Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Izmir and Sakarya

For one person, living is cheaper in Sakarya: $949 a month against $1,204 in Izmir, rent and utilities included – about $3,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Izmir
🇹🇷 Turkey
$1,204
/mo nomad
Sakarya
🇹🇷 Turkey
$949
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Izmir and in Sakarya

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Izmir and in Sakarya actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,204 in Izmir versus $949 in Sakarya.

  • Izmir $1,204
  • Sakarya $949

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,900 in Izmir versus $1,457 in Sakarya.

  • Izmir $1,900
  • Sakarya $1,457

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,597 in Izmir versus $1,965 in Sakarya.

  • Izmir $2,597
  • Sakarya $1,965

Living in Izmir is roughly 27% more expensive than in Sakarya, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Izmir 11% lower, Sakarya 30% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Izmir
Sakarya
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.14 ₺502
$6.89 ₺341
47.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.23 ₺1,794
$29.75 ₺1,473
21.78%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.40 ₺416
$7.20 ₺356
16.67%
Cappuccino
$3.71 ₺184
$3.59 ₺178
3.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43 ₺70.7
$0.96 ₺47.49
48.96%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.57 ₺28.42
$0.40 ₺19.72
42.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.39 ₺168
$1.85 ₺91.7
83.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.07 ₺251
$2.39 ₺118
112.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Izmir
Sakarya
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.10 ₺54.2
$0.91 ₺44.97
20.88%
White Bread (500g)
$1.06 ₺52.3
$0.95 ₺47.15
11.58%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.28 ₺113
$2.16 ₺107
5.56%
Eggs
$2.42 ₺120
$2.05 ₺102
18.05%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.33 ₺462
$7.64 ₺378
22.12%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.93 ₺244
$2.84 ₺141
73.59%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$21.17 ₺1,048
$17.67 ₺875
19.81%
Apples (1kg)
$2.03 ₺100
$1.93 ₺95.5
5.18%
Banana (1kg)
$2.16 ₺107
$1.87 ₺92.4
15.51%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.01 ₺50.2
$0.84 ₺41.39
20.24%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.39 ₺68.8
$1.29 ₺64.1
7.75%
Potato (1kg)
$0.59 ₺29.02
$0.53 ₺26.45
11.32%
Onion (1kg)
$0.42 ₺20.72
$0.30 ₺15.04
40.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.08 ₺53.3
$0.75 ₺37.14
44.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79 ₺39.13
$0.74 ₺36.87
6.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.15 ₺107
$2.00 ₺99.1
7.50%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.49 ₺569
$14.22 ₺704
-19.20%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.00 ₺99.1
$1.94 ₺95.9
3.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.05 ₺151
$3.61 ₺179
-15.51%
🚌 Getting Around
Izmir
Sakarya
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.69 ₺33.99
$0.43 ₺21.38
60.47%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$42.52 ₺2,105
$60.3 ₺2,983
-29.43%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.54 ₺175
$1.04 ₺51.6
240.38%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.98 ₺48.53
$1.09 ₺54.2
-10.09%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.62 ₺278
$4.18 ₺207
34.45%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 ₺66.9
$1.31 ₺65.1
3.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$46.0K ₺2.3M
$43.1K ₺2.1M
6.71%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$43.2K ₺2.1M
$40.0K ₺2.0M
7.96%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Izmir
Sakarya
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.4 ₺4,130
$44.60 ₺2,208
87.04%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.36 ₺513
$9.95 ₺492
4.12%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.98 ₺791
$14.02 ₺694
13.98%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Izmir
Sakarya
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$63.0 ₺3,119
$40.33 ₺1,997
56.19%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.20 ₺1,743
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.15 ₺404
$6.19 ₺306
31.66%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Izmir
Sakarya
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$678 ₺33.6K
$904 ₺44.7K
-24.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.4K ₺714.6K
$14.9K ₺737.0K
-3.04%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Izmir
Sakarya
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.96 ₺2,226
$37.62 ₺1,863
19.51%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.42 ₺1,853
$42.00 ₺2,079
-10.90%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$90.5 ₺4,482
$83.6 ₺4,137
8.37%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$82.6 ₺4,087
$69.2 ₺3,426
19.29%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Izmir
Sakarya
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$588 ₺29.1K
$400 ₺19.8K
47.04%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$415 ₺20.5K
$300 ₺14.9K
38.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,130 ₺55.9K
$762 ₺37.7K
48.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$796 ₺39.4K
$496 ₺24.5K
60.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,484 ₺73.5K
$1,230 ₺60.9K
20.66%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,004 ₺49.7K
$677 ₺33.5K
48.22%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Izmir
Sakarya
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,161 ₺57.5K
$877 ₺43.4K
32.38%
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: October 19, 2026

Last update for Sakarya: October 20, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Izmir
$415
Sakarya
$300 27.6% $115
Groceries & Markets
Izmir
$246
Sakarya
$216 12.3% $30
Eating Out
Izmir
$186
Sakarya
$139 25.1% $47
Clothing & Footwear
Izmir
$115
Sakarya
$105 9% $10
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Izmir
$110
Sakarya
$69 37.5% $41
Sport & Entertainment
Izmir
$79
Sakarya
$53 33.5% $27
Getting Around
Izmir
$54
Sakarya
$68 27.5% $15

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $588 in Izmir and $400 in Sakarya. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Izmir pays 32% 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: $36.00 in Izmir vs $30.00 in Sakarya for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $246 vs $216 per month, with Sakarya cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇹🇷 Izmir
🇹🇷 Sakarya
🕒 Local time
04:31 4:31 AM
04:31 4:31 AM
Same time as Izmir
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
4,493,242
1,094,481
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to TRY – Turkish Lira Converter

Turkish Lira exchange rates as of October 21, 2026: 1 USD = 49.51 TRY (100 TRY = 2.02 USD). 1 EUR = 55.66 TRY (100 TRY = 1.8 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Izmir Sakarya 380 km
From you
  • Izmir
  • Sakarya

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 27% 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 32% 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: $588 in Izmir versus $400 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 $1,204 per month in Izmir versus $949 in Sakarya – a 27% 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 42% 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 $949 in Sakarya versus $1,204 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 $949 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 27% less than in Izmir. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Izmir vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?