Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Port Said and Istanbul

For one person, living is cheaper in Port Said: $413 a month against $1,519 in Istanbul, rent and utilities included – about $13,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Port Said, Egypt
Istanbul, Turkey
Port Said
🇪🇬 Egypt
$413
/mo nomad
Istanbul
🇹🇷 Turkey
$1,519
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $413 per month in Port Said vs $1,519 in Istanbul, rent included.

  • Port Said $413
  • Istanbul $1,519

A couple spends around $681 per month in Port Said vs $2,365 in Istanbul, rent included.

  • Port Said $681
  • Istanbul $2,365

A family of three spends $949 per month in Port Said vs $3,212 in Istanbul, rent included.

  • Port Said $949
  • Istanbul $3,212

Port Said is about 73% cheaper than Istanbul, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Port Said sits 69% below the global median, while Istanbul is 12% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Port Said
Istanbul
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.52 E£189
$11.81 ₺592
-70.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$17.76 E£955
$54.9 ₺2,754
-67.66%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.55 E£245
$9.26 ₺465
-50.86%
Cappuccino
$1.22 E£65.6
$4.30 ₺216
-71.63%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28 E£14.87
$1.77 ₺89.0
-84.18%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.11 E£6.02
$0.56 ₺28.32
-80.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.21 E£64.9
$4.69 ₺235
-74.20%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.60 E£140
$7.12 ₺357
-63.48%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Port Said
Istanbul
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.74 E£39.86
$1.25 ₺62.7
-40.80%
White Bread (500g)
$0.63 E£34.06
$0.88 ₺44.17
-28.41%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.60 E£32.25
$2.20 ₺111
-72.73%
Eggs
$1.07 E£57.3
$2.43 ₺122
-55.97%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$3.57 E£192
$10.48 ₺526
-65.94%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.62 E£195
$5.31 ₺267
-31.83%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.70 E£414
$21.10 ₺1,058
-63.51%
Apples (1kg)
$1.42 E£76.2
$1.86 ₺93.1
-23.66%
Banana (1kg)
$0.68 E£36.61
$2.30 ₺115
-70.43%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.47 E£25.23
$1.22 ₺61.0
-61.48%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.28 E£15.10
$1.80 ₺90.2
-84.44%
Potato (1kg)
$0.21 E£11.12
$0.69 ₺34.83
-69.57%
Onion (1kg)
$0.30 E£16.30
$0.64 ₺32.16
-53.13%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.23 E£12.32
$1.36 ₺68.0
-83.09%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.20 E£10.82
$0.58 ₺28.94
-65.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.80 E£96.6
$2.34 ₺117
-23.08%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.35 E£288
$13.03 ₺653
-58.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.16 E£62.3
$2.36 ₺118
-50.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.08 E£112
$3.32 ₺166
-37.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Port Said
Istanbul
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.16 E£8.86
$0.88 ₺44.07
-81.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$2.19 E£118
$66.1 ₺3,316
-96.69%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.26 E£13.83
$1.28 ₺64.4
-79.69%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.16 E£8.47
$0.85 ₺42.80
-81.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.12 E£60.2
$11.09 ₺556
-89.90%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.28 E£15.24
$1.48 ₺74.0
-81.08%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.3K E£1.7M
$48.6K ₺2.4M
-35.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.8K E£1.3M
$42.0K ₺2.1M
-43.26%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Port Said
Istanbul
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$13.04 E£701
$92.7 ₺4,650
-85.93%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.50 E£349
$11.20 ₺562
-41.96%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$6.50 E£349
$15.89 ₺797
-59.09%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Port Said
Istanbul
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$15.27 E£821
$74.7 ₺3,745
-79.55%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$22.95 ₺1,151
-
Cinema Ticket
$2.65 E£143
$8.05 ₺404
-67.08%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Port Said
Istanbul
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$32.21 E£1,732
$948 ₺47.6K
-96.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$526 E£28.3K
$36.9K ₺1.9M
-98.57%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Port Said
Istanbul
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$30.78 E£1,655
$53.9 ₺2,702
-42.87%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.01 E£2,259
$41.49 ₺2,081
1.25%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$120 E£6,457
$101 ₺5,060
19.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$53.3 E£2,864
$91.3 ₺4,580
-41.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Port Said
Istanbul
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$125 E£6,730
$1,014 ₺50.8K
-87.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$70.9 E£3,811
$625 ₺31.3K
-88.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$240 E£12.9K
$2,005 ₺100.6K
-88.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$137 E£7,365
$1,126 ₺56.5K
-87.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$701 E£37.7K
$2,988 ₺149.8K
-76.55%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$324 E£17.4K
$1,730 ₺86.8K
-81.25%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Port Said
Istanbul
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$178 E£9,585
$1,136 ₺57.0K
-84.31%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
21.33
40.42
-47.23%

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

Last update for Port Said: November 2, 2026

Last update for Istanbul: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Port Said
$112
Istanbul
$258 131% $146
Clothing & Footwear
Port Said
$111
Istanbul
$129 16.8% $19
Accommodation & Living
Port Said
$71
Istanbul
$625 781% $554
Eating Out
Port Said
$69
Istanbul
$221 219% $152
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Port Said
$26
Istanbul
$120 360% $94
Sport & Entertainment
Port Said
$21
Istanbul
$91 341% $70
Getting Around
Port Said
$3.9
Istanbul
$75 1833% $71

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $125 in Port Said 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 in Istanbul are about 6.4 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $18 in Port Said versus $55 in Istanbul. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $112 vs $258 – making Port Said the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇪🇬 Port Said
🇹🇷 Istanbul
🕒 Local time
05:03 5:03 AM
06:03 6:03 AM
1 h ahead of Port Said
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
538,378
15,701,602
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

TRY, USD, EUR to EGP – Egyptian Pound Converter

Egyptian Pound exchange rates as of November 7, 2026: 1 USD = 53.77 EGP (100 EGP = 1.86 USD). 1 EUR = 60.09 EGP (100 EGP = 1.66 EUR).

Turkish Lira exchange rates as of November 7, 2026: 1 USD = 50.15 TRY (100 TRY = 1.99 USD). 1 EUR = 56.05 TRY (100 TRY = 1.78 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Port Said Istanbul 1,120 km ≈ 2 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Port Said
  • 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
Port Said vs Istanbul: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Port Said cheaper than Istanbul?
Yes – Istanbul is pricier by about 267%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $620 per month in Port Said 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 Port Said, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $125 there versus $1,014 in Istanbul.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $32 per month in Port Said and $948 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 Port Said and in Istanbul?
Groceries cost about 131% more in Istanbul, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Port Said or in Istanbul?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Port Said, where all-in costs run around $413, than in Istanbul at $1,519. In Port Said it covers expenses comfortably, while in Istanbul it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Port Said or Istanbul more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Port Said – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Port Said or Istanbul?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Port Said. 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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