Cost of Living Comparison Between Izmir and Ankara Cost of Living Comparison Between Izmir and Ankara

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,243 per month in Izmir vs $1,281 in Ankara, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,871 per month in Izmir vs $1,825 in Ankara, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,500 per month in Izmir vs $2,370 in Ankara, rent included.

Izmir is about 3% cheaper than Ankara, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Izmir and Ankara are more affordable than the global median – Izmir 7% lower, Ankara 4% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.97 ₺376

$9.60 ₺453

-16.98%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.57 ₺1,820

$37.78 ₺1,782

2.09%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.06 ₺380

$8.76 ₺413

-7.99%

Cappuccino

$3.20 ₺151

$3.16 ₺149

1.27%

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

$1.41 ₺66.7

$1.21 ₺57.3

16.53%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.52 ₺24.54

$0.39 ₺18.17

33.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.80 ₺179

$3.21 ₺151

18.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.98 ₺235

$3.92 ₺185

27.04%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 ₺51.2

$1.01 ₺47.63

6.93%

White Bread (500g)

$0.94 ₺44.47

$0.71 ₺33.39

32.39%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.61 ₺123

$2.30 ₺108

13.48%

Eggs

$2.56 ₺121

$2.27 ₺107

12.78%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.48 ₺542

$9.32 ₺440

23.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.50 ₺307

$5.97 ₺282

8.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$22.03 ₺1,039

$19.67 ₺928

12.00%

Apples (1kg)

$1.42 ₺66.9

$1.45 ₺68.6

-2.07%

Banana (1kg)

$2.79 ₺132

$2.29 ₺108

21.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 ₺72.3

$1.33 ₺62.6

15.04%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.88 ₺88.8

$1.48 ₺69.8

27.03%

Potato (1kg)

$0.87 ₺41.02

$0.68 ₺31.99

27.94%

Onion (1kg)

$0.71 ₺33.55

$0.62 ₺29.07

14.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.96 ₺45.30

$1.13 ₺53.4

-15.04%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.63 ₺29.89

$0.42 ₺19.92

50.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.22 ₺105

$2.14 ₺101

3.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.15 ₺573

$11.72 ₺553

3.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.09 ₺98.7

$2.02 ₺95.4

3.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.25 ₺153

$3.24 ₺153

0.31%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.62 ₺29.24

$0.64 ₺30.40

-3.13%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.87 ₺1,504

$9.55 ₺451

233.72%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.14 ₺148

$0.93 ₺43.71

237.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.60 ₺28.44

$0.61 ₺28.57

-1.64%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.96 ₺234

$6.18 ₺291

-19.74%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 ₺55.4

$1.18 ₺55.8

-0.85%

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

$44.3K ₺2.1M

$43.3K ₺2.0M

2.17%

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

$45.3K ₺2.1M

$42.9K ₺2.0M

5.45%

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

$100 ₺4,733

$84.2 ₺3,971

19.20%

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

$11.45 ₺540

$10.61 ₺501

7.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.39 ₺632

$13.79 ₺651

-2.90%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.71 ₺2,251

$54.8 ₺2,586

-12.95%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.99 ₺849

$14.53 ₺686

23.81%

Cinema Ticket

$7.46 ₺352

$6.25 ₺295

19.36%

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

$432 ₺20.4K

$602 ₺28.4K

-28.15%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.5K ₺591.4K

$13.4K ₺634.3K

-6.77%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.9 ₺2,447

$58.3 ₺2,751

-11.06%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.09 ₺1,703

$45.23 ₺2,134

-20.21%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.4 ₺4,406

$107 ₺5,063

-12.98%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$112 ₺5,298

$98.7 ₺4,658

13.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$646 ₺30.5K

$726 ₺34.3K

-11.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$459 ₺21.7K

$523 ₺24.7K

-12.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,075 ₺50.7K

$1,091 ₺51.5K

-1.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$748 ₺35.3K

$703 ₺33.2K

6.43%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,538 ₺72.5K

$1,716 ₺81.0K

-10.42%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,057 ₺49.9K

$1,137 ₺53.7K

-7.08%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,133 ₺53.4K

$1,095 ₺51.7K

3.44%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

39.1

48.4

-19.21%

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

Last update for Izmir: July 11, 2026

Last update for Ankara: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $646 in Izmir versus $726 in Ankara. 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 3% higher in Izmir, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $39.00 in Izmir versus $38.00 in Ankara. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $270 vs $239 – making Ankara 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

Izmir vs Ankara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ankara costs about 3% more than Izmir, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,865 per month in Izmir and $1,921 in Ankara. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $432 per month in Izmir and $602 in Ankara. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 13% cheaper in Ankara – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Izmir, where all-in costs run around $1,243, than in Ankara at $1,281. In Izmir it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ankara it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Izmir costs $1,243 versus $1,281 in Ankara. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Izmir. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ankara makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.