Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ohrid and Istanbul

For one person, living is cheaper in Ohrid: $968 a month against $1,550 in Istanbul, rent and utilities included – about $7,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

47

Cost of Living Index in Ohrid
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Ohrid Living Index
75

Cost of Living Index in Istanbul
Learn more

Istanbul Living Index

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Ohrid

🇲🇰 North Macedonia

$968

/mo nomad

Istanbul

🇹🇷 Turkey

$1,550

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $968 per month in Ohrid vs $1,550 in Istanbul, rent included.

Ohrid $968
Istanbul $1,550

A couple spends around $1,539 per month in Ohrid vs $2,415 in Istanbul, rent included.

Ohrid $1,539
Istanbul $2,415

A family of three spends $2,110 per month in Ohrid vs $3,281 in Istanbul, rent included.

Ohrid $2,110
Istanbul $3,281

Ohrid is about 38% cheaper than Istanbul, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Ohrid sits 28% below the global median, while Istanbul is 15% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.19 MKD 392

$12.30 ₺609

-41.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.12 MKD 1,970

$54.7 ₺2,708

-33.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.27 MKD 397

$9.22 ₺456

-21.15%

Cappuccino

$2.62 MKD 143

$4.40 ₺218

-40.45%

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

$2.93 MKD 160

$1.68 ₺83.1

74.40%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.84 MKD 100

$0.59 ₺29.40

211.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.71 MKD 202

$4.70 ₺233

-21.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.47 MKD 244

$5.91 ₺292

-24.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 MKD 69.5

$1.21 ₺60.0

4.96%

White Bread (500g)

$0.72 MKD 39.05

$0.89 ₺44.10

-19.10%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.74 MKD 94.8

$2.19 ₺108

-20.55%

Eggs

$2.26 MKD 123

$2.35 ₺116

-3.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.24 MKD 450

$10.42 ₺516

-20.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.53 MKD 465

$5.65 ₺280

50.97%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.71 MKD 803

$20.94 ₺1,037

-29.75%

Apples (1kg)

$1.06 MKD 57.7

$1.90 ₺94.1

-44.21%

Banana (1kg)

$1.26 MKD 68.5

$2.31 ₺114

-45.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.50 MKD 81.8

$1.28 ₺63.1

17.19%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.99 MKD 108

$1.80 ₺89.0

10.56%

Potato (1kg)

$1.10 MKD 60.3

$0.65 ₺32.16

69.23%

Onion (1kg)

$1.36 MKD 74.1

$0.64 ₺31.91

112.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.04 MKD 56.6

$1.25 ₺62.1

-16.80%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 MKD 42.94

$0.56 ₺27.58

41.07%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.34 MKD 182

$2.37 ₺118

40.93%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.57 MKD 304

$13.42 ₺664

-58.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.09 MKD 59.5

$2.40 ₺119

-54.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.54 MKD 84.3

$3.48 ₺172

-55.75%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.06 MKD 57.9

$0.89 ₺43.84

19.10%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.66 MKD 1,291

$67.4 ₺3,338

-64.91%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.11 MKD 60.5

$1.29 ₺64.1

-13.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.94 MKD 51.4

$0.92 ₺45.70

2.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.81 MKD 481

$10.96 ₺542

-19.62%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.50 MKD 81.6

$1.47 ₺72.9

2.04%

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

$30.4K MKD 1.7M

$50.8K ₺2.5M

-40.23%

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

$30.8K MKD 1.7M

$44.5K ₺2.2M

-30.87%

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

$127 MKD 6,949

$88.6 ₺4,387

43.75%

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

$17.88 MKD 975

$11.59 ₺574

54.27%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.68 MKD 1,456

$15.81 ₺783

68.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.72 MKD 1,839

$77.2 ₺3,820

-56.30%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.05 MKD 985

$22.74 ₺1,126

-20.62%

Cinema Ticket

$6.18 MKD 337

$8.14 ₺403

-24.08%

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

$269 MKD 14.7K

$1,008 ₺49.9K

-73.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,382 MKD 184.5K

$25.6K ₺1.3M

-86.77%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$95.3 MKD 5,196

$54.0 ₺2,671

76.57%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.3 MKD 2,909

$40.83 ₺2,021

30.61%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 MKD 5,544

$98.9 ₺4,895

2.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$135 MKD 7,348

$96.6 ₺4,783

39.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$286 MKD 15.6K

$985 ₺48.7K

-70.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$170 MKD 9,269

$650 ₺32.2K

-73.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$540 MKD 29.4K

$1,983 ₺98.2K

-72.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$361 MKD 19.7K

$1,180 ₺58.4K

-69.40%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,038 MKD 111.2K

$3,138 ₺155.4K

-35.05%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,334 MKD 72.8K

$1,780 ₺88.1K

-25.03%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$613 MKD 33.4K

$1,205 ₺59.7K

-49.15%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.3

40.92

-82.16%

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

Last update for Ohrid: October 12, 2026

Last update for Istanbul: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Groceries & Markets

Ohrid

$215 22.3%

Istanbul

$260 16.8% 20.5% $44

Clothing & Footwear

Ohrid

$173 17.9%

Istanbul

$131 8.4% 24.6% $43

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Ohrid

$172 17.8%

Istanbul

$116 7.5% 32.5% $56

Accommodation & Living

Ohrid

$170 17.6%

Istanbul

$650 41.9% 282% $480

Eating Out

Ohrid

$157 16.3%

Istanbul

$223 14.4% 42% $66

Sport & Entertainment

Ohrid

$46 4.8%

Istanbul

$93 6% 103% $47

Getting Around

Ohrid

$34 3.5%

Istanbul

$77 5% 128% $43

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $286 in Ohrid versus $985 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 97% higher in Istanbul, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $36.00 in Ohrid versus $55.0 in Istanbul. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $215 vs $260 – making Ohrid the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇲🇰 Ohrid

🇹🇷 Istanbul

🕒 Local time

02:50 2:50 AM

03:50 3:50 AM

1 h ahead of Ohrid

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

38,940

15,701,602

💱 Currency

North Macedonian Denar MKD ден

Turkish Lira TRY ₺

📈 Exchange rate

100 MKD = 1.83 USD

100 MKD = 1.63 EUR

100 TRY = 2.02 USD

100 TRY = 1.8 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

TRY, USD, EUR to MKD – North Macedonian Denar Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇲🇰 North Macedonian Denar (ден)

North Macedonian Denar exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 54.55 MKD (100 MKD = 1.83 USD). 1 EUR = 61.33 MKD (100 MKD = 1.63 EUR).

Turkish Lira exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 49.51 TRY (100 TRY = 2.02 USD). 1 EUR = 55.66 TRY (100 TRY = 1.8 EUR).

USD to MKD in detail →

On the map

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Between locations

Ohrid Istanbul 690 km ≈ 1 h 15 min nonstop flight

From you

Ohrid
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

Ohrid vs Istanbul: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Istanbul is pricier by about 60%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,451 per month in Ohrid and $2,325 in Istanbul. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Ohrid, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $269 per month in Ohrid and $1,008 in Istanbul. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 21% more in Istanbul, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ohrid, where all-in costs run around $968, than in Istanbul at $1,550. In Ohrid it covers expenses comfortably, while in Istanbul it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Ohrid – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Ohrid. 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.