Cost of Living Comparison Between Side and Ankara Cost of Living Comparison Between Side and Ankara

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,123 per month in Side vs $1,380 in Ankara, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,826 per month in Side vs $2,039 in Ankara, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,529 per month in Side vs $2,699 in Ankara, rent included.

Side is about 19% cheaper than Ankara, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Side sits 19% below the global median, while Ankara is 0% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.47 ₺460

$10.28 ₺499

-7.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$67.2 ₺3,263

$41.24 ₺2,002

62.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.08 ₺490

$9.50 ₺461

6.11%

Cappuccino

$3.38 ₺164

$3.95 ₺192

-14.43%

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

$2.13 ₺103

$1.74 ₺84.3

22.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 ₺18.56

$0.68 ₺33.07

-44.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.74 ₺181

$5.03 ₺244

-25.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.95 ₺289

$5.87 ₺285

1.36%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 ₺51.0

$1.19 ₺57.9

-11.76%

White Bread (500g)

$0.95 ₺46.19

$0.97 ₺47.14

-2.06%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.30 ₺112

$2.36 ₺115

-2.54%

Eggs

$2.03 ₺98.7

$2.64 ₺128

-23.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.56 ₺610

$10.08 ₺489

24.60%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.71 ₺277

$5.33 ₺259

7.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$26.07 ₺1,266

$20.00 ₺971

30.35%

Apples (1kg)

$1.42 ₺68.9

$2.02 ₺97.9

-29.70%

Banana (1kg)

$2.31 ₺112

$2.15 ₺104

7.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.36 ₺66.1

$1.39 ₺67.4

-2.16%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 ₺66.9

$1.56 ₺75.9

-11.54%

Potato (1kg)

$0.77 ₺37.56

$0.57 ₺27.47

35.09%

Onion (1kg)

$0.66 ₺32.07

$0.52 ₺25.01

26.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.83 ₺88.8

$1.04 ₺50.4

75.96%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 ₺33.20

$0.69 ₺33.44

-1.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.61 ₺127

$2.29 ₺111

13.97%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.28 ₺645

$12.41 ₺603

7.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 ₺83.1

$2.21 ₺107

-22.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.08 ₺150

$3.16 ₺153

-2.53%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.72 ₺35.19

$0.69 ₺33.63

4.35%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$32.89 ₺1,597

$12.55 ₺609

162.07%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.38 ₺66.8

$1.21 ₺58.7

14.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.01 ₺48.94

$0.70 ₺34.15

44.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.75 ₺279

$6.74 ₺327

-14.69%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.42 ₺69.0

$1.34 ₺65.1

5.97%

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

$42.5K ₺2.1M

$49.7K ₺2.4M

-14.63%

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

$39.8K ₺1.9M

$42.7K ₺2.1M

-6.94%

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

$66.3 ₺3,218

$91.0 ₺4,416

-27.14%

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

$10.03 ₺487

$10.93 ₺531

-8.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$21.50 ₺1,044

$17.61 ₺855

22.09%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$50.0 ₺2,428

$67.5 ₺3,280

-25.97%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.16 ₺736

Cinema Ticket

$8.75 ₺425

$8.20 ₺398

6.71%

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

$611 ₺29.7K

$1,069 ₺51.9K

-42.83%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.6K ₺515.1K

$19.0K ₺920.5K

-44.04%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.65 ₺2,217

$49.96 ₺2,426

-8.63%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$61.8 ₺2,998

$50.3 ₺2,444

22.67%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.7 ₺4,259

$103 ₺5,014

-15.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$79.6 ₺3,866

$97.6 ₺4,736

-18.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$435 ₺21.1K

$749 ₺36.4K

-41.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$309 ₺15.0K

$559 ₺27.1K

-44.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$766 ₺37.2K

$1,203 ₺58.4K

-36.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$588 ₺28.6K

$868 ₺42.1K

-32.23%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,489 ₺72.3K

$1,690 ₺82.1K

-11.91%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,115 ₺54.1K

$1,163 ₺56.5K

-4.12%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,044 ₺50.7K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

39.17

43.33

-9.60%

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

Last update for Side: September 7, 2026

Last update for Ankara: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $435 in Side versus $749 in Ankara. 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 $67.0 in Side versus $41.00 in Ankara. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $276 vs $252 – making Ankara 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

Side vs Ankara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ankara costs about 23% more than Side, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,685 per month in Side and $2,069 in Ankara. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $611 per month in Side and $1,069 in Ankara. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 9% cheaper in Ankara – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Side, where all-in costs run around $1,123, than in Ankara at $1,380. In Side it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ankara it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Side costs $1,123 versus $1,380 in Ankara. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Side. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ankara makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.