Cost of Living Comparison Between Izmir and SamsunCost of Living Comparison Between Izmir and Samsun
Monthly Cost of Living
😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,235 in Izmir versus $991 in Samsun.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,876 in Izmir versus $1,509 in Samsun.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,517 in Izmir versus $2,027 in Samsun.
😐Living in Izmir is roughly 25% more expensive than Samsun, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Izmir8% lower, Samsun26% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Izmir
Samsun
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.03₺370
$7.65₺352
4.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.40₺1,722
$25.10₺1,156
49.00%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.65₺352
$8.99₺414
-14.91%
Cappuccino
$3.35₺154
$2.81₺129
19.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.44₺66.4
$1.30₺60.1
10.77%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.53₺24.40
$0.24₺10.99
120.83%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.85₺177
$2.84₺131
35.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.96₺228
$2.97₺137
67.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Izmir
Samsun
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.06₺48.60
$1.05₺48.52
0.95%
White Bread(500g)
$0.88₺40.72
$0.40₺18.36
120.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.50₺115
$3.90₺180
-35.90%
Eggs
$2.53₺117
$1.71₺78.8
47.95%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.66₺537
$9.10₺419
28.13%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.81₺314
$10.02₺461
-32.04%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$21.53₺991
$19.35₺891
11.27%
Apples(1kg)
$1.43₺65.9
$1.30₺59.8
10.00%
Banana(1kg)
$2.83₺130
$1.12₺51.4
152.68%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.48₺67.9
$0.92₺42.20
60.87%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.86₺85.8
$1.24₺57.3
50.00%
Potato(1kg)
$0.88₺40.59
$0.60₺27.76
46.67%
Onion(1kg)
$0.67₺30.84
$0.60₺27.83
11.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.02₺47.01
$0.73₺33.84
39.73%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.64₺29.32
$0.68₺31.36
-5.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.32₺107
$2.04₺94.1
13.73%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.81₺498
$9.62₺443
12.37%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.19₺101
$2.01₺92.7
8.96%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.25₺150
$2.50₺115
30.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Izmir
Samsun
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.60₺27.64
$0.59₺27.06
1.69%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$31.50₺1,450
$9.66₺445
226.09%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.10₺143
$2.26₺104
37.17%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.65₺29.70
$0.61₺27.96
6.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.94₺228
$4.65₺214
6.24%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.23₺56.4
$1.13₺51.9
8.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$44.8K₺2.1M
$42.8K₺2.0M
4.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$45.6K₺2.1M
$49.6K₺2.3M
-7.99%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Izmir
Samsun
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$99.6₺4,588
$49.83₺2,295
99.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.43₺526
$10.99₺506
4.00%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.19₺607
$11.23₺517
17.45%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Izmir
Samsun
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.97₺2,209
$82.3₺3,789
-41.70%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.08₺833
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.80₺359
$5.75₺265
35.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Izmir
Samsun
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$447₺20.6K
$500₺23.0K
-10.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.6K₺579.7K
$3,735₺172.0K
237.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Izmir
Samsun
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.9₺2,388
$37.79₺1,740
37.21%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.96₺1,656
$45.67₺2,103
-21.26%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.0₺4,236
$87.8₺4,042
4.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113₺5,219
$45.24₺2,083
150.49%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Izmir
Samsun
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$643₺29.6K
$500₺23.0K
28.59%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$462₺21.3K
$328₺15.1K
40.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,096₺50.4K
$724₺33.3K
51.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$739₺34.1K
$523₺24.1K
41.37%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,550₺71.4K
$795₺36.6K
94.97%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,080₺49.7K
$429₺19.8K
151.67%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Izmir
Samsun
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,148₺52.9K
$1,006₺46.3K
14.08%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
39.1
43.33
-9.76%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Izmir: June 1, 2026
Last update for Samsun: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $643 in Izmir and $500 in Samsun. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Izmir pays 14% 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: $37.00 in Izmir vs $25.00 in Samsun for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $267 vs $244 per month, with Samsun 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 Samsun: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Izmir or Samsun?
Samsun wins on cost – living expenses run 25% lower than in Izmir. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Samsun the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Izmir or Samsun?
Izmir pays 14% more on average, 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 vs Samsun?
Rent for a central apartment: $643 in Izmir versus $500 in Samsun. 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 Samsun?
All in, you'll spend $1,235 per month in Izmir versus $991 in Samsun – a 25% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Izmir vs Samsun?
A monthly transit pass in Samsun runs roughly 226% 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 Samsun?
At $991 in Samsun versus $1,235 in Izmir, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Samsun but tight or insufficient in Izmir. The gap between the two cities makes Samsun the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Izmir or Samsun?
Both work as nomad bases, but Samsun delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $991 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Samsun hard to pass up.
How safe is Izmir compared to Samsun?
Safety-wise, Izmir and Samsun 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 Samsun gentler on the wallet – expenses run 25% less than in Izmir. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.