Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Maharagama and Istanbul

For one person, living is cheaper in Maharagama: $133 a month against $1,550 in Istanbul, rent and utilities included – about $17,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

75

Cost of Living Index in Istanbul
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Istanbul Living Index

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Maharagama

🇱🇰 Sri Lanka

$133

/mo nomad

Istanbul

🇹🇷 Turkey

$1,550

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Maharagama and in Istanbul

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

A single person spends $133 per month in Maharagama vs $1,550 in Istanbul, rent included.

Maharagama $133
Istanbul $1,550

A couple spends around $250 per month in Maharagama vs $2,415 in Istanbul, rent included.

Maharagama $250
Istanbul $2,415

A family of three spends $367 per month in Maharagama vs $3,281 in Istanbul, rent included.

Maharagama $367
Istanbul $3,281

Maharagama is about 91% cheaper than Istanbul, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Maharagama sits 90% below the global median, while Istanbul is 15% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.39 LKR 1,785

$12.30 ₺609

-56.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.20 LKR 6,690

$54.7 ₺2,708

-63.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.82 LKR 2,260

$9.22 ₺456

-26.03%

Cappuccino

$2.12 LKR 701

$4.40 ₺218

-51.82%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.59 LKR 196

$1.68 ₺83.1

-64.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.29 LKR 94.8

$0.59 ₺29.40

-50.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.70 ₺233

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.91 ₺292

Milk (1 liter)

$0.93 LKR 307

$1.21 ₺60.0

-23.14%

White Bread (500g)

$0.25 LKR 83.2

$0.89 ₺44.10

-71.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.49 LKR 162

$2.19 ₺108

-77.63%

Eggs

$1.49 LKR 494

$2.35 ₺116

-36.60%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.42 ₺516

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.65 ₺280

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.94 ₺1,037

Apples (1kg)

$1.90 ₺94.1

Banana (1kg)

$2.31 ₺114

Oranges (1kg)

$1.28 ₺63.1

Tomato (1kg)

$1.80 ₺89.0

Potato (1kg)

$0.65 ₺32.16

Onion (1kg)

$0.64 ₺31.91

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.25 ₺62.1

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ₺27.58

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.37 ₺118

Wine (Bottle)

$13.42 ₺664

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.40 ₺119

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.48 ₺172

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ₺43.84

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$67.4 ₺3,338

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.44 LKR 146

$1.29 ₺64.1

-65.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.47 LKR 155

$0.92 ₺45.70

-48.91%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.96 ₺542

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.47 ₺72.9

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$50.8K ₺2.5M

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$44.5K ₺2.2M

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$88.6 ₺4,387

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$4.63 LKR 1,534

$11.59 ₺574

-60.05%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.62 LKR 4,510

$15.81 ₺783

-13.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$77.2 ₺3,820

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.74 ₺1,126

Cinema Ticket

$8.14 ₺403

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,008 ₺49.9K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$25.6K ₺1.3M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.0 ₺2,671

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.83 ₺2,021

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.9 ₺4,895

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$96.6 ₺4,783

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$985 ₺48.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$650 ₺32.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$197 LKR 65.3K

$1,983 ₺98.2K

-90.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,180 ₺58.4K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,138 ₺155.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,780 ₺88.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$244 LKR 80.7K

$1,205 ₺59.7K

-79.79%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

40.92

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Maharagama: October 12, 2026

Last update for Istanbul: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Maharagama

–

Istanbul

$650 41.9%

Groceries & Markets

Maharagama

–

Istanbul

$260 16.8%

Eating Out

Maharagama

–

Istanbul

$223 14.4%

Clothing & Footwear

Maharagama

–

Istanbul

$131 8.4%

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Maharagama

–

Istanbul

$116 7.5%

Sport & Entertainment

Maharagama

–

Istanbul

$93 6%

Getting Around

Maharagama

–

Istanbul

$77 5%

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 395% higher in Istanbul, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Maharagama versus $55.0 in Istanbul. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $20.00 vs $260 – making Maharagama the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇱🇰 Maharagama

🇹🇷 Istanbul

🕒 Local time

12:30 12:30 PM

10:00 10:00 AM

2 h 30 min behind Maharagama

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

196,400

15,701,602

💱 Currency

Sri Lankan Rupee LKR Rs

Turkish Lira TRY ₺

📈 Exchange rate

1,000 LKR = 3.02 USD

1,000 LKR = 2.69 EUR

100 TRY = 2.02 USD

100 TRY = 1.8 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

TRY, USD, EUR to LKR – Sri Lankan Rupee Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇱🇰 Sri Lankan Rupee (Rs)

Sri Lankan Rupee exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 331 LKR (1,000 LKR = 3.02 USD). 1 EUR = 372 LKR (1,000 LKR = 2.69 EUR).

Turkish Lira exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 49.51 TRY (100 TRY = 2.02 USD). 1 EUR = 55.66 TRY (100 TRY = 1.8 EUR).

USD to LKR in detail →

On the map

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Between locations

Maharagama Istanbul 6,300 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight

From you

Maharagama
Istanbul

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

Maharagama vs Istanbul: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Istanbul is pricier by about 1063%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $200 per month in Maharagama and $2,325 in Istanbul. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Groceries cost about 1218% more in Istanbul, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Maharagama and $55.0 in Istanbul. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Maharagama, where all-in costs run around $133, than in Istanbul at $1,550. In Maharagama it covers expenses comfortably, while in Istanbul it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Maharagama – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Maharagama. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Istanbul makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.