Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Razgrad and Istanbul

For one person, living is cheaper in Razgrad: $826 a month against $1,519 in Istanbul, rent and utilities included – about $8,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Razgrad, Bulgaria
Istanbul, Turkey
Razgrad
🇧🇬 Bulgaria
$826
/mo nomad
Istanbul
🇹🇷 Turkey
$1,519
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $826 per month in Razgrad vs $1,519 in Istanbul, rent included.

  • Razgrad $826
  • Istanbul $1,519

A couple spends around $1,271 per month in Razgrad vs $2,365 in Istanbul, rent included.

  • Razgrad $1,271
  • Istanbul $2,365

A family of three spends $1,716 per month in Razgrad vs $3,212 in Istanbul, rent included.

  • Razgrad $1,716
  • Istanbul $3,212

Razgrad is about 46% cheaper than Istanbul, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Razgrad sits 39% below the global median, while Istanbul is 12% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Razgrad
Istanbul
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.53 BGN 14.84
$11.81 ₺592
-27.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.27 BGN 40.48
$54.9 ₺2,754
-57.62%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.07 BGN 15.78
$9.26 ₺465
-2.05%
Cappuccino
$1.90 BGN 3.30
$4.30 ₺216
-55.81%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52 BGN 2.64
$1.77 ₺89.0
-14.12%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16 BGN 2.02
$0.56 ₺28.32
107.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.83 BGN 3.19
$4.69 ₺235
-60.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.27 BGN 3.95
$7.12 ₺357
-68.12%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Razgrad
Istanbul
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.73 BGN 3.00
$1.25 ₺62.7
38.40%
White Bread (500g)
$0.83 BGN 1.45
$0.88 ₺44.17
-5.68%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.23 BGN 3.88
$2.20 ₺111
1.36%
Eggs
$3.20 BGN 5.56
$2.43 ₺122
31.69%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.98 BGN 12.15
$10.48 ₺526
-33.40%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.78 BGN 13.54
$5.31 ₺267
46.52%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.00 BGN 24.36
$21.10 ₺1,058
-33.65%
Apples (1kg)
$1.22 BGN 2.12
$1.86 ₺93.1
-34.41%
Banana (1kg)
$1.86 BGN 3.24
$2.30 ₺115
-19.13%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.41 BGN 2.46
$1.22 ₺61.0
15.57%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.92 BGN 3.34
$1.80 ₺90.2
6.67%
Potato (1kg)
$0.82 BGN 1.42
$0.69 ₺34.83
18.84%
Onion (1kg)
$0.99 BGN 1.73
$0.64 ₺32.16
54.69%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.01 BGN 1.76
$1.36 ₺68.0
-25.74%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.65 BGN 1.13
$0.58 ₺28.94
12.07%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.34 BGN 5.81
$2.34 ₺117
42.74%
Wine (Bottle)
$4.35 BGN 7.58
$13.03 ₺653
-66.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.01 BGN 1.75
$2.36 ₺118
-57.20%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.23 BGN 2.13
$3.32 ₺166
-62.95%
🚌 Getting Around
Razgrad
Istanbul
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.89 BGN 1.55
$0.88 ₺44.07
1.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$17.32 BGN 30.13
$66.1 ₺3,316
-73.81%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.30 BGN 2.26
$1.28 ₺64.4
1.56%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.64 BGN 1.12
$0.85 ₺42.80
-24.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.33 BGN 17.97
$11.09 ₺556
-6.85%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.55 BGN 2.70
$1.48 ₺74.0
4.73%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.5K BGN 39.1K
$48.6K ₺2.4M
-53.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.3K BGN 42.3K
$42.0K ₺2.1M
-42.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Razgrad
Istanbul
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$75.0 BGN 131
$92.7 ₺4,650
-19.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.74 BGN 25.65
$11.20 ₺562
31.61%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.42 BGN 19.87
$15.89 ₺797
-28.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Razgrad
Istanbul
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$26.15 BGN 45.51
$74.7 ₺3,745
-64.98%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.79 BGN 29.22
$22.95 ₺1,151
-26.84%
Cinema Ticket
$6.84 BGN 11.90
$8.05 ₺404
-15.03%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Razgrad
Istanbul
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$494 BGN 859
$948 ₺47.6K
-47.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,395 BGN 9,387
$36.9K ₺1.9M
-85.39%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Razgrad
Istanbul
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$33.95 BGN 59.1
$53.9 ₺2,702
-36.99%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$17.48 BGN 30.41
$41.49 ₺2,081
-57.87%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$90.1 BGN 157
$101 ₺5,060
-10.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103 BGN 180
$91.3 ₺4,580
13.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Razgrad
Istanbul
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$274 BGN 477
$1,014 ₺50.8K
-72.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$192 BGN 335
$625 ₺31.3K
-69.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$370 BGN 643
$2,005 ₺100.6K
-81.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$295 BGN 513
$1,126 ₺56.5K
-73.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,079 BGN 1,878
$2,988 ₺149.8K
-63.88%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$744 BGN 1,294
$1,730 ₺86.8K
-57.00%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Razgrad
Istanbul
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,182 BGN 2,056
$1,136 ₺57.0K
3.99%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.1
40.42
-92.33%

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

Last update for Razgrad: November 3, 2026

Last update for Istanbul: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Razgrad
$214
Istanbul
$258 20.6% $44
Accommodation & Living
Razgrad
$192
Istanbul
$625 225% $432
Eating Out
Razgrad
$143
Istanbul
$221 54.9% $78
Clothing & Footwear
Razgrad
$110
Istanbul
$129 17.5% $19
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Razgrad
$101
Istanbul
$120 18.4% $19
Sport & Entertainment
Razgrad
$40
Istanbul
$91 128% $51
Getting Around
Razgrad
$25
Istanbul
$75 196% $50

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $274 in Razgrad 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 run about 4% higher in Razgrad, 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 $23 in Razgrad versus $55 in Istanbul. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $214 vs $258 – making Razgrad the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇧🇬 Razgrad
🇹🇷 Istanbul
🕒 Local time
06:38 6:38 AM
07:38 7:38 AM
1 h ahead of Razgrad
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
35,049
15,701,602
💱 Currency
Bulgarian Lev BGN лв.
Exchange rates and currency converter

TRY, USD, EUR to BGN – Bulgarian Lev Converter

Bulgarian Lev exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 1.74 BGN (1 BGN = 0.575 USD). 1 EUR = 1.95 BGN (1 BGN = 0.512 EUR).

Turkish Lira exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 50.15 TRY (100 TRY = 1.99 USD). 1 EUR = 56.3 TRY (100 TRY = 1.78 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Razgrad Istanbul 350 km
From you
  • Razgrad
  • 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
Razgrad vs Istanbul: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Razgrad cheaper than Istanbul?
Yes – Istanbul is pricier by about 84%, 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 $1,239 per month in Razgrad 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 Razgrad, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $274 there versus $1,014 in Istanbul.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $494 per month in Razgrad 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 Razgrad and in Istanbul?
Groceries cost about 21% more in Istanbul, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Is $800 enough to cover costs in Razgrad or in Istanbul?
$800 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $826 in Razgrad and $1,519 in Istanbul. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Is Razgrad or Istanbul more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Razgrad – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Razgrad 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
For expats, Razgrad is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and overall it costs about 46% less, which matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.

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