Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Samsun and Izmir

For one person, living is cheaper in Samsun: $950 a month against $1,207 in Izmir, rent and utilities included – about $3,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Samsun
🇹🇷 Turkey
$950
/mo nomad
Izmir
🇹🇷 Turkey
$1,207
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Samsun and in Izmir

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Samsun and in Izmir actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $950 in Samsun versus $1,207 in Izmir.

  • Samsun $950
  • Izmir $1,207

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,647 in Samsun versus $1,906 in Izmir.

  • Samsun $1,647
  • Izmir $1,906

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,344 in Samsun versus $2,606 in Izmir.

  • Samsun $2,344
  • Izmir $2,606

Living in Samsun costs roughly 21% less than in Izmir, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in leisure.

Both cities sit below the global median: Samsun 30% lower, Izmir 11% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Samsun
Izmir
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.15 ₺503
$10.20 ₺505
-0.49%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$60.6 ₺3,001
$36.97 ₺1,831
63.97%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.54 ₺522
$8.43 ₺417
25.03%
Cappuccino
$3.94 ₺195
$3.54 ₺175
11.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.79 ₺39.25
$1.50 ₺74.3
-47.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.29 ₺14.32
$0.63 ₺31.18
-53.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.77 ₺87.8
$3.39 ₺168
-47.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05 ₺101
$5.19 ₺257
-60.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Samsun
Izmir
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.18 ₺58.2
$1.10 ₺54.4
7.27%
White Bread (500g)
$2.00 ₺99.2
$1.06 ₺52.5
88.68%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.67 ₺132
$2.32 ₺115
15.09%
Eggs
$2.48 ₺123
$2.55 ₺126
-2.75%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.50 ₺421
$9.29 ₺460
-8.50%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.65 ₺280
$5.14 ₺255
9.92%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$26.52 ₺1,313
$21.02 ₺1,041
26.17%
Apples (1kg)
$2.33 ₺116
$1.98 ₺97.9
17.68%
Banana (1kg)
$2.47 ₺122
$2.08 ₺103
18.75%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.53 ₺75.8
$1.02 ₺50.6
50.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.04 ₺51.6
$1.43 ₺71.0
-27.27%
Potato (1kg)
$0.44 ₺21.59
$0.56 ₺27.60
-21.43%
Onion (1kg)
$0.36 ₺17.89
$0.41 ₺20.50
-12.20%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.83 ₺41.25
$1.10 ₺54.7
-24.55%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.68 ₺33.65
$0.76 ₺37.49
-10.53%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.11 ₺105
$2.20 ₺109
-4.09%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.19 ₺455
$11.53 ₺571
-20.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66 ₺82.0
$2.03 ₺100
-18.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24 ₺111
$3.09 ₺153
-27.51%
🚌 Getting Around
Samsun
Izmir
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.62 ₺30.48
$0.68 ₺33.71
-8.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$12.22 ₺605
$43.37 ₺2,147
-71.82%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.99 ₺98.3
$3.61 ₺179
-44.88%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.62 ₺30.92
$1.04 ₺51.3
-40.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.34 ₺314
$5.36 ₺266
18.28%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.33 ₺65.8
$1.36 ₺67.1
-2.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$41.6K ₺2.1M
$40.6K ₺2.0M
2.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.6K ₺2.0M
$46.7K ₺2.3M
-13.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Samsun
Izmir
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$88.1 ₺4,360
$82.5 ₺4,086
6.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.35 ₺612
$10.63 ₺526
16.18%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$12.44 ₺616
$16.18 ₺801
-23.11%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Samsun
Izmir
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$30.40 ₺1,505
$64.0 ₺3,171
-52.53%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.95 ₺294
$35.09 ₺1,737
-83.04%
Cinema Ticket
$4.13 ₺204
$7.99 ₺396
-48.31%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Samsun
Izmir
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$252 ₺12.5K
$685 ₺33.9K
-63.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$14.1K ₺700.2K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Samsun
Izmir
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$24.48 ₺1,212
$46.16 ₺2,286
-46.97%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.45 ₺1,507
$36.59 ₺1,812
-16.78%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$72.1 ₺3,569
$91.4 ₺4,527
-21.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$60.6 ₺2,999
$80.2 ₺3,971
-24.49%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Samsun
Izmir
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$349 ₺17.3K
$606 ₺30.0K
-42.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$248 ₺12.3K
$416 ₺20.6K
-40.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$755 ₺37.4K
$1,126 ₺55.7K
-32.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$613 ₺30.4K
$800 ₺39.6K
-23.33%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$976 ₺48.3K
$1,455 ₺72.0K
-32.93%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$656 ₺32.5K
$1,006 ₺49.8K
-34.80%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Samsun
Izmir
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$918 ₺45.5K
$1,158 ₺57.3K
-20.69%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
49
42.33
15.76%

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

Last update for Samsun: October 13, 2026

Last update for Izmir: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Samsun
$268
Izmir
$247 8% $21
Accommodation & Living
Samsun
$248
Izmir
$416 67.4% $168
Eating Out
Samsun
$177
Izmir
$185 4.4% $7.9
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Samsun
$113
Izmir
$109 3.1% $3.5
Clothing & Footwear
Samsun
$84
Izmir
$114 35.6% $30
Sport & Entertainment
Samsun
$39
Izmir
$80 107% $41
Getting Around
Samsun
$20
Izmir
$55 177% $35

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $349 in Samsun and $606 in Izmir. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Izmir pays 26% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $61.0 in Samsun vs $37.00 in Izmir for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $268 vs $247 per month, with Izmir cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇹🇷 Samsun
🇹🇷 Izmir
🕒 Local time
06:31 6:31 AM
06:31 6:31 AM
Same time as Samsun
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,295,927
4,493,242
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to TRY – Turkish Lira Converter

Turkish Lira exchange rates as of October 19, 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
  • Samsun Izmir 850 km ≈ 1 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Samsun
  • Izmir

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
Samsun vs Izmir: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Samsun or Izmir?
Samsun wins on cost – living expenses run 27% lower than in Izmir. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Samsun the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Samsun or in Izmir?
On paper, salaries run 26% lower in Izmir. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Samsun compared to Izmir?
Rent for a central apartment: $349 in Samsun versus $606 in Izmir. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Samsun compared to Izmir?
All in, you'll spend $950 per month in Samsun versus $1,207 in Izmir – a 27% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Samsun compared to Izmir?
A monthly transit pass in Samsun runs roughly 255% less than in Izmir. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Samsun or in Izmir?
At $950 in Samsun versus $1,207 in Izmir, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Samsun but tight or insufficient in Izmir. The gap between the two cities makes Samsun the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Samsun or Izmir?
Both work as nomad bases, but Samsun delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $950 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Samsun hard to pass up.
How safe is Samsun compared to Izmir?
Safety-wise, Samsun and Izmir are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Samsun gentler on the wallet – expenses run 27% less than in Izmir. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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