😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,256 in Izmir versus $938 in Zonguldak.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,887 in Izmir versus $1,497 in Zonguldak.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,517 in Izmir versus $2,055 in Zonguldak.
😐Living in Izmir is roughly 34% more expensive than Zonguldak, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Izmir6% lower, Zonguldak30% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Izmir
Zonguldak
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.02₺362
$3.85₺174
108.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.82₺1,707
$38.21₺1,725
-1.02%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.76₺350
$7.61₺343
1.97%
Cappuccino
$3.27₺148
$3.00₺136
9.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.37₺61.7
$0.74₺33.33
85.14%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.56₺25.34
$0.24₺10.74
133.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.78₺171
$1.96₺88.4
92.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.16₺233
$2.00₺90.5
158.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Izmir
Zonguldak
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.04₺47.11
$0.59₺26.72
76.27%
White Bread(500g)
$0.90₺40.82
$0.37₺16.67
143.24%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.64₺119
$2.40₺108
10.00%
Eggs
$2.46₺111
$2.29₺104
7.42%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.86₺535
$9.65₺436
22.90%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.67₺301
$5.82₺263
14.60%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$21.55₺973
$19.48₺879
10.63%
Apples(1kg)
$1.45₺65.3
$1.52₺68.7
-4.61%
Banana(1kg)
$2.80₺126
$2.27₺103
23.35%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.52₺68.6
$1.26₺56.7
20.63%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.91₺86.3
$1.47₺66.2
29.93%
Potato(1kg)
$0.86₺38.68
$0.73₺33.02
17.81%
Onion(1kg)
$0.71₺31.93
$0.62₺27.81
14.52%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.96₺43.25
$1.12₺50.3
-14.29%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60₺27.05
$0.39₺17.59
53.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.32₺105
$1.96₺88.6
18.37%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.88₺491
$11.14₺503
-2.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.10₺94.9
$2.02₺91.2
3.96%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.08₺139
$2.09₺94.2
47.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Izmir
Zonguldak
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.66₺29.67
$0.66₺29.91
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$32.16₺1,452
$30.21₺1,364
6.45%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.10₺140
$0.86₺38.70
260.47%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.65₺29.15
$0.62₺27.82
4.84%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.13₺232
$6.16₺278
-16.72%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.16₺52.5
$1.08₺48.82
7.41%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$43.7K₺2.0M
$42.5K₺1.9M
2.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$46.2K₺2.1M
$42.8K₺1.9M
7.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Izmir
Zonguldak
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$99.3₺4,483
$28.14₺1,270
252.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.31₺511
$9.03₺408
25.25%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.21₺596
$10.12₺457
30.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Izmir
Zonguldak
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.90₺2,162
$42.79₺1,932
11.94%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.82₺804
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.44₺336
$3.25₺147
128.92%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Izmir
Zonguldak
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$437₺19.7K
$613₺27.7K
-28.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.5K₺565.3K
$13.6K₺615.1K
-8.09%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Izmir
Zonguldak
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.9₺2,298
$17.48₺789
191.19%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.04₺1,627
$44.34₺2,002
-18.72%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.7₺4,274
$46.21₺2,086
104.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$112₺5,058
$99.0₺4,469
13.19%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Izmir
Zonguldak
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$646₺29.2K
$523₺23.6K
23.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$450₺20.3K
$401₺18.1K
12.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,110₺50.1K
$881₺39.8K
26.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$762₺34.4K
$716₺32.3K
6.50%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,599₺72.2K
$1,297₺58.5K
23.29%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,036₺46.8K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Izmir
Zonguldak
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,129₺50.9K
$948₺42.8K
19.05%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
39.1
48.4
-19.21%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Izmir: April 28, 2026
Last update for Zonguldak: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $646 in Izmir and $523 in Zonguldak. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Izmir pays 19% 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 $38.00 in Zonguldak. Groceries flip the comparison at $267 vs $228, with Zonguldak cheaper for home cooking.
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 Zonguldak: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Izmir or Zonguldak?
Zonguldak wins on cost – living expenses run 34% lower than in Izmir. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Zonguldak the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Izmir or Zonguldak?
Izmir pays 19% 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 Zonguldak?
Rent for a central apartment: $646 in Izmir versus $523 in Zonguldak. 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 Zonguldak?
All in, you'll spend $1,256 per month in Izmir versus $938 in Zonguldak – a 34% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Izmir vs Zonguldak?
A monthly transit pass in Zonguldak runs roughly 6% less than in Izmir. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Izmir or Zonguldak?
At $938 in Zonguldak versus $1,256 in Izmir, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Zonguldak but tight or insufficient in Izmir. The gap between the two cities makes Zonguldak the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Izmir or Zonguldak?
Both work as nomad bases, but Zonguldak delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $938 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Zonguldak hard to pass up.
How safe is Izmir compared to Zonguldak?
Safety-wise, Izmir and Zonguldak 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 Zonguldak gentler on the wallet – expenses run 34% less than in Izmir. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.