Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Mary and Istanbul

For one person, living is cheaper in Mary: $471 a month against $1,519 in Istanbul, rent and utilities included – about $12,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

73

Cost of Living Index in Istanbul
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Istanbul Living Index

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Mary

🇹🇲 Turkmenistan

$471

/mo nomad

Istanbul

🇹🇷 Turkey

$1,519

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $471 per month in Mary vs $1,519 in Istanbul, rent included.

Mary $471
Istanbul $1,519

A couple spends around $713 per month in Mary vs $2,365 in Istanbul, rent included.

Mary $713
Istanbul $2,365

A family of three spends $956 per month in Mary vs $3,212 in Istanbul, rent included.

Mary $956
Istanbul $3,212

Mary is about 69% cheaper than Istanbul, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Mary sits 65% below the global median, while Istanbul is 12% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.42 TMT 38.36

$11.81 ₺591

-3.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$54.9 ₺2,748

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.85 TMT 29.73

$9.26 ₺463

-4.43%

Cappuccino

$8.48 TMT 28.48

$4.30 ₺215

97.21%

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

$12.99 TMT 43.66

$1.77 ₺88.8

633.90%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.42 TMT 4.78

$0.56 ₺28.26

153.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$14.23 TMT 47.82

$4.69 ₺234

203.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.73 TMT 39.40

$7.12 ₺356

64.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.82 TMT 9.48

$1.25 ₺62.6

125.60%

White Bread (500g)

$0.88 ₺44.07

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.20 ₺110

Eggs

$7.07 TMT 23.74

$2.43 ₺122

190.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.48 ₺524

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.31 ₺266

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$21.10 ₺1,056

Apples (1kg)

$2.33 TMT 7.83

$1.86 ₺92.9

25.27%

Banana (1kg)

$2.30 ₺115

Oranges (1kg)

$1.22 ₺60.8

Tomato (1kg)

$1.49 TMT 4.99

$1.80 ₺90.0

-17.22%

Potato (1kg)

$2.07 TMT 6.94

$0.69 ₺34.75

200.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.79 TMT 6.02

$0.64 ₺32.09

179.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.36 ₺67.8

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 TMT 3.84

$0.58 ₺28.88

96.55%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$17.64 TMT 59.3

$2.34 ₺117

653.85%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.03 ₺652

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.36 ₺118

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.32 ₺166

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ₺43.97

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$66.1 ₺3,309

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.28 ₺64.3

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.85 ₺42.70

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.09 ₺555

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.48 ₺73.9

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

$48.6K ₺2.4M

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

$42.0K ₺2.1M

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

$92.7 ₺4,639

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

$11.20 ₺560

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.89 ₺795

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$74.7 ₺3,737

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.95 ₺1,149

Cinema Ticket

$8.05 ₺403

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

$948 ₺47.5K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$36.9K ₺1.8M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.9 ₺2,696

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.49 ₺2,076

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 ₺5,049

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$91.3 ₺4,570

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,014 ₺50.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$625 ₺31.3K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,005 ₺100.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,126 ₺56.3K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,988 ₺149.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,730 ₺86.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$216 TMT 726

$1,136 ₺56.9K

-80.98%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

40.42

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

Last update for Mary: October 31, 2026

Last update for Istanbul: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Mary

–

Istanbul

$625 41.1%

Groceries & Markets

Mary

–

Istanbul

$258 17%

Eating Out

Mary

–

Istanbul

$221 14.6%

Clothing & Footwear

Mary

–

Istanbul

$129 8.5%

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Mary

–

Istanbul

$120 7.9%

Sport & Entertainment

Mary

–

Istanbul

$91 6%

Getting Around

Mary

–

Istanbul

$75 5%

Cost Breakdown

Salaries in Istanbul are about 5.3 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

Good to know

🇹🇲 Mary

🇹🇷 Istanbul

🕒 Local time

07:17 7:17 AM

05:17 5:17 AM

2 h behind Mary

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

123,000

15,701,602

💱 Currency

Turkmenistani Manat TMT m

Turkish Lira TRY ₺

📈 Exchange rate

1 TMT = 0.298 USD

1 TMT = 0.265 EUR

100 TRY = 2 USD

100 TRY = 1.78 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

TRY, USD, EUR to TMT – Turkmenistani Manat Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇹🇲 Turkmenistani Manat (m)

Turkmenistani Manat exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 3.36 TMT (1 TMT = 0.298 USD). 1 EUR = 3.77 TMT (1 TMT = 0.265 EUR).

Turkish Lira exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 50.04 TRY (100 TRY = 2 USD). 1 EUR = 56.18 TRY (100 TRY = 1.78 EUR).

USD to TMT in detail →

On the map

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Highest

Between locations

Mary Istanbul 2,840 km ≈ 4 h nonstop flight

From you

Mary
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

Mary vs Istanbul: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Istanbul is pricier by about 223%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $706 per month in Mary and $2,278 in Istanbul. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $471 in Mary and $1,519 in Istanbul. That makes Mary about 69% cheaper.

Groceries cost about 161% more in Istanbul, though the gap depends on what you buy.

A $800 monthly budget goes further in Mary, where all-in costs run around $471, than in Istanbul at $1,519. In Mary it covers expenses comfortably, while in Istanbul it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Istanbul has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $471 in Mary to $1,519 in Istanbul. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.

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