Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Rapperswil and Istanbul

For one person, living is cheaper in Istanbul: $1,516 a month against $3,330 in Rapperswil, rent and utilities included – about $21,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Rapperswil, Switzerland
Istanbul, Turkey
Rapperswil
🇨🇭 Switzerland
$3,330
/mo nomad
Istanbul
🇹🇷 Turkey
$1,516
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $3,330 per month in Rapperswil vs $1,516 in Istanbul, rent included.

  • Rapperswil $3,330
  • Istanbul $1,516

A couple spends around $5,029 per month in Rapperswil vs $2,356 in Istanbul, rent included.

  • Rapperswil $5,029
  • Istanbul $2,356

A family of three spends $6,729 per month in Rapperswil vs $3,197 in Istanbul, rent included.

  • Rapperswil $6,729
  • Istanbul $3,197

Rapperswil costs about 120% more than Istanbul, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Rapperswil and Istanbul sit above the global median – Rapperswil by 145%, Istanbul by 11%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rapperswil
Istanbul
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$23.80 CHF 19.73
$11.59 ₺577
105.35%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$95.5 CHF 79.2
$54.7 ₺2,724
74.73%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$16.02 CHF 13.28
$9.39 ₺468
70.61%
Cappuccino
$6.08 CHF 5.04
$4.23 ₺211
43.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.70 CHF 3.90
$1.72 ₺85.6
173.26%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.82 CHF 3.99
$0.57 ₺28.25
745.61%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.65 CHF 7.17
$4.65 ₺232
86.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.00 CHF 4.97
$6.84 ₺341
-12.28%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rapperswil
Istanbul
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.14 CHF 1.78
$1.20 ₺60.0
78.33%
White Bread (500g)
$3.39 CHF 2.81
$0.94 ₺46.96
260.64%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.35 CHF 3.61
$2.24 ₺112
94.20%
Eggs
$7.80 CHF 6.46
$2.42 ₺121
222.31%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$26.76 CHF 22.18
$10.24 ₺510
161.33%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$26.19 CHF 21.71
$5.38 ₺268
386.80%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$40.71 CHF 33.74
$21.19 ₺1,056
92.12%
Apples (1kg)
$3.60 CHF 2.98
$1.89 ₺94.2
90.48%
Banana (1kg)
$2.15 CHF 1.78
$2.22 ₺111
-3.15%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.62 CHF 2.17
$1.26 ₺62.7
107.94%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.81 CHF 3.98
$1.81 ₺90.0
165.75%
Potato (1kg)
$2.04 CHF 1.69
$0.70 ₺34.83
191.43%
Onion (1kg)
$2.19 CHF 1.82
$0.64 ₺32.12
242.19%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.32 CHF 1.92
$1.22 ₺60.8
90.16%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.37 CHF 1.13
$0.55 ₺27.35
149.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.74 CHF 8.90
$2.32 ₺116
362.93%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.18 CHF 10.93
$13.31 ₺663
-0.98%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.25 CHF 1.86
$2.33 ₺116
-3.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.44 CHF 2.85
$3.46 ₺172
-0.58%
🚌 Getting Around
Rapperswil
Istanbul
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.37 CHF 3.62
$0.91 ₺45.17
380.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$100.0 CHF 82.9
$66.3 ₺3,305
50.68%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$7.56 CHF 6.26
$1.29 ₺64.2
486.05%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$4.97 CHF 4.12
$0.86 ₺42.65
477.91%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$88.3 CHF 73.2
$11.09 ₺553
696.48%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.17 CHF 1.80
$1.42 ₺70.7
52.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.6K CHF 32.8K
$49.2K ₺2.5M
-19.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.9K CHF 32.2K
$42.8K ₺2.1M
-9.17%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rapperswil
Istanbul
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$237 CHF 196
$87.7 ₺4,371
169.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$31.70 CHF 26.27
$11.28 ₺562
181.03%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.1 CHF 54.0
$15.89 ₺792
309.94%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rapperswil
Istanbul
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$88.7 CHF 73.5
$75.9 ₺3,782
16.85%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$45.22 CHF 37.48
$23.04 ₺1,148
96.27%
Cinema Ticket
$21.76 CHF 18.03
$8.20 ₺409
165.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rapperswil
Istanbul
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,879 CHF 2,386
$1,028 ₺51.2K
180.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$43.7K CHF 36.2K
$26.0K ₺1.3M
68.33%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rapperswil
Istanbul
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$141 CHF 117
$53.3 ₺2,657
163.74%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$88.1 CHF 73.0
$39.69 ₺1,978
121.84%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$149 CHF 124
$99.8 ₺4,971
49.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$174 CHF 144
$93.5 ₺4,659
86.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rapperswil
Istanbul
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,769 CHF 1,466
$1,003 ₺50.0K
76.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,478 CHF 1,225
$628 ₺31.3K
135.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,984 CHF 2,473
$1,963 ₺97.8K
52.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,524 CHF 2,092
$1,122 ₺55.9K
125.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$16.6K CHF 13.7K
$3,075 ₺153.2K
438.55%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$12.6K CHF 10.5K
$1,753 ₺87.3K
620.61%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rapperswil
Istanbul
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$1,180 ₺58.8K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
1.72
40.69
-95.77%

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

Last update for Rapperswil: October 25, 2026

Last update for Istanbul: October 27, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Rapperswil
$1.5K
Istanbul
$628 57.5% $850
Groceries & Markets
Rapperswil
$583
Istanbul
$258 55.7% $325
Eating Out
Rapperswil
$405
Istanbul
$218 46.2% $187
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rapperswil
$333
Istanbul
$115 65.5% $219
Clothing & Footwear
Rapperswil
$248
Istanbul
$129 48.1% $120
Getting Around
Rapperswil
$150
Istanbul
$76 49.6% $74
Sport & Entertainment
Rapperswil
$132
Istanbul
$92 30.2% $40

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,769 in Rapperswil versus $1,003 in Istanbul. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $96 in Rapperswil versus $55 in Istanbul. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $583 vs $258 – making Istanbul the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇭 Rapperswil
🇹🇷 Istanbul
🕒 Local time
15:14 3:14 PM
17:14 5:14 PM
2 h ahead of Rapperswil
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
26,354
15,701,602
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

TRY, USD, EUR to CHF – Swiss Franc Converter

Swiss Franc exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 0.829 CHF (1 CHF = 1.21 USD). 1 EUR = 0.923 CHF (1 CHF = 1.08 EUR).

Turkish Lira exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 49.82 TRY (100 TRY = 2.01 USD). 1 EUR = 55.45 TRY (100 TRY = 1.8 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Rapperswil Istanbul 1,750 km ≈ 2 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Rapperswil
  • 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
Rapperswil vs Istanbul: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Istanbul cheaper than Rapperswil?
Yes – Rapperswil is pricier by about 120%, 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 $4,995 per month in Rapperswil and $2,274 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 Istanbul, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,003 there versus $1,769 in Rapperswil.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $2,879 per month in Rapperswil and $1,028 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 Rapperswil and in Istanbul?
Groceries cost about 126% more in Rapperswil, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 enough to cover costs in Rapperswil or in Istanbul?
$1,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,330 in Rapperswil and $1,516 in Istanbul. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Is Rapperswil or Istanbul more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Istanbul – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Rapperswil 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
For expats, Istanbul is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and the 120% gap matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.

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