Cost of Living Comparison Between Istanbul and Zonguldak Cost of Living Comparison Between Istanbul and Zonguldak

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,472 per month in Istanbul vs $953 in Zonguldak, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,221 per month in Istanbul vs $1,507 in Zonguldak, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,970 per month in Istanbul vs $2,061 in Zonguldak, rent included.

Istanbul costs about 54% more than Zonguldak, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Istanbul sits 10% above the global median, while Zonguldak is 29% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.62 ₺534

$3.72 ₺171

212.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$51.6 ₺2,370

$37.42 ₺1,719

37.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.52 ₺345

$7.59 ₺349

-0.92%

Cappuccino

$3.45 ₺159

$2.96 ₺136

16.55%

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

$1.30 ₺59.9

$0.72 ₺33.31

80.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.46 ₺21.33

$0.26 ₺12.05

76.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.75 ₺172

$2.02 ₺93.0

85.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.96 ₺228

$2.00 ₺91.8

148.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 ₺48.91

$0.60 ₺27.46

76.67%

White Bread (500g)

$0.83 ₺37.97

$0.36 ₺16.69

130.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.27 ₺104

$2.43 ₺112

-6.58%

Eggs

$2.63 ₺121

$2.35 ₺108

11.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.13 ₺466

$9.45 ₺434

7.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.50 ₺298

$6.08 ₺279

6.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.52 ₺897

$19.51 ₺896

0.05%

Apples (1kg)

$1.50 ₺69.1

$1.46 ₺67.2

2.74%

Banana (1kg)

$2.28 ₺105

$2.30 ₺106

-0.87%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.29 ₺59.2

$1.32 ₺60.5

-2.27%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.63 ₺74.9

$1.46 ₺67.1

11.64%

Potato (1kg)

$0.71 ₺32.71

$0.68 ₺31.40

4.41%

Onion (1kg)

$0.73 ₺33.53

$0.57 ₺26.03

28.07%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.13 ₺51.8

$1.11 ₺51.1

1.80%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 ₺26.28

$0.43 ₺19.66

32.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.15 ₺98.7

$1.91 ₺87.7

12.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.15 ₺558

$11.00 ₺505

10.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.14 ₺98.3

$2.01 ₺92.5

6.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 ₺146

$2.05 ₺94.0

55.12%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.72 ₺33.25

$0.67 ₺30.83

7.46%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.7 ₺2,514

$30.57 ₺1,405

79.03%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.05 ₺48.42

$0.85 ₺39.16

23.53%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ₺26.73

$0.65 ₺29.67

-10.77%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.94 ₺411

$6.21 ₺285

43.96%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.21 ₺55.6

$1.06 ₺48.52

14.15%

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

$45.1K ₺2.1M

$43.1K ₺2.0M

4.73%

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

$43.3K ₺2.0M

$43.9K ₺2.0M

-1.35%

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

$73.2 ₺3,362

$27.68 ₺1,272

164.34%

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

$12.25 ₺563

$9.05 ₺416

35.36%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.15 ₺696

$10.05 ₺462

50.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.7 ₺2,837

$44.13 ₺2,027

39.90%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.77 ₺862

Cinema Ticket

$7.73 ₺355

$3.33 ₺153

132.13%

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

$938 ₺43.1K

$610 ₺28.0K

53.80%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.3K ₺839.3K

$13.5K ₺621.1K

35.13%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.9 ₺2,568

$17.71 ₺814

215.58%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.45 ₺2,180

$43.70 ₺2,008

8.58%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ₺5,265

$45.81 ₺2,105

150.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 ₺4,865

$96.4 ₺4,431

9.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$950 ₺43.6K

$514 ₺23.6K

84.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$619 ₺28.5K

$398 ₺18.3K

55.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,771 ₺81.4K

$872 ₺40.1K

102.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,047 ₺48.1K

$703 ₺32.3K

48.90%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,147 ₺144.6K

$1,236 ₺56.8K

154.64%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,664 ₺76.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,203 ₺55.3K

$919 ₺42.2K

30.93%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

48.43

48.4

0.06%

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

Last update for Istanbul: May 31, 2026

Last update for Zonguldak: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $950 in Istanbul versus $514 in Zonguldak. 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 31% 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 $52.0 in Istanbul versus $37.00 in Zonguldak. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $251 vs $229 – making Zonguldak the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Zonguldak: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Istanbul is pricier by about 54%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,207 per month in Istanbul and $1,430 in Zonguldak. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Zonguldak, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $938 per month in Istanbul and $610 in Zonguldak. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 10% more in Istanbul, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Zonguldak, where all-in costs run around $953, than in Istanbul at $1,472. In Zonguldak it covers expenses comfortably, while in Istanbul it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Zonguldak – 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 Zonguldak. 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.