Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Port Sudan and Istanbul

For one person, living is cheaper in Port Sudan: $659 a month against $1,526 in Istanbul, rent and utilities included – about $10,400 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Port Sudan
🇸🇩 Sudan
$659
/mo nomad
Istanbul
🇹🇷 Turkey
$1,526
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $659 per month in Port Sudan vs $1,526 in Istanbul, rent included.

  • Port Sudan $659
  • Istanbul $1,526

A couple spends around $1,180 per month in Port Sudan vs $2,399 in Istanbul, rent included.

  • Port Sudan $1,180
  • Istanbul $2,399

A family of three spends $1,702 per month in Port Sudan vs $3,272 in Istanbul, rent included.

  • Port Sudan $1,702
  • Istanbul $3,272

Port Sudan is about 57% cheaper than Istanbul, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Port Sudan sits 51% below the global median, while Istanbul is 14% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Port Sudan
Istanbul
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
-
$11.88 ₺585
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
-
$55.1 ₺2,714
-
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
-
$9.14 ₺450
-
Cappuccino
-
$4.24 ₺209
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.75 ₺86.0
-
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.54 ₺26.83
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$4.69 ₺231
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$5.97 ₺294
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Port Sudan
Istanbul
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.27 SDG 760
$1.26 ₺62.1
0.79%
White Bread (500g)
$0.85 SDG 507
$0.95 ₺46.81
-10.53%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.76 SDG 457
$2.31 ₺114
-67.10%
Eggs
$2.94 SDG 1,761
$2.47 ₺122
19.03%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.53 SDG 3,910
$10.55 ₺520
-38.10%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$16.14 SDG 9,659
$5.60 ₺276
188.21%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.45 SDG 8,646
$21.21 ₺1,045
-31.87%
Apples (1kg)
$4.17 SDG 2,495
$1.93 ₺95.1
116.06%
Banana (1kg)
$2.18 SDG 1,307
$2.29 ₺113
-4.80%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.63 SDG 973
$1.28 ₺63.1
27.34%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.68 SDG 4,000
$1.84 ₺90.8
263.04%
Potato (1kg)
$3.28 SDG 1,965
$0.67 ₺32.86
389.55%
Onion (1kg)
$1.63 SDG 973
$0.59 ₺29.31
176.27%
Lettuce (1 head)
-
$1.33 ₺65.4
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.59 ₺29.10
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
-
$2.36 ₺116
-
Wine (Bottle)
-
$13.47 ₺664
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$2.42 ₺119
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.54 ₺174
-
🚌 Getting Around
Port Sudan
Istanbul
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.31 SDG 185
$0.83 ₺40.64
-62.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$66.5 ₺3,273
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.96 SDG 1,175
$1.35 ₺66.6
45.19%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$0.85 ₺42.05
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$10.86 ₺535
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
-
$1.47 ₺72.3
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$51.6K ₺2.5M
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$44.4K ₺2.2M
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Port Sudan
Istanbul
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
-
$89.2 ₺4,395
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.51 SDG 6,886
$11.60 ₺572
-0.78%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
-
$16.10 ₺793
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Port Sudan
Istanbul
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$77.3 ₺3,805
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$22.66 ₺1,116
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$8.34 ₺411
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Port Sudan
Istanbul
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$28.69 SDG 17.2K
$974 ₺48.0K
-97.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$424 SDG 253.5K
$25.8K ₺1.3M
-98.36%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Port Sudan
Istanbul
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$52.7 ₺2,597
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$39.16 ₺1,929
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
-
$103 ₺5,083
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$96.6 ₺4,759
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Port Sudan
Istanbul
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$737 SDG 440.9K
$994 ₺49.0K
-25.89%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$368 SDG 220.1K
$629 ₺31.0K
-41.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,489 SDG 891.0K
$2,024 ₺99.7K
-26.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$988 SDG 591.6K
$1,155 ₺56.9K
-14.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,032 SDG 1.2M
$3,160 ₺155.7K
-35.69%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,186 SDG 709.7K
$1,838 ₺90.5K
-35.47%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Port Sudan
Istanbul
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$210 SDG 125.9K
$1,203 ₺59.3K
-82.51%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
0
41.09
-

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

Last update for Port Sudan: 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
Port Sudan
–
Istanbul
$629
Groceries & Markets
Port Sudan
–
Istanbul
$264
Eating Out
Port Sudan
–
Istanbul
$218
Clothing & Footwear
Port Sudan
–
Istanbul
$131
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Port Sudan
–
Istanbul
$117
Sport & Entertainment
Port Sudan
–
Istanbul
$94
Getting Around
Port Sudan
–
Istanbul
$75

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $737 in Port Sudan 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 472% higher in Istanbul, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

Good to know
🇸🇩 Port Sudan
🇹🇷 Istanbul
🕒 Local time
13:57 1:57 PM
14:57 2:57 PM
1 h ahead of Port Sudan
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
489,000
15,701,602
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

TRY, USD, EUR to SDG – Sudanese Pound Converter

Sudanese Pound exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 599 SDG (1,000 SDG = 1.67 USD). 1 EUR = 671 SDG (1,000 SDG = 1.49 EUR).

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
  • Port Sudan Istanbul 2,500 km ≈ 3 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Port Sudan
  • 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 Sudan vs Istanbul: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Istanbul cheaper than Port Sudan?
Yes – Istanbul is pricier by about 132%, 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 $988 per month in Port Sudan 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 Port Sudan, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do food prices compare in Port Sudan and in Istanbul?
Interestingly, groceries are about 1% cheaper in Istanbul – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $28.69 per month in Port Sudan and $974 in Istanbul. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Port Sudan or in Istanbul?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Port Sudan, where all-in costs run around $659, than in Istanbul at $1,526. In Port Sudan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Istanbul it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Port Sudan or Istanbul more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Port Sudan – 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 Sudan 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 Port Sudan. 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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