Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Schiedam and Istanbul

For one person, living is cheaper in Istanbul: $1,550 a month against $2,517 in Schiedam, rent and utilities included – about $11,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Schiedam
🇳🇱 Netherlands
$2,517
/mo nomad
Istanbul
🇹🇷 Turkey
$1,550
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $2,517 per month in Schiedam vs $1,550 in Istanbul, rent included.

  • Schiedam $2,517
  • Istanbul $1,550

A couple spends around $3,723 per month in Schiedam vs $2,415 in Istanbul, rent included.

  • Schiedam $3,723
  • Istanbul $2,415

A family of three spends $4,929 per month in Schiedam vs $3,281 in Istanbul, rent included.

  • Schiedam $4,929
  • Istanbul $3,281

Schiedam costs about 62% more than Istanbul, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Schiedam and Istanbul sit above the global median – Schiedam by 86%, Istanbul by 15%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Schiedam
Istanbul
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.72 €17.54
$12.30 ₺609
60.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$88.2 €78.5
$54.7 ₺2,708
61.28%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.96 €13.30
$9.22 ₺456
62.26%
Cappuccino
$4.11 €3.66
$4.40 ₺218
-6.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.48 €3.09
$1.68 ₺83.1
107.14%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02 €2.69
$0.59 ₺29.40
411.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.16 €6.37
$4.70 ₺233
52.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.50 €5.78
$5.91 ₺292
9.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Schiedam
Istanbul
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.40 €1.25
$1.21 ₺60.0
15.70%
White Bread (500g)
$2.15 €1.91
$0.89 ₺44.10
141.57%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.35 €2.09
$2.19 ₺108
7.31%
Eggs
$4.44 €3.95
$2.35 ₺116
88.94%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.50 €12.90
$10.42 ₺516
39.16%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.00 €11.57
$5.65 ₺280
130.09%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.99 €14.22
$20.94 ₺1,037
-23.64%
Apples (1kg)
$2.68 €2.38
$1.90 ₺94.1
41.05%
Banana (1kg)
$2.28 €2.03
$2.31 ₺114
-1.30%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.97 €1.75
$1.28 ₺63.1
53.91%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.71 €4.19
$1.80 ₺89.0
161.67%
Potato (1kg)
$1.30 €1.16
$0.65 ₺32.16
100.00%
Onion (1kg)
$1.28 €1.14
$0.64 ₺31.91
100.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.17 €1.04
$1.25 ₺62.1
-6.40%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.77 €0.68
$0.56 ₺27.58
37.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.47 €11.98
$2.37 ₺118
468.35%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.73 €5.10
$13.42 ₺664
-57.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.35 €1.20
$2.40 ₺119
-43.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95 €1.73
$3.48 ₺172
-43.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Schiedam
Istanbul
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.18 €1.94
$0.89 ₺43.84
144.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$87.6 €77.9
$67.4 ₺3,338
29.91%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.38 €3.01
$1.29 ₺64.1
162.02%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.44 €3.06
$0.92 ₺45.70
273.91%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$22.47 €19.98
$10.96 ₺542
105.02%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.38 €2.12
$1.47 ₺72.9
61.90%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$41.4K €36.8K
$50.8K ₺2.5M
-18.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.1K €34.8K
$44.5K ₺2.2M
-12.26%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Schiedam
Istanbul
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$277 €246
$88.6 ₺4,387
212.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.53 €14.71
$11.59 ₺574
42.62%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.9 €48.87
$15.81 ₺783
247.50%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Schiedam
Istanbul
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$27.61 €24.56
$77.2 ₺3,820
-64.22%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.98 €21.33
$22.74 ₺1,126
5.45%
Cinema Ticket
$15.36 €13.66
$8.14 ₺403
88.70%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Schiedam
Istanbul
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,760 €1,566
$1,008 ₺49.9K
74.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.6K €10.3K
$25.6K ₺1.3M
-54.70%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Schiedam
Istanbul
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$117 €104
$54.0 ₺2,671
116.52%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.66 €31.72
$40.83 ₺2,021
-12.66%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$113 €100
$98.9 ₺4,895
13.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$137 €122
$96.6 ₺4,783
41.70%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Schiedam
Istanbul
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,628 €1,448
$985 ₺48.7K
65.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,166 €1,037
$650 ₺32.2K
79.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,355 €2,094
$1,983 ₺98.2K
18.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,930 €1,717
$1,180 ₺58.4K
63.56%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,639 €5,016
$3,138 ₺155.4K
79.70%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,030 €3,584
$1,780 ₺88.1K
126.41%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Schiedam
Istanbul
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,420 €2,152
$1,205 ₺59.7K
100.74%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
2.8
40.92
-93.16%

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

Last update for Schiedam: October 12, 2026

Last update for Istanbul: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Schiedam
$1.2K
Istanbul
$650 44.3% $516
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Schiedam
$348
Istanbul
$116 66.7% $232
Eating Out
Schiedam
$327
Istanbul
$223 31.7% $103
Groceries & Markets
Schiedam
$320
Istanbul
$260 18.9% $60
Clothing & Footwear
Schiedam
$181
Istanbul
$131 27.8% $50
Getting Around
Schiedam
$117
Istanbul
$77 34.2% $40
Sport & Entertainment
Schiedam
$58
Istanbul
$93 60.2% $35

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,628 in Schiedam 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 101% higher in Schiedam, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $88.0 in Schiedam versus $55.0 in Istanbul. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $320 vs $260 – making Istanbul the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇳🇱 Schiedam
🇹🇷 Istanbul
🕒 Local time
07:10 7:10 AM
08:10 8:10 AM
1 h ahead of Schiedam
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
78,730
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
  • Schiedam Istanbul 2,220 km ≈ 3 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Schiedam
  • 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
Schiedam vs Istanbul: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Istanbul cheaper than Schiedam?
Yes – Schiedam is pricier by about 62%, 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 $3,776 per month in Schiedam 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 Istanbul, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $1,760 per month in Schiedam and $1,008 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 Schiedam and in Istanbul?
Groceries cost about 23% more in Schiedam, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Schiedam or in Istanbul?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Istanbul, where all-in costs run around $1,550, than in Schiedam at $2,517. In Istanbul it covers expenses comfortably, while in Schiedam it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Schiedam 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, Schiedam 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 Istanbul. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Schiedam makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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