Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Mölndal and Istanbul

For one person, living costs are similar in Mölndal and in Istanbul: $1,561 and $1,525 a month, rent and utilities included.

Mölndal
🇸🇪 Sweden
$1,561
/mo nomad
Istanbul
🇹🇷 Turkey
$1,525
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $1,561 per month in Mölndal vs $1,525 in Istanbul, rent included.

  • Mölndal $1,561
  • Istanbul $1,525

A couple spends around $2,491 per month in Mölndal vs $2,390 in Istanbul, rent included.

  • Mölndal $2,491
  • Istanbul $2,390

A family of three spends $3,422 per month in Mölndal vs $3,256 in Istanbul, rent included.

  • Mölndal $3,422
  • Istanbul $3,256

Mölndal costs about 2% more than Istanbul, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both Mölndal and Istanbul sit above the global median – Mölndal by 15%, Istanbul by 13%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mölndal
Istanbul
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.86 SEK 127
$11.96 ₺592
7.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$71.7 SEK 710
$57.2 ₺2,834
25.28%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.07 SEK 110
$9.51 ₺471
16.40%
Cappuccino
$4.94 SEK 48.94
$4.40 ₺218
12.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 SEK 29.42
$1.75 ₺86.6
69.71%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.99 SEK 9.80
$0.56 ₺27.57
76.79%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.17 SEK 71.0
$4.71 ₺233
52.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.92 SEK 58.6
$6.14 ₺304
-3.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mölndal
Istanbul
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.13 SEK 11.22
$1.24 ₺61.6
-8.87%
White Bread (500g)
$1.49 SEK 14.76
$0.95 ₺47.25
56.84%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.24 SEK 32.10
$2.28 ₺113
42.11%
Eggs
$3.58 SEK 35.50
$2.45 ₺121
46.12%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.02 SEK 69.5
$10.56 ₺523
-33.52%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.17 SEK 90.8
$5.50 ₺272
66.73%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.38 SEK 162
$21.65 ₺1,072
-24.34%
Apples (1kg)
$3.09 SEK 30.62
$1.83 ₺90.6
68.85%
Banana (1kg)
$2.49 SEK 24.71
$2.29 ₺113
8.73%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.85 SEK 28.20
$1.28 ₺63.4
122.66%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.45 SEK 44.11
$1.82 ₺90.1
144.51%
Potato (1kg)
$1.57 SEK 15.55
$0.66 ₺32.74
137.88%
Onion (1kg)
$1.64 SEK 16.29
$0.63 ₺31.14
160.32%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.85 SEK 18.31
$1.27 ₺62.8
45.67%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 SEK 11.90
$0.56 ₺27.62
114.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.23 SEK 71.7
$2.36 ₺117
206.36%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.90 SEK 98.1
$12.98 ₺642
-23.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.98 SEK 19.58
$2.48 ₺123
-20.16%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17 SEK 21.50
$3.50 ₺174
-38.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Mölndal
Istanbul
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.56 SEK 35.27
$0.82 ₺40.77
334.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$83.4 SEK 826
$65.2 ₺3,228
27.87%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.30 SEK 62.4
$1.33 ₺65.7
373.68%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.66 SEK 16.50
$0.90 ₺44.60
84.44%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$60.1 SEK 595
$10.91 ₺540
450.78%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.74 SEK 17.26
$1.43 ₺70.7
21.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.5K SEK 332.1K
$49.6K ₺2.5M
-32.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.3K SEK 330.0K
$43.2K ₺2.1M
-22.88%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mölndal
Istanbul
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$42.67 SEK 423
$88.8 ₺4,395
-51.93%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.22 SEK 101
$11.69 ₺579
-12.57%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.43 SEK 202
$16.09 ₺797
26.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mölndal
Istanbul
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.48 SEK 401
$76.3 ₺3,776
-46.92%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.18 SEK 279
$22.72 ₺1,125
24.03%
Cinema Ticket
$18.01 SEK 178
$8.26 ₺409
118.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mölndal
Istanbul
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$220 SEK 2,177
$1,015 ₺50.2K
-78.35%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,389 SEK 43.5K
$25.8K ₺1.3M
-83.01%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mölndal
Istanbul
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.5 SEK 887
$53.3 ₺2,636
68.13%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.26 SEK 330
$40.55 ₺2,008
-17.98%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$70.2 SEK 696
$100 ₺4,956
-29.85%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$135 SEK 1,341
$93.5 ₺4,630
44.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mölndal
Istanbul
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$812 SEK 8,041
$977 ₺48.4K
-16.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$595 SEK 5,891
$627 ₺31.0K
-5.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,295 SEK 12.8K
$1,980 ₺98.0K
-34.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,038 SEK 10.3K
$1,147 ₺56.8K
-9.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,108 SEK 40.7K
$3,095 ₺153.2K
32.71%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,786 SEK 27.6K
$1,787 ₺88.5K
55.88%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mölndal
Istanbul
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$1,213 ₺60.1K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.06
40.69
-92.48%

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

Last update for Mölndal: October 18, 2026

Last update for Istanbul: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Mölndal
$595
Istanbul
$627 5.5% $32
Groceries & Markets
Mölndal
$297
Istanbul
$263 11.7% $35
Eating Out
Mölndal
$259
Istanbul
$222 14.2% $37
Clothing & Footwear
Mölndal
$148
Istanbul
$129 12.5% $18
Getting Around
Mölndal
$112
Istanbul
$74 33.8% $38
Sport & Entertainment
Mölndal
$77
Istanbul
$93 21.3% $16
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mölndal
$73
Istanbul
$117 59% $43

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $812 in Mölndal versus $977 in Istanbul. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $72.0 in Mölndal versus $57.0 in Istanbul. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $297 vs $263 – making Istanbul the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇸🇪 Mölndal
🇹🇷 Istanbul
🕒 Local time
16:20 4:20 PM
17:20 5:20 PM
1 h ahead of Mölndal
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
60,000
15,701,602
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

TRY, USD, EUR to SEK – Swedish Krona Converter

Swedish Krona exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 9.91 SEK (1 SEK = 0.101 USD). 1 EUR = 11.14 SEK (100 SEK = 8.98 EUR).

Turkish Lira exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 49.51 TRY (100 TRY = 2.02 USD). 1 EUR = 55.66 TRY (100 TRY = 1.8 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Mölndal Istanbul 2,210 km ≈ 3 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Mölndal
  • 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
Mölndal vs Istanbul: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Istanbul cheaper than Mölndal?
Yes – Mölndal is pricier by about 2%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in transport.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,341 per month in Mölndal and $2,287 in Istanbul. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Istanbul, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $220 per month in Mölndal and $1,015 in Istanbul. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Mölndal and in Istanbul?
Groceries cost about 13% more in Mölndal, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Mölndal or in Istanbul?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Istanbul, where all-in costs run around $1,525, than in Mölndal at $1,561. In Istanbul it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mölndal it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Mölndal or Istanbul more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Istanbul – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Mölndal 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 Istanbul. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Mölndal makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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