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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,218 per month in Izmir vs $928 in Balikesir, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,912 per month in Izmir vs $1,494 in Balikesir, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,605 per month in Izmir vs $2,059 in Balikesir, rent included.

Izmir costs about 31% more than Balikesir, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Izmir and Balikesir are more affordable than the global median – Izmir 12% lower, Balikesir 33% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.15 ₺493

$7.36 ₺357

37.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.97 ₺1,795

$28.45 ₺1,381

29.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.33 ₺405

$7.83 ₺380

6.39%

Cappuccino

$3.68 ₺179

$3.47 ₺168

6.05%

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

$1.51 ₺73.4

$1.38 ₺66.9

9.42%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.53 ₺25.94

$0.33 ₺15.83

60.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.14 ₺152

$3.39 ₺165

-7.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.12 ₺249

$4.21 ₺204

21.62%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 ₺53.3

$0.95 ₺46.36

15.79%

White Bread (500g)

$0.97 ₺47.06

$0.99 ₺48.29

-2.02%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.27 ₺110

$2.22 ₺108

2.25%

Eggs

$2.55 ₺124

$1.96 ₺95.1

30.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.76 ₺474

$8.13 ₺395

20.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.21 ₺253

$3.99 ₺194

30.58%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$22.57 ₺1,096

$19.09 ₺927

18.23%

Apples (1kg)

$2.01 ₺97.7

$1.81 ₺87.8

11.05%

Banana (1kg)

$2.16 ₺105

$1.96 ₺95.0

10.20%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.22 ₺59.2

$1.15 ₺55.9

6.09%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ₺70.7

$1.00 ₺48.69

46.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.53 ₺25.67

$0.50 ₺24.45

6.00%

Onion (1kg)

$0.36 ₺17.45

$0.38 ₺18.51

-5.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.16 ₺56.2

$0.88 ₺42.53

31.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.80 ₺38.71

$0.74 ₺35.81

8.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.30 ₺112

$2.04 ₺99.1

12.75%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.77 ₺572

$10.51 ₺511

11.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.14 ₺104

$2.02 ₺97.9

5.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.13 ₺152

$3.45 ₺167

-9.28%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.68 ₺33.26

$0.64 ₺31.00

6.25%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.17 ₺2,047

$41.18 ₺2,000

2.40%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.57 ₺173

$1.11 ₺54.0

221.62%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.03 ₺50.3

$1.12 ₺54.6

-8.04%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.12 ₺249

$4.13 ₺200

23.97%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 ₺65.3

$1.29 ₺62.8

4.65%

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

$41.5K ₺2.0M

$44.0K ₺2.1M

-5.69%

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

$46.2K ₺2.2M

$40.7K ₺2.0M

13.48%

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

$85.3 ₺4,142

$64.7 ₺3,143

31.77%

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

$10.58 ₺514

$12.44 ₺604

-14.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.00 ₺777

$15.33 ₺744

4.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$65.2 ₺3,166

$43.56 ₺2,115

49.68%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$36.50 ₺1,772

$31.43 ₺1,526

16.13%

Cinema Ticket

$8.03 ₺390

$4.22 ₺205

90.28%

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

$741 ₺36.0K

$482 ₺23.4K

53.88%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.6K ₺755.4K

$12.6K ₺611.1K

23.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.11 ₺2,336

$25.18 ₺1,223

91.06%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.69 ₺1,927

$16.83 ₺817

135.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.1 ₺4,425

$82.2 ₺3,989

10.93%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$84.9 ₺4,121

$52.4 ₺2,544

62.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$604 ₺29.3K

$378 ₺18.3K

60.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$429 ₺20.8K

$298 ₺14.5K

44.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,152 ₺55.9K

$797 ₺38.7K

44.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$803 ₺39.0K

$564 ₺27.4K

42.33%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,488 ₺72.2K

$1,179 ₺57.2K

26.20%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,025 ₺49.8K

$826 ₺40.1K

24.14%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,147 ₺55.7K

$1,308 ₺63.5K

-12.33%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

42.33

39.8

6.36%

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

Last update for Izmir: September 6, 2026

Last update for Balikesir: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $604 in Izmir versus $378 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 14% higher in Balikesir, 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 $37.00 in Izmir versus $28.00 in Balikesir. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $255 vs $221 – 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 31% more than Balikesir, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,828 per month in Izmir and $1,393 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 $1,218 in Izmir and $928 in Balikesir. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 2% 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 $928, than in Izmir at $1,218. 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 $928 versus $1,218 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.