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: $1,243 in Izmir versus $996 in Samsun.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,871 in Izmir versus $1,500 in Samsun.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,500 in Izmir versus $2,004 in Samsun.
🌍Living in Izmir is roughly 25% more expensive than in Samsun, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Izmir7% lower, Samsun25% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Izmir
Samsun
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.97₺376
$7.52₺355
5.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.57₺1,820
$25.50₺1,203
51.25%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.06₺380
$8.68₺410
-7.14%
Cappuccino
$3.20₺151
$2.82₺133
13.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.41₺66.7
$1.29₺61.1
9.30%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.52₺24.54
$0.24₺11.22
116.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.80₺179
$2.94₺139
29.25%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.98₺235
$3.02₺142
64.90%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Izmir
Samsun
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08₺51.2
$1.05₺49.77
2.86%
White Bread(500g)
$0.94₺44.47
$0.40₺18.77
135.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.61₺123
$3.88₺183
-32.73%
Eggs
$2.56₺121
$1.66₺78.1
54.22%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.48₺542
$8.70₺411
31.95%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.50₺307
$10.17₺480
-36.09%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$22.03₺1,039
$18.86₺890
16.81%
Apples(1kg)
$1.42₺66.9
$1.29₺60.9
10.08%
Banana(1kg)
$2.79₺132
$1.15₺54.4
142.61%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.53₺72.3
$0.88₺41.35
73.86%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.88₺88.8
$1.30₺61.3
44.62%
Potato(1kg)
$0.87₺41.02
$0.65₺30.56
33.85%
Onion(1kg)
$0.71₺33.55
$0.65₺30.85
9.23%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.96₺45.30
$0.78₺36.79
23.08%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.63₺29.89
$0.71₺33.70
-11.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.22₺105
$2.11₺99.7
5.21%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.15₺573
$9.34₺440
30.09%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.09₺98.7
$2.04₺96.4
2.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.25₺153
$2.46₺116
32.11%
🚌 Getting Around
Izmir
Samsun
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.62₺29.24
$0.59₺27.98
5.08%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$31.87₺1,504
$9.63₺454
230.94%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.14₺148
$2.30₺108
36.52%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.60₺28.44
$0.64₺30.24
-6.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.96₺234
$4.44₺209
11.71%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.17₺55.4
$1.11₺52.5
5.41%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$44.3K₺2.1M
$43.7K₺2.1M
1.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$45.3K₺2.1M
$48.6K₺2.3M
-6.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Izmir
Samsun
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$100₺4,733
$49.85₺2,352
101.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.45₺540
$10.88₺513
5.24%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.39₺632
$11.64₺549
15.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Izmir
Samsun
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.71₺2,251
$83.1₺3,919
-42.57%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.99₺849
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.46₺352
$5.64₺266
32.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Izmir
Samsun
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$432₺20.4K
$501₺23.6K
-13.69%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.5K₺591.4K
$3,757₺177.2K
233.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Izmir
Samsun
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.9₺2,447
$38.41₺1,812
35.02%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.09₺1,703
$45.16₺2,131
-20.08%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.4₺4,406
$88.1₺4,158
5.96%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$112₺5,298
$44.77₺2,112
150.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Izmir
Samsun
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$646₺30.5K
$499₺23.6K
29.43%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$459₺21.7K
$327₺15.4K
40.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,075₺50.7K
$729₺34.4K
47.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$748₺35.3K
$514₺24.3K
45.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,538₺72.5K
$751₺35.4K
104.83%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,057₺49.9K
$430₺20.3K
145.96%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Izmir
Samsun
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,133₺53.4K
$969₺45.7K
16.90%
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: July 11, 2026
Last update for Samsun: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $646 in Izmir and $499 in Samsun. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Izmir pays 17% 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: $39.00 in Izmir vs $25.00 in Samsun for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $270 vs $242 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 in Samsun?
Average pay runs 17% 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 Samsun?
Rent for a central apartment: $646 in Izmir versus $499 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 $1,243 per month in Izmir versus $996 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 compared to Samsun?
A monthly transit pass in Samsun runs roughly 231% 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 Samsun?
At $996 in Samsun versus $1,243 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 $996 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.