Cost of Living Comparison Between Izmir and Sakarya Cost of Living Comparison Between Izmir and Sakarya

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,233 in Izmir versus $964 in Sakarya.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,935 in Izmir versus $1,492 in Sakarya.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,637 in Izmir versus $2,020 in Sakarya.

Living in Izmir is roughly 28% more expensive than in Sakarya, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Izmir 10% lower, Sakarya 30% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Izmir
Sakarya
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.32 ₺500
$7.07 ₺342
45.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.88 ₺1,835
$31.52 ₺1,526
20.18%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.51 ₺412
$7.18 ₺348
18.52%
Cappuccino
$3.69 ₺179
$3.80 ₺184
-2.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.48 ₺71.5
$1.01 ₺49.09
46.53%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.57 ₺27.73
$0.37 ₺18.13
54.05%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.05 ₺148
$1.91 ₺92.6
59.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.24 ₺254
$2.46 ₺119
113.01%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Izmir
Sakarya
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 ₺52.8
$1.00 ₺48.35
9.00%
White Bread (500g)
$0.97 ₺47.18
$1.02 ₺49.50
-4.90%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.28 ₺111
$2.19 ₺106
4.11%
Eggs
$2.59 ₺125
$2.11 ₺102
22.75%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.46 ₺458
$8.00 ₺387
18.25%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.27 ₺255
$2.88 ₺139
82.99%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$22.47 ₺1,088
$18.02 ₺873
24.69%
Apples (1kg)
$2.03 ₺98.3
$1.98 ₺95.9
2.53%
Banana (1kg)
$2.20 ₺107
$1.94 ₺94.2
13.40%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.23 ₺59.8
$0.79 ₺38.30
55.70%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.40 ₺67.6
$1.34 ₺65.1
4.48%
Potato (1kg)
$0.54 ₺25.91
$0.54 ₺25.95
-
Onion (1kg)
$0.39 ₺18.68
$0.31 ₺15.02
25.81%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.16 ₺56.0
$0.76 ₺36.81
52.63%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.73 ₺35.50
$0.77 ₺37.38
-5.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.32 ₺112
$2.03 ₺98.3
14.29%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.69 ₺566
$14.26 ₺691
-18.02%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.15 ₺104
$2.06 ₺99.8
4.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.16 ₺153
$3.61 ₺175
-12.47%
🚌 Getting Around
Izmir
Sakarya
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.71 ₺34.18
$0.48 ₺23.45
47.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$42.40 ₺2,053
$62.7 ₺3,038
-32.42%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.63 ₺176
$1.07 ₺52.0
239.25%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.00 ₺48.61
$1.15 ₺55.9
-13.04%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.25 ₺254
$4.27 ₺207
22.95%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 ₺65.4
$1.28 ₺62.2
5.47%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$42.1K ₺2.0M
$43.4K ₺2.1M
-3.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$46.8K ₺2.3M
$40.3K ₺2.0M
16.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Izmir
Sakarya
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$84.9 ₺4,114
$44.92 ₺2,175
89.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.79 ₺522
$10.32 ₺500
4.55%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.87 ₺768
$14.24 ₺690
11.45%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Izmir
Sakarya
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$65.9 ₺3,193
$31.61 ₺1,531
108.57%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.80 ₺1,734
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.14 ₺394
$6.31 ₺306
29.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Izmir
Sakarya
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$745 ₺36.1K
$929 ₺45.0K
-19.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.2K ₺734.9K
$15.0K ₺725.0K
1.36%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Izmir
Sakarya
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.77 ₺2,362
$39.87 ₺1,931
22.32%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.60 ₺1,869
$43.96 ₺2,129
-12.19%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.1 ₺4,413
$86.5 ₺4,189
5.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.7 ₺4,053
$72.4 ₺3,507
15.56%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Izmir
Sakarya
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$605 ₺29.3K
$414 ₺20.0K
46.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$428 ₺20.7K
$307 ₺14.9K
39.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,161 ₺56.2K
$794 ₺38.4K
46.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$829 ₺40.1K
$508 ₺24.6K
63.02%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,493 ₺72.3K
$1,262 ₺61.1K
18.33%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,054 ₺51.0K
$695 ₺33.6K
51.74%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Izmir
Sakarya
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,137 ₺55.0K
$921 ₺44.6K
23.47%
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: August 30, 2026

Last update for Sakarya: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $605 in Izmir and $414 in Sakarya. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Izmir pays 23% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $38.00 in Izmir vs $32.00 in Sakarya for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $254 vs $222 per month, with Sakarya cheaper across the board.

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 Sakarya: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Izmir or Sakarya?
Sakarya wins on cost – living expenses run 28% lower than in Izmir. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Sakarya the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Izmir or in Sakarya?
Average pay runs 23% higher in Izmir, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Izmir compared to Sakarya?
Rent for a central apartment: $605 in Izmir versus $414 in Sakarya. 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 Sakarya?
All in, you'll spend $1,233 per month in Izmir versus $964 in Sakarya – a 28% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Izmir compared to Sakarya?
A monthly transit pass in Sakarya runs roughly 48% less than in Izmir. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Izmir or in Sakarya?
At $964 in Sakarya versus $1,233 in Izmir, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Sakarya but tight or insufficient in Izmir. The gap between the two cities makes Sakarya the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Izmir or Sakarya?
Both work as nomad bases, but Sakarya delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $964 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Sakarya hard to pass up.
How safe is Izmir compared to Sakarya?
Safety-wise, Izmir and Sakarya 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 Sakarya gentler on the wallet – expenses run 28% less than in Izmir. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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