Cost of Living Comparison Between Izmir and SideCost of Living Comparison Between Izmir and Side
Monthly Cost of Living
😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,247 in Izmir versus $1,062 in Side.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,905 in Izmir versus $1,635 in Side.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,564 in Izmir versus $2,207 in Side.
🌍Living in Izmir is roughly 17% more expensive than in Side, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Izmir7% lower, Side20% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Izmir
Side
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.20₺388
$7.80₺369
5.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.64₺1,782
$23.17₺1,097
62.45%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.93₺375
$6.27₺297
26.48%
Cappuccino
$3.31₺157
$2.80₺133
18.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.37₺64.6
$1.70₺80.4
-19.41%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.55₺26.04
$0.44₺20.76
25.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.78₺179
$2.98₺141
26.85%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.96₺235
$4.02₺190
23.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Izmir
Side
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.06₺50.1
$0.89₺42.12
19.10%
White Bread(500g)
$0.97₺45.82
$0.93₺44.20
4.30%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.55₺121
$0.93₺43.82
174.19%
Eggs
$2.56₺121
$1.77₺83.8
44.63%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.86₺561
$8.33₺394
42.38%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.67₺316
$5.48₺259
21.72%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$21.83₺1,033
$16.39₺776
33.19%
Apples(1kg)
$1.50₺70.9
$1.05₺49.59
42.86%
Banana(1kg)
$2.68₺127
$2.09₺99.1
28.23%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.53₺72.6
$0.79₺37.30
93.67%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.95₺92.4
$1.10₺51.9
77.27%
Potato(1kg)
$0.81₺38.22
$0.60₺28.17
35.00%
Onion(1kg)
$0.67₺31.65
$0.46₺21.68
45.65%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.02₺48.30
$1.28₺60.5
-20.31%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.64₺30.49
$0.34₺16.23
88.24%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.34₺111
$2.13₺101
9.86%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.73₺555
$12.87₺609
-8.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.11₺100.0
$1.64₺77.6
28.66%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.19₺151
$2.14₺101
49.07%
🚌 Getting Around
Izmir
Side
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.64₺30.33
$0.68₺32.05
-5.88%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$31.78₺1,504
$30.96₺1,465
2.65%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.04₺144
$1.08₺51.3
181.48%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.65₺30.81
$0.60₺28.36
8.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.21₺247
$7.59₺359
-31.36%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.23₺58.2
$1.17₺55.3
5.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$44.0K₺2.1M
$40.5K₺1.9M
8.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$46.3K₺2.2M
$42.5K₺2.0M
9.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Izmir
Side
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$99.5₺4,710
$48.49₺2,295
105.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.31₺535
$8.06₺381
40.32%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.64₺645
$6.44₺305
111.80%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Izmir
Side
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.96₺2,270
$44.00₺2,082
9.00%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.88₺846
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.81₺369
$6.43₺304
21.46%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Izmir
Side
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$439₺20.8K
$601₺28.4K
-26.99%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.6K₺595.8K
$8,869₺419.7K
41.94%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Izmir
Side
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.3₺2,473
$75.3₺3,565
-30.64%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.43₺1,677
$44.37₺2,100
-20.15%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.0₺4,353
$159₺7,524
-42.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114₺5,375
$112₺5,297
1.46%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Izmir
Side
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$641₺30.3K
$517₺24.4K
24.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$460₺21.8K
$397₺18.8K
15.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,092₺51.7K
$876₺41.5K
24.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$762₺36.1K
$711₺33.7K
7.19%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,542₺73.0K
$1,252₺59.3K
23.10%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,063₺50.3K
$1,012₺47.9K
5.06%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Izmir
Side
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,160₺54.9K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
39.1
20
95.50%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Izmir: July 21, 2026
Last update for Side: July 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $641 in Izmir and $517 in Side. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $38.00 in Izmir vs $23.00 in Side for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $271 vs $207 per month, with Side 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 Side: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Izmir or Side?
Side wins on cost – living expenses run 17% lower than in Izmir. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Side the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Izmir and in Side?
You'd need roughly $1,870 in Izmir and $1,593 in Side to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Izmir compared to Side?
Rent for a central apartment: $641 in Izmir versus $517 in Side. 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 Side?
All in, you'll spend $1,247 per month in Izmir versus $1,062 in Side – a 17% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Izmir compared to Side?
A monthly transit pass in Side runs roughly 3% 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 Side?
At $1,062 in Side versus $1,247 in Izmir, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Side but tight or insufficient in Izmir. The gap between the two cities makes Side the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Izmir or Side?
Both work as nomad bases, but Side delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,062 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Side hard to pass up.
How safe is Izmir compared to Side?
Safety-wise, Izmir and Side 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 Side gentler on the wallet – expenses run 17% less than in Izmir. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.