Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ragusa and Istanbul

For one person, living costs are similar in Ragusa and in Istanbul: $1,517 and $1,550 a month, rent and utilities included.

Ragusa
🇮🇹 Italy
$1,517
/mo nomad
Istanbul
🇹🇷 Turkey
$1,550
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $1,517 per month in Ragusa vs $1,550 in Istanbul, rent included.

  • Ragusa $1,517
  • Istanbul $1,550

A couple spends around $2,312 per month in Ragusa vs $2,415 in Istanbul, rent included.

  • Ragusa $2,312
  • Istanbul $2,415

A family of three spends $3,107 per month in Ragusa vs $3,281 in Istanbul, rent included.

  • Ragusa $3,107
  • Istanbul $3,281

Ragusa is about 2% cheaper than Istanbul, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both Ragusa and Istanbul sit above the global median – Ragusa by 12%, Istanbul by 15%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ragusa
Istanbul
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.98 €15.10
$12.30 ₺609
38.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$55.8 €49.59
$54.7 ₺2,708
1.92%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.13 €9.90
$9.22 ₺456
20.72%
Cappuccino
$2.06 €1.84
$4.40 ₺218
-53.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18 €1.94
$1.68 ₺83.1
29.76%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.93 €0.83
$0.59 ₺29.40
57.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.69 €5.06
$4.70 ₺233
21.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.93 €3.49
$5.91 ₺292
-33.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ragusa
Istanbul
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.27 €1.13
$1.21 ₺60.0
4.96%
White Bread (500g)
$1.85 €1.64
$0.89 ₺44.10
107.87%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.44 €2.17
$2.19 ₺108
11.42%
Eggs
$2.85 €2.53
$2.35 ₺116
21.28%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.46 €12.87
$10.42 ₺516
38.77%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.74 €10.44
$5.65 ₺280
107.79%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.60 €14.77
$20.94 ₺1,037
-20.73%
Apples (1kg)
$2.98 €2.65
$1.90 ₺94.1
56.84%
Banana (1kg)
$2.10 €1.86
$2.31 ₺114
-9.09%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.71 €1.52
$1.28 ₺63.1
33.59%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.51 €2.24
$1.80 ₺89.0
39.44%
Potato (1kg)
$1.71 €1.52
$0.65 ₺32.16
163.08%
Onion (1kg)
$1.48 €1.31
$0.64 ₺31.91
131.25%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.74 €1.55
$1.25 ₺62.1
39.20%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.43 €0.38
$0.56 ₺27.58
-23.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.87 €6.11
$2.37 ₺118
189.87%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.67 €6.82
$13.42 ₺664
-42.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.11 €1.87
$2.40 ₺119
-12.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.91 €2.59
$3.48 ₺172
-16.38%
🚌 Getting Around
Ragusa
Istanbul
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.71 €1.52
$0.89 ₺43.84
92.13%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$67.4 ₺3,338
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.40 €3.03
$1.29 ₺64.1
163.57%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.14 €1.01
$0.92 ₺45.70
23.91%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$37.63 €33.47
$10.96 ₺542
243.34%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.99 €1.77
$1.47 ₺72.9
35.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.9K €32.8K
$50.8K ₺2.5M
-27.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.9K €31.0K
$44.5K ₺2.2M
-21.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ragusa
Istanbul
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$229 €203
$88.6 ₺4,387
157.92%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.19 €8.17
$11.59 ₺574
-20.71%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.39 €23.47
$15.81 ₺783
66.92%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ragusa
Istanbul
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.09 €37.44
$77.2 ₺3,820
-45.45%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.37 €11.90
$22.74 ₺1,126
-41.20%
Cinema Ticket
$8.34 €7.42
$8.14 ₺403
2.46%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ragusa
Istanbul
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$167 €149
$1,008 ₺49.9K
-83.41%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,483 €4,877
$25.6K ₺1.3M
-78.55%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ragusa
Istanbul
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$70.8 €62.9
$54.0 ₺2,671
31.16%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$21.88 €19.47
$40.83 ₺2,021
-46.41%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.8 €75.4
$98.9 ₺4,895
-14.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$126 €112
$96.6 ₺4,783
30.81%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ragusa
Istanbul
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$439 €390
$985 ₺48.7K
-55.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$496 €441
$650 ₺32.2K
-23.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$939 €836
$1,983 ₺98.2K
-52.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$886 €788
$1,180 ₺58.4K
-24.95%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,242 €1,105
$3,138 ₺155.4K
-60.41%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$960 €854
$1,780 ₺88.1K
-46.06%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ragusa
Istanbul
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,520 €1,352
$1,205 ₺59.7K
26.09%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.39
40.92
-91.72%

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

Last update for Ragusa: October 10, 2026

Last update for Istanbul: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Ragusa
$496
Istanbul
$650 31% $154
Groceries & Markets
Ragusa
$303
Istanbul
$260 14.3% $43
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ragusa
$264
Istanbul
$116 56.1% $148
Eating Out
Ragusa
$243
Istanbul
$223 8% $19
Clothing & Footwear
Ragusa
$137
Istanbul
$131 4.4% $6.1
Sport & Entertainment
Ragusa
$59
Istanbul
$93 59% $35
Getting Around
Ragusa
$16 *
Istanbul
$77 383% $61

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $439 in Ragusa 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 26% higher in Ragusa, 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 $56.0 in Ragusa versus $55.0 in Istanbul. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $303 vs $260 – making Istanbul the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇮🇹 Ragusa
🇹🇷 Istanbul
🕒 Local time
09:15 9:15 AM
10:15 10:15 AM
1 h ahead of Ragusa
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
73,735
15,701,602
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

TRY, USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

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).

On the map
Between locations
  • Ragusa Istanbul 1,310 km ≈ 2 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Ragusa
  • 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
Ragusa vs Istanbul: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Istanbul cheaper than Ragusa?
Yes – Istanbul is pricier by about 2%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in transport.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,276 per month in Ragusa and $2,325 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 Ragusa, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Ragusa or in Istanbul?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $56.0 in Ragusa and $55.0 in Istanbul. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Ragusa and in Istanbul?
Interestingly, groceries are about 17% cheaper in Istanbul – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Ragusa or in Istanbul?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ragusa, where all-in costs run around $1,517, than in Istanbul at $1,550. In Ragusa it covers expenses comfortably, while in Istanbul it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Ragusa or Istanbul more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Ragusa – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Ragusa 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 Ragusa. 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.

Ragusa vs other spots: cost of living compared

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