😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,230 in Izmir versus $1,156 in Kastamonu.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,900 in Izmir versus $1,788 in Kastamonu.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,569 in Izmir versus $2,420 in Kastamonu.
😐Living in Izmir is roughly 6% more expensive than Kastamonu, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Izmir8% lower, Kastamonu14% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Izmir
Kastamonu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.89₺364
$9.71₺448
-18.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.63₺1,781
$38.51₺1,776
0.31%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.84₺361
$9.04₺417
-13.27%
Cappuccino
$3.25₺150
$3.13₺144
3.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.42₺65.7
$1.21₺55.9
17.36%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.55₺25.38
$0.41₺18.95
34.15%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.92₺181
$3.29₺152
19.15%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.00₺230
$3.84₺177
30.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Izmir
Kastamonu
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.04₺48.01
$0.97₺44.70
7.22%
White Bread(500g)
$0.90₺41.50
$0.65₺29.91
38.46%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.62₺121
$2.38₺110
10.08%
Eggs
$2.51₺116
$2.37₺109
5.91%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.81₺545
$9.30₺429
26.99%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.79₺313
$5.77₺266
17.68%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$21.93₺1,011
$19.07₺879
15.00%
Apples(1kg)
$1.45₺66.7
$1.45₺66.7
-
Banana(1kg)
$2.80₺129
$2.38₺110
17.65%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.52₺69.9
$1.32₺60.9
15.15%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.96₺90.2
$1.53₺70.7
28.10%
Potato(1kg)
$0.85₺39.24
$0.73₺33.76
16.44%
Onion(1kg)
$0.71₺32.75
$0.57₺26.51
24.56%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.94₺43.51
$1.11₺51.3
-15.32%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.64₺29.55
$0.43₺19.75
48.84%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.32₺107
$2.18₺100
6.42%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.74₺495
$9.97₺459
7.72%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.11₺97.2
$2.02₺93.1
4.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.25₺150
$3.13₺144
3.83%
🚌 Getting Around
Izmir
Kastamonu
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.65₺30.00
$0.68₺31.15
-4.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$31.89₺1,470
$30.60₺1,411
4.22%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.99₺138
$0.85₺39.03
251.76%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.62₺28.48
$0.65₺29.74
-4.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.99₺230
$6.16₺284
-18.99%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.19₺54.8
$1.19₺54.7
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$43.4K₺2.0M
$42.5K₺2.0M
2.08%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$45.5K₺2.1M
$43.2K₺2.0M
5.41%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Izmir
Kastamonu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$101₺4,635
$84.1₺3,880
19.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.20₺516
$10.72₺494
4.48%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.18₺608
$13.77₺635
-4.28%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Izmir
Kastamonu
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.17₺2,221
$43.86₺2,022
9.83%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.91₺826
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.47₺344
$6.47₺298
15.46%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Izmir
Kastamonu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$440₺20.3K
$599₺27.6K
-26.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.5K₺576.0K
$13.5K₺623.3K
-7.58%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Izmir
Kastamonu
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.3₺2,364
$58.6₺2,700
-12.43%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.60₺1,641
$43.75₺2,017
-18.63%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.0₺4,243
$105₺4,819
-11.96%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114₺5,254
$96.5₺4,449
18.08%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Izmir
Kastamonu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$656₺30.3K
$508₺23.4K
29.22%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$459₺21.2K
$389₺18.0K
17.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,079₺49.7K
$892₺41.1K
20.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$759₺35.0K
$704₺32.4K
7.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,600₺73.8K
$1,317₺60.7K
21.53%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,056₺48.7K
$910₺42.0K
16.06%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Izmir
Kastamonu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,113₺51.3K
$1,362₺62.8K
-18.32%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
39.1
40
-2.25%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Izmir: June 6, 2026
Last update for Kastamonu: June 9, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $656 in Izmir and $508 in Kastamonu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Kastamonu pays 22% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $39.00 in Izmir vs $39.00 in Kastamonu. Groceries flip the comparison at $269 vs $233, with Kastamonu cheaper for home cooking.
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 Kastamonu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Izmir or Kastamonu?
Kastamonu wins on cost – living expenses run 6% lower than in Izmir. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Kastamonu the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Izmir or Kastamonu?
On paper, Kastamonu earns 22% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Izmir vs Kastamonu?
Rent for a central apartment: $656 in Izmir versus $508 in Kastamonu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Izmir compared to Kastamonu?
All in, you'll spend $1,230 per month in Izmir versus $1,156 in Kastamonu – a 6% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Izmir vs Kastamonu?
A monthly transit pass in Kastamonu runs roughly 4% less than in Izmir. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Izmir or Kastamonu?
At $1,156 in Kastamonu versus $1,230 in Izmir, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Kastamonu but tight or insufficient in Izmir. The gap between the two cities makes Kastamonu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Izmir or Kastamonu?
Both work as nomad bases, but Kastamonu delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,156 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Kastamonu hard to pass up.
How safe is Izmir compared to Kastamonu?
Safety-wise, Izmir and Kastamonu are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Kastamonu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 6% less than in Izmir. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.