209

246.94%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$74.7 ₺3,745

$26.98 ₴1,229

176.80%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.95 ₺1,151

$15.93 ₴725

44.07%

Cinema Ticket

$8.05 ₺404

$4.35 ₴198

85.06%

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

$948 ₺47.6K

$158 ₴7,210

498.99%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$36.9K ₺1.9M

$1,727 ₴78.6K

2038.02%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.9 ₺2,702

$62.5 ₴2,846

-13.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.49 ₺2,081

$27.13 ₴1,235

52.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 ₺5,060

$69.5 ₴3,165

45.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$91.3 ₺4,580

$76.2 ₴3,469

19.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,014 ₺50.8K

$321 ₴14.6K

215.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$625 ₺31.3K

$212 ₴9,676

193.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,005 ₺100.6K

$500 ₴22.8K

300.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,126 ₺56.5K

$364 ₴16.6K

209.46%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,988 ₺149.8K

$1,051 ₴47.9K

184.26%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,730 ₺86.8K

$871 ₴39.6K

98.73%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,136 ₺57.0K

$456 ₴20.8K

149.01%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

40.42

19.6

106.22%

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

Last update for Istanbul: November 2, 2026

Last update for Zhytomyr: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Istanbul

$625 41.1%

Zhytomyr

$212 28.5% 66% $412

Groceries & Markets

Istanbul

$258 17%

Zhytomyr

$173 23.2% 32.9% $85

Eating Out

Istanbul

$221 14.6%

Zhytomyr

$111 14.9% 49.8% $110

Clothing & Footwear

Istanbul

$129 8.5%

Zhytomyr

$106 14.2% 18.2% $24

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Istanbul

$120 7.9%

Zhytomyr

$94 12.6% 21.6% $26

Sport & Entertainment

Istanbul

$91 6%

Zhytomyr

$36 4.8% 60.7% $55

Getting Around

Istanbul

$75 5%

Zhytomyr

$14 1.9% 81.4% $61

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,014 in Istanbul versus $321 in Zhytomyr. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries in Istanbul are about 2.5 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $55 in Istanbul versus $25 in Zhytomyr. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $258 vs $173 – making Zhytomyr the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇹🇷 Istanbul

🇺🇦 Zhytomyr

🕒 Local time

13:03 1:03 PM

12:03 12:03 PM

1 h behind Istanbul

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

15,701,602

267,610

💱 Currency

Turkish Lira TRY ₺

Ukrainian Hryvnia UAH ₴

📈 Exchange rate

100 TRY = 1.99 USD

100 TRY = 1.78 EUR

100 UAH = 2.2 USD

100 UAH = 1.96 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

UAH, USD, EUR to TRY – Turkish Lira Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇹🇷 Turkish Lira (₺)

Turkish Lira exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 50.15 TRY (100 TRY = 1.99 USD). 1 EUR = 56.33 TRY (100 TRY = 1.78 EUR).

Ukrainian Hryvnia exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 45.54 UAH (100 UAH = 2.2 USD). 1 EUR = 51.14 UAH (100 UAH = 1.96 EUR).

USD to TRY in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Istanbul Zhytomyr 1,030 km ≈ 1 h 45 min nonstop flight

From you

Istanbul
Zhytomyr

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 Zhytomyr: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Istanbul is pricier by about 104%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,278 per month in Istanbul and $1,119 in Zhytomyr. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Zhytomyr, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $321 there versus $1,014 in Istanbul.

Kindergarten costs $948 per month in Istanbul and $158 in Zhytomyr. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 49% more in Istanbul, though the gap depends on what you buy.

Families tend to lean toward Zhytomyr – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.

If budget matters most, go with Zhytomyr. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Istanbul makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.