Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Nizwa and Istanbul

For one person, living is cheaper in Nizwa: $44.08 a month against $1,525 in Istanbul, rent and utilities included – about $17,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Nizwa
🇴🇲 Oman
$44.08
/mo nomad
Istanbul
🇹🇷 Turkey
$1,525
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $44.08 per month in Nizwa vs $1,525 in Istanbul, rent included.

  • Nizwa $44.08
  • Istanbul $1,525

A couple spends around $64.8 per month in Nizwa vs $2,390 in Istanbul, rent included.

  • Nizwa $64.8
  • Istanbul $2,390

A family of three spends $85.5 per month in Nizwa vs $3,256 in Istanbul, rent included.

  • Nizwa $85.5
  • Istanbul $3,256

Nizwa is about 97% cheaper than Istanbul, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Nizwa sits 97% below the global median, while Istanbul is 13% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nizwa
Istanbul
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
-
$11.96 ₺592
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
-
$57.2 ₺2,834
-
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
-
$9.51 ₺471
-
Cappuccino
-
$4.40 ₺218
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.06 OMR 0.41
$1.75 ₺86.6
-39.43%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27 OMR 0.10
$0.56 ₺27.57
-51.79%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$4.71 ₺233
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$6.14 ₺304
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nizwa
Istanbul
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
-
$1.24 ₺61.6
-
White Bread (500g)
-
$0.95 ₺47.25
-
Rice (white) (1kg)
-
$2.28 ₺113
-
Eggs
-
$2.45 ₺121
-
Local Cheese (1kg)
-
$10.56 ₺523
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
-
$5.50 ₺272
-
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
-
$21.65 ₺1,072
-
Apples (1kg)
-
$1.83 ₺90.6
-
Banana (1kg)
-
$2.29 ₺113
-
Oranges (1kg)
-
$1.28 ₺63.4
-
Tomato (1kg)
-
$1.82 ₺90.1
-
Potato (1kg)
-
$0.66 ₺32.74
-
Onion (1kg)
-
$0.63 ₺31.14
-
Lettuce (1 head)
-
$1.27 ₺62.8
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.56 ₺27.62
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
-
$2.36 ₺117
-
Wine (Bottle)
-
$12.98 ₺642
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$2.48 ₺123
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.50 ₺174
-
🚌 Getting Around
Nizwa
Istanbul
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.82 ₺40.77
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$65.2 ₺3,228
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
-
$1.33 ₺65.7
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$0.90 ₺44.60
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$10.91 ₺540
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
-
$1.43 ₺70.7
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$49.6K ₺2.5M
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$43.2K ₺2.1M
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nizwa
Istanbul
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
-
$88.8 ₺4,395
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$11.69 ₺579
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
-
$16.09 ₺797
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nizwa
Istanbul
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$38.77 OMR 14.93
$76.3 ₺3,776
-49.16%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$22.72 ₺1,125
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$8.26 ₺409
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nizwa
Istanbul
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$1,015 ₺50.2K
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$25.8K ₺1.3M
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nizwa
Istanbul
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$53.3 ₺2,636
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$40.55 ₺2,008
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
-
$100 ₺4,956
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$93.5 ₺4,630
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nizwa
Istanbul
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$977 ₺48.4K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$627 ₺31.0K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,980 ₺98.0K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,147 ₺56.8K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$3,095 ₺153.2K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,787 ₺88.5K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nizwa
Istanbul
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$1,213 ₺60.1K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
0
40.69
-

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

Last update for Nizwa: October 19, 2026

Last update for Istanbul: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Nizwa
–
Istanbul
$627
Groceries & Markets
Nizwa
–
Istanbul
$263
Eating Out
Nizwa
–
Istanbul
$222
Clothing & Footwear
Nizwa
–
Istanbul
$129
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nizwa
–
Istanbul
$117
Sport & Entertainment
Nizwa
–
Istanbul
$93
Getting Around
Nizwa
–
Istanbul
$74
Good to know
🇴🇲 Nizwa
🇹🇷 Istanbul
🕒 Local time
02:00 2:00 AM
01:00 1:00 AM
1 h behind Nizwa
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
700,000
15,701,602
💱 Currency
Omani Rial OMR ر.ع.
Exchange rates and currency converter

TRY, USD, EUR to OMR – Omani Rial Converter

Omani Rial exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 0.385 OMR (1 OMR = 2.6 USD). 1 EUR = 0.433 OMR (1 OMR = 2.31 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
  • Nizwa Istanbul 3,330 km ≈ 4 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Nizwa
  • 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
Nizwa vs Istanbul: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Istanbul cheaper than Nizwa?
Yes – Istanbul is pricier by about 3359%, 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 $66.1 per month in Nizwa and $2,287 in Istanbul. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Nizwa or in Istanbul?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Nizwa, where all-in costs run around $44.08, than in Istanbul at $1,525. In Nizwa it covers expenses comfortably, while in Istanbul it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Nizwa or Istanbul more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Nizwa – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Nizwa 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 Nizwa. 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.

Nizwa vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

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