Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Resen and Istanbul

For one person, living is cheaper in Resen: $979 a month against $1,550 in Istanbul, rent and utilities included – about $6,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

47

Cost of Living Index in Resen
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Resen Living Index
75

Cost of Living Index in Istanbul
Learn more

Istanbul Living Index

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Resen

🇲🇰 North Macedonia

$979

/mo nomad

Istanbul

🇹🇷 Turkey

$1,550

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $979 per month in Resen vs $1,550 in Istanbul, rent included.

Resen $979
Istanbul $1,550

A couple spends around $1,481 per month in Resen vs $2,415 in Istanbul, rent included.

Resen $1,481
Istanbul $2,415

A family of three spends $1,983 per month in Resen vs $3,281 in Istanbul, rent included.

Resen $1,983
Istanbul $3,281

Resen is about 37% cheaper than Istanbul, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Resen sits 27% below the global median, while Istanbul is 15% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.54 MKD 520

$12.30 ₺609

-22.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.85 MKD 1,901

$54.7 ₺2,708

-36.29%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.46 MKD 352

$9.22 ₺456

-29.93%

Cappuccino

$2.05 MKD 112

$4.40 ₺218

-53.41%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.88 MKD 103

$1.68 ₺83.1

11.90%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.38 MKD 75.3

$0.59 ₺29.40

133.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.66 MKD 145

$4.70 ₺233

-43.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.62 MKD 143

$5.91 ₺292

-55.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.29 MKD 70.3

$1.21 ₺60.0

6.61%

White Bread (500g)

$0.74 MKD 40.55

$0.89 ₺44.10

-16.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.77 MKD 96.5

$2.19 ₺108

-19.18%

Eggs

$2.52 MKD 137

$2.35 ₺116

7.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.84 MKD 428

$10.42 ₺516

-24.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.24 MKD 395

$5.65 ₺280

28.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.77 MKD 806

$20.94 ₺1,037

-29.47%

Apples (1kg)

$1.48 MKD 80.5

$1.90 ₺94.1

-22.11%

Banana (1kg)

$1.38 MKD 75.4

$2.31 ₺114

-40.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.31 MKD 71.3

$1.28 ₺63.1

2.34%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.97 MKD 107

$1.80 ₺89.0

9.44%

Potato (1kg)

$0.82 MKD 44.79

$0.65 ₺32.16

26.15%

Onion (1kg)

$0.83 MKD 45.54

$0.64 ₺31.91

29.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.59 MKD 32.32

$1.25 ₺62.1

-52.80%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 MKD 32.25

$0.56 ₺27.58

5.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.49 MKD 190

$2.37 ₺118

47.26%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.19 MKD 392

$13.42 ₺664

-46.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.03 MKD 56.1

$2.40 ₺119

-57.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.43 MKD 78.0

$3.48 ₺172

-58.91%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.68 MKD 36.90

$0.89 ₺43.84

-23.60%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.53 MKD 1,229

$67.4 ₺3,338

-66.59%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.12 MKD 61.0

$1.29 ₺64.1

-13.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.61 MKD 33.28

$0.92 ₺45.70

-33.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.64 MKD 417

$10.96 ₺542

-30.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.54 MKD 84.1

$1.47 ₺72.9

4.76%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$35.5K MKD 1.9M

$50.8K ₺2.5M

-30.06%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$27.0K MKD 1.5M

$44.5K ₺2.2M

-39.31%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$155 MKD 8,458

$88.6 ₺4,387

74.99%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$18.92 MKD 1,032

$11.59 ₺574

63.24%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.05 MKD 1,039

$15.81 ₺783

20.49%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.04 MKD 1,202

$77.2 ₺3,820

-71.44%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.21 MKD 939

$22.74 ₺1,126

-24.32%

Cinema Ticket

$7.20 MKD 393

$8.14 ₺403

-11.55%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$358 MKD 19.5K

$1,008 ₺49.9K

-64.49%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,591 MKD 305.0K

$25.6K ₺1.3M

-78.13%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$83.1 MKD 4,535

$54.0 ₺2,671

54.11%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.50 MKD 2,045

$40.83 ₺2,021

-8.16%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 MKD 5,513

$98.9 ₺4,895

2.21%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$112 MKD 6,108

$96.6 ₺4,783

15.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$296 MKD 16.1K

$985 ₺48.7K

-69.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$210 MKD 11.5K

$650 ₺32.2K

-67.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$543 MKD 29.6K

$1,983 ₺98.2K

-72.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$317 MKD 17.3K

$1,180 ₺58.4K

-73.15%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,431 MKD 78.0K

$3,138 ₺155.4K

-54.41%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,265 MKD 69.0K

$1,780 ₺88.1K

-28.92%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,205 ₺59.7K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.23

40.92

-89.66%

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

Last update for Resen: October 11, 2026

Last update for Istanbul: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Resen

$210 21.5%

Istanbul

$650 41.9% 209% $440

Groceries & Markets

Resen

$208 21.3%

Istanbul

$260 16.8% 24.7% $51

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Resen

$193 19.7%

Istanbul

$116 7.5% 39.9% $77

Eating Out

Resen

$152 15.5%

Istanbul

$223 14.4% 47% $71

Clothing & Footwear

Resen

$150 15.3%

Istanbul

$131 8.4% 13% $20

Sport & Entertainment

Resen

$36 3.7%

Istanbul

$93 6% 156% $57

Getting Around

Resen

$29 3%

Istanbul

$77 5% 161% $47

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $296 in Resen 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $35.00 in Resen versus $55.0 in Istanbul. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $208 vs $260 – making Resen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇲🇰 Resen

🇹🇷 Istanbul

🕒 Local time

00:29 12:29 AM

01:29 1:29 AM

1 h ahead of Resen

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

8,700

15,701,602

💱 Currency

North Macedonian Denar MKD ден

Turkish Lira TRY ₺

📈 Exchange rate

100 MKD = 1.83 USD

100 MKD = 1.63 EUR

100 TRY = 2.02 USD

100 TRY = 1.8 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

TRY, USD, EUR to MKD – North Macedonian Denar Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇲🇰 North Macedonian Denar (ден)

North Macedonian Denar exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 54.55 MKD (100 MKD = 1.83 USD). 1 EUR = 61.33 MKD (100 MKD = 1.63 EUR).

Turkish Lira exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 49.51 TRY (100 TRY = 2.02 USD). 1 EUR = 55.66 TRY (100 TRY = 1.8 EUR).

USD to MKD in detail →

On the map

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Between locations

Resen Istanbul 670 km ≈ 1 h 15 min nonstop flight

From you

Resen
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

Resen vs Istanbul: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Istanbul is pricier by about 58%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,469 per month in Resen and $2,325 in Istanbul. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Resen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $358 per month in Resen and $1,008 in Istanbul. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 25% more in Istanbul, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Resen, where all-in costs run around $979, than in Istanbul at $1,550. In Resen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Istanbul it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Resen – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Resen. 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.