Cost of Living Comparison Between Izmir and Balikesir Cost of Living Comparison Between Izmir and Balikesir

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,256 per month in Izmir vs $900 in Balikesir, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,887 per month in Izmir vs $1,488 in Balikesir, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,517 per month in Izmir vs $2,075 in Balikesir, rent included.

Izmir costs about 40% more than Balikesir, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Izmir and Balikesir are more affordable than the global median – Izmir 6% lower, Balikesir 33% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.02 ₺362

$7.54 ₺340

6.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.82 ₺1,707

$26.23 ₺1,184

44.19%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.76 ₺350

$7.54 ₺340

2.92%

Cappuccino

$3.27 ₺148

$2.42 ₺109

35.12%

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

$1.37 ₺61.7

$0.95 ₺42.98

44.21%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.56 ₺25.34

$0.33 ₺14.85

69.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.78 ₺171

$2.49 ₺112

51.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.16 ₺233

$3.52 ₺159

46.59%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 ₺47.11

$0.98 ₺44.32

6.12%

White Bread (500g)

$0.90 ₺40.82

$0.53 ₺24.05

69.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.64 ₺119

$1.26 ₺57.0

109.52%

Eggs

$2.46 ₺111

$1.94 ₺87.4

26.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.86 ₺535

$7.60 ₺343

56.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.67 ₺301

$5.08 ₺229

31.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$21.55 ₺973

$17.89 ₺808

20.46%

Apples (1kg)

$1.45 ₺65.3

$1.58 ₺71.5

-8.23%

Banana (1kg)

$2.80 ₺126

$2.35 ₺106

19.15%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 ₺68.6

$1.42 ₺64.1

7.04%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.91 ₺86.3

$1.55 ₺69.8

23.23%

Potato (1kg)

$0.86 ₺38.68

$0.67 ₺30.32

28.36%

Onion (1kg)

$0.71 ₺31.93

$0.60 ₺27.23

18.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.96 ₺43.25

$0.92 ₺41.64

4.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.60 ₺27.05

$0.53 ₺24.10

13.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.32 ₺105

$2.23 ₺101

4.04%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.88 ₺491

$10.05 ₺454

8.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.10 ₺94.9

$2.33 ₺105

-9.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.08 ₺139

$3.25 ₺147

-5.23%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.66 ₺29.67

$0.66 ₺29.60

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$32.16 ₺1,452

$28.89 ₺1,304

11.32%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.10 ₺140

$1.99 ₺89.8

55.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.65 ₺29.15

$0.64 ₺29.01

1.56%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.13 ₺232

$9.05 ₺408

-43.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 ₺52.5

$1.17 ₺53.0

-0.85%

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

$43.7K ₺2.0M

$41.1K ₺1.9M

6.29%

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

$46.2K ₺2.1M

$44.4K ₺2.0M

4.08%

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

$99.3 ₺4,483

$63.8 ₺2,879

55.71%

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

$11.31 ₺511

$11.68 ₺527

-3.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.21 ₺596

$11.62 ₺525

13.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.90 ₺2,162

$58.2 ₺2,627

-17.68%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.82 ₺804

$12.67 ₺572

40.65%

Cinema Ticket

$7.44 ₺336

$5.31 ₺240

40.11%

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

$437 ₺19.7K

$838 ₺37.8K

-47.89%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.5K ₺565.3K

$5,344 ₺241.2K

134.36%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.9 ₺2,298

$32.05 ₺1,447

58.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.04 ₺1,627

$40.84 ₺1,844

-11.75%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.7 ₺4,274

$88.5 ₺3,996

6.96%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$112 ₺5,058

$62.9 ₺2,840

78.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$646 ₺29.2K

$418 ₺18.9K

54.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$450 ₺20.3K

$252 ₺11.4K

78.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,110 ₺50.1K

$882 ₺39.8K

25.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$762 ₺34.4K

$593 ₺26.8K

28.63%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,599 ₺72.2K

$1,336 ₺60.3K

19.71%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,036 ₺46.8K

$851 ₺38.4K

21.72%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,129 ₺50.9K

$978 ₺44.1K

15.43%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

39.1

29.75

31.43%

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

Last update for Izmir: April 28, 2026

Last update for Balikesir: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $646 in Izmir versus $418 in Balikesir. 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 15% higher in Izmir, 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 $38.00 in Izmir versus $26.00 in Balikesir. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $267 vs $217 – making Balikesir 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 Balikesir: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Izmir costs about 40% more than Balikesir, 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 $1,885 per month in Izmir and $1,350 in Balikesir. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,256 in Izmir and $900 in Balikesir. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 11% less in Balikesir. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Balikesir, where all-in costs run around $900, than in Izmir at $1,256. In Balikesir it covers expenses comfortably, while in Izmir it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Balikesir costs $900 versus $1,256 in Izmir. 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 Balikesir. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Izmir makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.