Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Nablus and Istanbul

For one person, living is cheaper in Nablus: $1,098 a month against $1,519 in Istanbul, rent and utilities included – about $5,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Nablus, Palestine
Istanbul, Turkey
Nablus
🇵🇸 Palestine
$1,098
/mo nomad
Istanbul
🇹🇷 Turkey
$1,519
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $1,098 per month in Nablus vs $1,519 in Istanbul, rent included.

  • Nablus $1,098
  • Istanbul $1,519

A couple spends around $2,346 per month in Nablus vs $2,365 in Istanbul, rent included.

  • Nablus $2,346
  • Istanbul $2,365

A family of three spends $3,594 per month in Nablus vs $3,212 in Istanbul, rent included.

  • Nablus $3,594
  • Istanbul $3,212

Nablus is about 28% cheaper than Istanbul, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Nablus sits 19% below the global median, while Istanbul is 12% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nablus
Istanbul
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.22 ₪22.84
$11.81 ₺591
-38.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.49 ₪119
$54.9 ₺2,748
-31.72%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.24 ₪35.57
$9.26 ₺463
21.38%
Cappuccino
$3.09 ₪9.78
$4.30 ₺215
-28.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92 ₪2.90
$1.77 ₺88.8
-48.02%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.62 ₪1.95
$0.56 ₺28.26
10.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.53 ₪14.33
$4.69 ₺234
-3.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.73 ₪14.98
$7.12 ₺356
-33.57%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nablus
Istanbul
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.17 ₪6.87
$1.25 ₺62.6
73.60%
White Bread (500g)
$0.79 ₪2.49
$0.88 ₺44.07
-10.23%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.09 ₪9.77
$2.20 ₺110
40.45%
Eggs
$2.00 ₪6.32
$2.43 ₺122
-17.70%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.61 ₪39.88
$10.48 ₺524
20.32%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.67 ₪36.91
$5.31 ₺266
119.77%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.21 ₪60.8
$21.10 ₺1,056
-8.96%
Apples (1kg)
$3.21 ₪10.17
$1.86 ₺92.9
72.58%
Banana (1kg)
$2.53 ₪8.02
$2.30 ₺115
10.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.92 ₪6.09
$1.22 ₺60.8
57.38%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.86 ₪5.87
$1.80 ₺90.0
3.33%
Potato (1kg)
$0.99 ₪3.15
$0.69 ₺34.75
43.48%
Onion (1kg)
$0.99 ₪3.14
$0.64 ₺32.09
54.69%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.61 ₪5.08
$1.36 ₺67.8
18.38%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.99 ₪3.13
$0.58 ₺28.88
70.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.68 ₪30.62
$2.34 ₺117
313.68%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$13.03 ₺652
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$2.36 ₺118
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.32 ₺166
-
🚌 Getting Around
Nablus
Istanbul
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.64 ₪5.17
$0.88 ₺43.97
86.36%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$66.1 ₺3,309
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.50 ₪20.57
$1.28 ₺64.3
407.81%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$0.85 ₺42.70
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$11.09 ₺555
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.68 ₪8.47
$1.48 ₺73.9
81.08%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$52.9K ₪167.3K
$48.6K ₺2.4M
8.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$45.9K ₪145.2K
$42.0K ₺2.1M
9.34%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nablus
Istanbul
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$86.3 ₪273
$92.7 ₺4,639
-6.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$38.47 ₪122
$11.20 ₺560
243.48%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$64.6 ₪204
$15.89 ₺795
306.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nablus
Istanbul
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$79.6 ₪252
$74.7 ₺3,737
6.52%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$38.05 ₪120
$22.95 ₺1,149
65.80%
Cinema Ticket
$11.05 ₪34.97
$8.05 ₺403
37.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nablus
Istanbul
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$259 ₪818
$948 ₺47.5K
-72.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,788 ₪12.0K
$36.9K ₺1.8M
-89.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nablus
Istanbul
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.24 ₪153
$53.9 ₺2,696
-10.47%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$69.8 ₪221
$41.49 ₺2,076
68.28%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$110 ₪347
$101 ₺5,049
8.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$62.9 ₪199
$91.3 ₺4,570
-31.12%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nablus
Istanbul
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$284 ₪898
$1,014 ₺50.7K
-72.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$222 ₪701
$625 ₺31.3K
-64.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,113 ₪3,520
$2,005 ₺100.4K
-44.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,623 ₪5,134
$1,126 ₺56.3K
44.14%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$848 ₪2,684
$2,988 ₺149.5K
-71.60%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$646 ₪2,044
$1,730 ₺86.6K
-62.66%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nablus
Istanbul
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$730 ₪2,310
$1,136 ₺56.9K
-35.75%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.3
40.42
-84.41%

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

Last update for Nablus: November 3, 2026

Last update for Istanbul: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Nablus
$275 *
Istanbul
$258 6.2% $17
Accommodation & Living
Nablus
$222
Istanbul
$625 182% $403
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nablus
$189
Istanbul
$120 36.7% $70
Eating Out
Nablus
$167
Istanbul
$221 32.4% $54
Clothing & Footwear
Nablus
$131
Istanbul
$129 1% $1.3
Sport & Entertainment
Nablus
$102
Istanbul
$91 10.7% $11
Getting Around
Nablus
$13 *
Istanbul
$75 477% $62

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $284 in Nablus versus $1,014 in Istanbul. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 56% higher in Istanbul. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $37 in Nablus versus $55 in Istanbul. Groceries tell a different story – $275 in Nablus vs $258 in Istanbul – so Istanbul wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇵🇸 Nablus
🇹🇷 Istanbul
🕒 Local time
05:23 5:23 AM
06:23 6:23 AM
1 h ahead of Nablus
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
130,326
15,701,602
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

TRY, USD, EUR to ILS – Israeli New Shekel Converter

Israeli New Shekel exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 3.16 ILS (1 ILS = 0.316 USD). 1 EUR = 3.55 ILS (1 ILS = 0.282 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).

On the map
Between locations
  • Nablus Istanbul 1,130 km ≈ 2 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Nablus
  • 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
Nablus vs Istanbul: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Nablus cheaper than Istanbul?
Yes – Istanbul is pricier by about 38%, 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 $1,648 per month in Nablus and $2,278 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 Nablus, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $284 there versus $1,014 in Istanbul.
Is eating out cheaper in Nablus or in Istanbul?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $37 in Nablus and $55 in Istanbul. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Nablus and in Istanbul?
Interestingly, groceries are about 6% cheaper in Istanbul – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Nablus or in Istanbul?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Nablus, where all-in costs run around $1,098, than in Istanbul at $1,519. In Nablus it covers expenses comfortably, while in Istanbul it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Nablus or Istanbul more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Nablus – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Nablus. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Istanbul makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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