Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Makurdi and Istanbul

For one person, living is cheaper in Makurdi: $12.58 a month against $1,550 in Istanbul, rent and utilities included – about $18,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Makurdi
🇳🇬 Nigeria
$12.58
/mo nomad
Istanbul
🇹🇷 Turkey
$1,550
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Makurdi 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 Makurdi and in Istanbul actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $12.58 per month in Makurdi vs $1,550 in Istanbul, rent included.

  • Makurdi $12.58
  • Istanbul $1,550

A couple spends around $17.79 per month in Makurdi vs $2,415 in Istanbul, rent included.

  • Makurdi $17.79
  • Istanbul $2,415

A family of three spends $22.99 per month in Makurdi vs $3,281 in Istanbul, rent included.

  • Makurdi $22.99
  • Istanbul $3,281

Makurdi is about 99% cheaper than Istanbul, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Makurdi sits 99% below the global median, while Istanbul is 15% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Makurdi
Istanbul
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$0.40 ₦526
$12.30 ₺609
-96.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
-
$54.7 ₺2,708
-
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$1.91 ₦2,543
$9.22 ₺456
-79.28%
Cappuccino
-
$4.40 ₺218
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.09 ₦119
$1.68 ₺83.1
-94.64%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.08 ₦105
$0.59 ₺29.40
-86.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.36 ₦472
$4.70 ₺233
-92.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.62 ₦819
$5.91 ₺292
-89.51%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Makurdi
Istanbul
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
-
$1.21 ₺60.0
-
White Bread (500g)
-
$0.89 ₺44.10
-
Rice (white) (1kg)
-
$2.19 ₺108
-
Eggs
-
$2.35 ₺116
-
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
-
🚌 Getting Around
Makurdi
Istanbul
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.89 ₺43.84
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$67.4 ₺3,338
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
-
$1.29 ₺64.1
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$0.92 ₺45.70
-
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
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Makurdi
Istanbul
Difference
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)
-
$11.59 ₺574
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
-
$15.81 ₺783
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Makurdi
Istanbul
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$77.2 ₺3,820
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$22.74 ₺1,126
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$8.14 ₺403
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Makurdi
Istanbul
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$1,008 ₺49.9K
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$25.6K ₺1.3M
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Makurdi
Istanbul
Difference
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
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Makurdi
Istanbul
Difference
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)
-
$1,983 ₺98.2K
-
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
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Makurdi
Istanbul
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$1,205 ₺59.7K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
0
40.92
-

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

Last update for Makurdi: October 10, 2026

Last update for Istanbul: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Makurdi
–
Istanbul
$650
Groceries & Markets
Makurdi
–
Istanbul
$260
Eating Out
Makurdi
–
Istanbul
$223
Clothing & Footwear
Makurdi
–
Istanbul
$131
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Makurdi
–
Istanbul
$116
Sport & Entertainment
Makurdi
–
Istanbul
$93
Getting Around
Makurdi
–
Istanbul
$77
Good to know
🇳🇬 Makurdi
🇹🇷 Istanbul
🕒 Local time
16:43 4:43 PM
18:43 6:43 PM
2 h ahead of Makurdi
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
500,797
15,701,602
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

TRY, USD, EUR to NGN – Nigerian Naira Converter

Nigerian Naira exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 1,330 NGN (10,000 NGN = 7.52 USD). 1 EUR = 1,496 NGN (10,000 NGN = 6.69 EUR).

Turkish Lira exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 49.51 TRY (100 TRY = 2.02 USD). 1 EUR = 55.67 TRY (100 TRY = 1.8 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Makurdi Istanbul 4,220 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Makurdi
  • 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
Makurdi vs Istanbul: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Istanbul cheaper than Makurdi?
Yes – Istanbul is pricier by about 12219%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $18.87 per month in Makurdi and $2,325 in Istanbul. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Makurdi or in Istanbul?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Makurdi, where all-in costs run around $12.58, than in Istanbul at $1,550. In Makurdi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Istanbul it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Makurdi or Istanbul more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Makurdi – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Makurdi or Istanbul?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Makurdi. 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.

Makurdi vs other spots: cost of living compared

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?