Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Shahrisabz and Istanbul

For one person, living is cheaper in Shahrisabz: $236 a month against $1,519 in Istanbul, rent and utilities included – about $15,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Shahrisabz, Uzbekistan
Istanbul, Turkey
Shahrisabz
🇺🇿 Uzbekistan
$236
/mo nomad
Istanbul
🇹🇷 Turkey
$1,519
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $236 per month in Shahrisabz vs $1,519 in Istanbul, rent included.

  • Shahrisabz $236
  • Istanbul $1,519

A couple spends around $415 per month in Shahrisabz vs $2,365 in Istanbul, rent included.

  • Shahrisabz $415
  • Istanbul $2,365

A family of three spends $594 per month in Shahrisabz vs $3,212 in Istanbul, rent included.

  • Shahrisabz $594
  • Istanbul $3,212

Shahrisabz is about 84% cheaper than Istanbul, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Shahrisabz sits 83% below the global median, while Istanbul is 12% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Shahrisabz
Istanbul
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.04 UZS 36.4K
$11.81 ₺592
-74.26%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
-
$54.9 ₺2,754
-
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$2.04 UZS 24.4K
$9.26 ₺465
-77.97%
Cappuccino
$0.57 UZS 6,867
$4.30 ₺216
-86.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48 UZS 5,719
$1.77 ₺89.0
-72.88%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.21 UZS 2,527
$0.56 ₺28.32
-62.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.01 UZS 12.1K
$4.69 ₺235
-78.46%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95 UZS 23.3K
$7.12 ₺357
-72.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Shahrisabz
Istanbul
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
-
$1.25 ₺62.7
-
White Bread (500g)
$0.26 UZS 3,138
$0.88 ₺44.17
-70.45%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.03 UZS 24.3K
$2.20 ₺111
-7.73%
Eggs
$0.92 UZS 11.1K
$2.43 ₺122
-62.14%
Local Cheese (1kg)
-
$10.48 ₺526
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.05 UZS 24.6K
$5.31 ₺267
-61.39%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.06 UZS 84.5K
$21.10 ₺1,058
-66.54%
Apples (1kg)
$0.67 UZS 7,966
$1.86 ₺93.1
-63.98%
Banana (1kg)
$0.97 UZS 11.6K
$2.30 ₺115
-57.83%
Oranges (1kg)
-
$1.22 ₺61.0
-
Tomato (1kg)
-
$1.80 ₺90.2
-
Potato (1kg)
-
$0.69 ₺34.83
-
Onion (1kg)
-
$0.64 ₺32.16
-
Lettuce (1 head)
-
$1.36 ₺68.0
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.59 UZS 7,056
$0.58 ₺28.94
1.72%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$0.98 UZS 11.7K
$2.34 ₺117
-58.12%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$13.03 ₺653
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.01 UZS 12.1K
$2.36 ₺118
-57.20%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.02 UZS 24.2K
$3.32 ₺166
-39.16%
🚌 Getting Around
Shahrisabz
Istanbul
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.42 UZS 5,024
$0.88 ₺44.07
-52.27%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$66.1 ₺3,316
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.42 UZS 4,973
$1.28 ₺64.4
-67.19%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.23 UZS 2,726
$0.85 ₺42.80
-72.94%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$11.09 ₺556
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.93 UZS 11.2K
$1.48 ₺74.0
-37.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$48.6K ₺2.4M
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$42.0K ₺2.1M
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shahrisabz
Istanbul
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$46.61 UZS 558.2K
$92.7 ₺4,650
-49.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$2.94 UZS 35.2K
$11.20 ₺562
-73.75%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.84 UZS 105.8K
$15.89 ₺797
-44.37%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Shahrisabz
Istanbul
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$29.78 UZS 356.7K
$74.7 ₺3,745
-60.12%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$22.95 ₺1,151
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.11 UZS 85.1K
$8.05 ₺404
-11.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Shahrisabz
Istanbul
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$948 ₺47.6K
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$36.9K ₺1.9M
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Shahrisabz
Istanbul
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$11.90 UZS 142.6K
$53.9 ₺2,702
-77.91%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$11.19 UZS 133.9K
$41.49 ₺2,081
-73.03%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
-
$101 ₺5,060
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$91.3 ₺4,580
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Shahrisabz
Istanbul
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,014 ₺50.8K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$625 ₺31.3K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$200 UZS 2.4M
$2,005 ₺100.6K
-90.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$152 UZS 1.8M
$1,126 ₺56.5K
-86.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,988 ₺149.8K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,730 ₺86.8K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Shahrisabz
Istanbul
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$424 UZS 5.1M
$1,136 ₺57.0K
-62.65%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
0
40.42
-

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

Last update for Shahrisabz: November 2, 2026

Last update for Istanbul: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Shahrisabz
–
Istanbul
$625
Groceries & Markets
Shahrisabz
–
Istanbul
$258
Eating Out
Shahrisabz
–
Istanbul
$221
Clothing & Footwear
Shahrisabz
–
Istanbul
$129
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shahrisabz
–
Istanbul
$120
Sport & Entertainment
Shahrisabz
–
Istanbul
$91
Getting Around
Shahrisabz
–
Istanbul
$75

Cost Breakdown

Salaries in Istanbul are about 2.7 times higher, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

Good to know
🇺🇿 Shahrisabz
🇹🇷 Istanbul
🕒 Local time
02:30 2:30 AM
00:30 12:30 AM
2 h behind Shahrisabz
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
100,300
15,701,602
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

TRY, USD, EUR to UZS – Uzbekistani Som Converter

Uzbekistani Som exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 11,975 UZS (100,000 UZS = 8.35 USD). 1 EUR = 13,383 UZS (100,000 UZS = 7.47 EUR).

Turkish Lira exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 50.15 TRY (100 TRY = 1.99 USD). 1 EUR = 56.05 TRY (100 TRY = 1.78 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Shahrisabz Istanbul 3,200 km ≈ 4 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Shahrisabz
  • 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
Shahrisabz vs Istanbul: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Shahrisabz cheaper than Istanbul?
Yes – Istanbul is pricier by about 543%, 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 $354 per month in Shahrisabz and $2,278 in Istanbul. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
What are total monthly expenses in Shahrisabz and in Istanbul?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $236 in Shahrisabz and $1,519 in Istanbul. That makes Shahrisabz about 84% cheaper.
How do food prices compare in Shahrisabz and in Istanbul?
Groceries cost about 263% more in Istanbul, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Is $800 a realistic budget for living in Shahrisabz or in Istanbul?
A $800 monthly budget goes further in Shahrisabz, where all-in costs run around $236, than in Istanbul at $1,519. In Shahrisabz it covers expenses comfortably, while in Istanbul it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is it better to live in Shahrisabz or in Istanbul?
It depends on your priorities. Istanbul has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $236 in Shahrisabz to $1,519 in Istanbul. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Which city is safer, Shahrisabz 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 the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Shahrisabz. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Istanbul makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Shahrisabz vs other spots: cost of living compared

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