Cost of Living Comparison Between Siauliai and Istanbul Cost of Living Comparison Between Siauliai and Istanbul

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,227 per month in Siauliai vs $1,527 in Istanbul, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,889 per month in Siauliai vs $2,348 in Istanbul, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,551 per month in Siauliai vs $3,170 in Istanbul, rent included.

Siauliai is about 20% cheaper than Istanbul, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Siauliai sits 10% below the global median, while Istanbul is 12% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Siauliai
Istanbul
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.30 €7.23
$10.39 ₺505
-20.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.80 €30.34
$51.3 ₺2,496
-32.15%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.25 €6.32
$9.40 ₺457
-22.87%
Cappuccino
$3.55 €3.09
$4.09 ₺199
-13.20%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91 €1.66
$1.65 ₺80.1
15.76%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.17 €1.02
$0.57 ₺27.65
105.26%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.62 €4.90
$4.10 ₺199
37.07%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.43 €2.99
$6.09 ₺297
-43.68%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Siauliai
Istanbul
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.02 €0.89
$1.27 ₺61.9
-19.69%
White Bread (500g)
$1.40 €1.22
$0.90 ₺43.62
55.56%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.44 €2.13
$2.36 ₺115
3.39%
Eggs
$3.40 €2.97
$2.43 ₺118
39.92%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.60 €9.24
$10.41 ₺507
1.83%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.15 €7.10
$5.21 ₺254
56.43%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.42 €10.83
$20.70 ₺1,007
-40.00%
Apples (1kg)
$1.94 €1.69
$1.96 ₺95.5
-1.02%
Banana (1kg)
$1.53 €1.33
$2.14 ₺104
-28.50%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.80 €1.57
$1.17 ₺57.1
53.85%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.71 €1.49
$1.95 ₺95.0
-12.31%
Potato (1kg)
$0.94 €0.82
$0.63 ₺30.60
49.21%
Onion (1kg)
$0.56 €0.48
$0.56 ₺27.36
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.62 €1.41
$1.10 ₺53.4
47.27%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.87 €0.76
$0.62 ₺30.10
40.32%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.45 €5.62
$2.33 ₺113
176.82%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.15 €7.11
$13.57 ₺660
-39.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.90 €1.66
$2.40 ₺117
-20.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.77 €1.54
$3.31 ₺161
-46.53%
🚌 Getting Around
Siauliai
Istanbul
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.78 €1.55
$0.89 ₺43.44
100.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$33.32 €29.04
$66.6 ₺3,243
-50.00%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.20 €2.79
$1.38 ₺66.9
131.88%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.15 €1.00
$0.92 ₺44.82
25.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.31 €12.47
$10.69 ₺520
33.86%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.76 €1.54
$1.35 ₺65.7
30.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.1K €24.5K
$52.3K ₺2.5M
-46.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.8K €26.0K
$43.4K ₺2.1M
-31.36%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Siauliai
Istanbul
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$233 €203
$89.1 ₺4,337
161.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.61 €12.73
$11.64 ₺566
25.52%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.65 €13.64
$16.20 ₺788
-3.40%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Siauliai
Istanbul
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$29.11 €25.37
$73.5 ₺3,574
-60.37%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.83 €16.41
$23.02 ₺1,120
-18.20%
Cinema Ticket
$10.49 €9.15
$8.42 ₺410
24.58%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Siauliai
Istanbul
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$673 €587
$972 ₺47.3K
-30.75%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.9K €10.4K
$27.4K ₺1.3M
-56.64%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Siauliai
Istanbul
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.9 €61.0
$53.2 ₺2,587
31.57%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.14 €30.63
$37.88 ₺1,843
-7.23%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$90.7 €79.1
$103 ₺5,004
-11.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103 €90.2
$95.2 ₺4,631
8.68%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Siauliai
Istanbul
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$432 €377
$962 ₺46.8K
-55.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$308 €268
$651 ₺31.7K
-52.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$743 €648
$1,957 ₺95.2K
-62.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$624 €544
$1,146 ₺55.8K
-45.58%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,615 €2,279
$2,985 ₺145.3K
-12.40%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,641 €1,431
$1,689 ₺82.2K
-2.83%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Siauliai
Istanbul
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,595 €1,390
$1,180 ₺57.4K
35.08%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.95
41.26
-90.43%

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

Last update for Siauliai: September 12, 2026

Last update for Istanbul: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Siauliai versus $962 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 35% higher in Siauliai, 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 $35.00 in Siauliai versus $51.0 in Istanbul. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 vs $258 – making Siauliai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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
Siauliai vs Istanbul: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Istanbul cheaper than Siauliai?
Yes – Istanbul is pricier by about 24%, and the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,840 per month in Siauliai and $2,290 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 Siauliai, 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 $673 per month in Siauliai and $972 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 Siauliai and in Istanbul?
Groceries cost about 6% more in Istanbul, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Siauliai or in Istanbul?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Siauliai, where all-in costs run around $1,227, than in Istanbul at $1,527. In Siauliai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Istanbul it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Siauliai or Istanbul more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Siauliai – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Siauliai 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 Siauliai. 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.

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