Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Perugia and Istanbul

For one person, living costs are similar in Perugia and in Istanbul: $1,476 and $1,526 a month, rent and utilities included.

Perugia
🇮🇹 Italy
$1,476
/mo nomad
Istanbul
🇹🇷 Turkey
$1,526
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $1,476 per month in Perugia vs $1,526 in Istanbul, rent included.

  • Perugia $1,476
  • Istanbul $1,526

A couple spends around $2,331 per month in Perugia vs $2,399 in Istanbul, rent included.

  • Perugia $2,331
  • Istanbul $2,399

A family of three spends $3,186 per month in Perugia vs $3,272 in Istanbul, rent included.

  • Perugia $3,186
  • Istanbul $3,272

Perugia is about 3% cheaper than Istanbul, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Perugia and Istanbul sit above the global median – Perugia by 10%, Istanbul by 14%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Perugia
Istanbul
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.66 €15.76
$11.88 ₺585
48.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$72.6 €64.8
$55.1 ₺2,714
31.75%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.14 €9.94
$9.14 ₺450
21.88%
Cappuccino
$1.80 €1.61
$4.24 ₺209
-57.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99 €2.66
$1.75 ₺86.0
70.86%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52 €1.35
$0.54 ₺26.83
181.48%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.69 €5.08
$4.69 ₺231
21.32%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.68 €5.07
$5.97 ₺294
-4.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Perugia
Istanbul
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.35 €1.20
$1.26 ₺62.1
7.14%
White Bread (500g)
$2.05 €1.83
$0.95 ₺46.81
115.79%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.53 €2.26
$2.31 ₺114
9.52%
Eggs
$4.28 €3.82
$2.47 ₺122
73.28%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.87 €15.06
$10.55 ₺520
59.91%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.40 €11.06
$5.60 ₺276
121.43%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.24 €16.28
$21.21 ₺1,045
-14.00%
Apples (1kg)
$1.60 €1.43
$1.93 ₺95.1
-17.10%
Banana (1kg)
$1.65 €1.47
$2.29 ₺113
-27.95%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.82 €1.63
$1.28 ₺63.1
42.19%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.17 €1.94
$1.84 ₺90.8
17.93%
Potato (1kg)
$1.45 €1.29
$0.67 ₺32.86
116.42%
Onion (1kg)
$1.77 €1.58
$0.59 ₺29.31
200.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.56 €1.40
$1.33 ₺65.4
17.29%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.28 €0.25
$0.59 ₺29.10
-52.54%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.26 €5.59
$2.36 ₺116
165.25%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.13 €5.47
$13.47 ₺664
-54.49%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.60 €1.43
$2.42 ₺119
-33.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91 €1.70
$3.54 ₺174
-46.05%
🚌 Getting Around
Perugia
Istanbul
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.64 €1.47
$0.83 ₺40.64
97.59%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$62.8 €56.1
$66.5 ₺3,273
-5.46%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.32 €2.97
$1.35 ₺66.6
145.93%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.27 €1.13
$0.85 ₺42.05
49.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$28.12 €25.10
$10.86 ₺535
158.93%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.02 €1.80
$1.47 ₺72.3
37.41%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.6K €32.7K
$51.6K ₺2.5M
-29.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.2K €31.5K
$44.4K ₺2.2M
-20.71%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Perugia
Istanbul
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$167 €149
$89.2 ₺4,395
86.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.50 €7.58
$11.60 ₺572
-26.72%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.50 €27.22
$16.10 ₺793
89.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Perugia
Istanbul
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.15 €40.29
$77.3 ₺3,805
-41.55%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$56.0 €49.99
$22.66 ₺1,116
147.22%
Cinema Ticket
$8.25 €7.36
$8.34 ₺411
-1.08%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Perugia
Istanbul
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$587 €524
$974 ₺48.0K
-39.68%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,037 €3,602
$25.8K ₺1.3M
-84.34%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Perugia
Istanbul
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$66.2 €59.1
$52.7 ₺2,597
25.54%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.28 €32.38
$39.16 ₺1,929
-7.35%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.4 €70.8
$103 ₺5,083
-23.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.4 €82.4
$96.6 ₺4,759
-4.36%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Perugia
Istanbul
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$494 €441
$994 ₺49.0K
-50.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$433 €387
$629 ₺31.0K
-31.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,025 €915
$2,024 ₺99.7K
-49.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$731 €652
$1,155 ₺56.9K
-36.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,816 €1,621
$3,160 ₺155.7K
-42.53%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,070 €955
$1,838 ₺90.5K
-41.75%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Perugia
Istanbul
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,554 €1,387
$1,203 ₺59.3K
29.14%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.05
41.09
-90.14%

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

Last update for Perugia: October 3, 2026

Last update for Istanbul: October 3, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Perugia
$433
Istanbul
$629 45.3% $196
Groceries & Markets
Perugia
$306
Istanbul
$264 13.8% $42
Eating Out
Perugia
$254
Istanbul
$218 14.3% $36
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Perugia
$206
Istanbul
$117 43.1% $89
Clothing & Footwear
Perugia
$123
Istanbul
$131 6.4% $7.9
Getting Around
Perugia
$79
Istanbul
$75 4.7% $3.7
Sport & Entertainment
Perugia
$62
Istanbul
$94 52.4% $32

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $494 in Perugia versus $994 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 29% higher in Perugia, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $73.0 in Perugia versus $55.0 in Istanbul. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $306 vs $264 – making Istanbul the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇮🇹 Perugia
🇹🇷 Istanbul
🕒 Local time
12:28 12:28 PM
13:28 1:28 PM
1 h ahead of Perugia
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
162,527
15,701,602
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

TRY, USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 0.892 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

Turkish Lira exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 49.26 TRY (100 TRY = 2.03 USD). 1 EUR = 55.2 TRY (100 TRY = 1.81 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Perugia Istanbul 1,390 km ≈ 2 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Perugia
  • 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
Perugia vs Istanbul: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Istanbul cheaper than Perugia?
Yes – Istanbul is pricier by about 3%, 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 $2,214 per month in Perugia and $2,289 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 Perugia, 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 $587 per month in Perugia and $974 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 Perugia and in Istanbul?
Interestingly, groceries are about 16% cheaper in Istanbul – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Perugia or in Istanbul?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Perugia, where all-in costs run around $1,476, than in Istanbul at $1,526. In Perugia it covers expenses comfortably, while in Istanbul it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Perugia or Istanbul more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Perugia – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Perugia 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 Perugia. 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.

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