Cost of Living Comparison Between Side and Istanbul Cost of Living Comparison Between Side and Istanbul

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,123 per month in Side vs $1,494 in Istanbul, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,826 per month in Side vs $2,338 in Istanbul, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,529 per month in Side vs $3,181 in Istanbul, rent included.

Side is about 25% cheaper than Istanbul, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Side sits 19% below the global median, while Istanbul is 8% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.47 ₺460

$10.14 ₺492

-6.61%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$67.2 ₺3,263

$50.7 ₺2,461

32.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.08 ₺490

$9.09 ₺441

10.89%

Cappuccino

$3.38 ₺164

$4.05 ₺197

-16.54%

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

$0.57 ₺27.70

-33.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.74 ₺181

$4.06 ₺197

-7.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.95 ₺289

$6.03 ₺293

-1.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 ₺51.0

$1.22 ₺59.4

-13.93%

White Bread (500g)

$0.95 ₺46.19

$0.94 ₺45.81

1.06%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.30 ₺112

$2.44 ₺118

-5.74%

Eggs

$2.03 ₺98.7

$2.46 ₺119

-17.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.56 ₺610

$10.30 ₺500

21.94%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.71 ₺277

$5.35 ₺260

6.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$26.07 ₺1,266

$21.09 ₺1,024

23.61%

Apples (1kg)

$1.42 ₺68.9

$1.97 ₺95.9

-27.92%

Banana (1kg)

$2.31 ₺112

$2.24 ₺109

3.12%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.36 ₺66.1

$1.20 ₺58.5

13.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 ₺66.9

$1.92 ₺93.3

-28.13%

Potato (1kg)

$0.77 ₺37.56

$0.59 ₺28.65

30.51%

Onion (1kg)

$0.66 ₺32.07

$0.52 ₺25.04

26.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.83 ₺88.8

$1.09 ₺53.0

67.89%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 ₺33.20

$0.59 ₺28.62

15.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.61 ₺127

$2.33 ₺113

12.02%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.28 ₺645

$13.24 ₺643

0.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 ₺83.1

$2.40 ₺116

-28.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.08 ₺150

$3.39 ₺165

-9.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.72 ₺35.19

$0.86 ₺41.57

-16.28%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$32.89 ₺1,597

$67.9 ₺3,298

-51.58%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.38 ₺66.8

$1.31 ₺63.5

5.34%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.01 ₺48.94

$0.92 ₺44.88

9.78%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.75 ₺279

$10.72 ₺520

-46.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.42 ₺69.0

$1.38 ₺66.8

2.90%

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

$42.5K ₺2.1M

$50.7K ₺2.5M

-16.19%

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

$39.8K ₺1.9M

$44.4K ₺2.2M

-10.43%

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

$66.3 ₺3,218

$88.6 ₺4,302

-25.21%

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

$10.03 ₺487

$11.48 ₺557

-12.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$21.50 ₺1,044

$16.51 ₺802

30.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$50.0 ₺2,428

$69.2 ₺3,361

-27.77%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.43 ₺1,138

Cinema Ticket

$8.75 ₺425

$8.37 ₺407

4.54%

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

$611 ₺29.7K

$978 ₺47.5K

-37.53%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.6K ₺515.1K

$28.0K ₺1.4M

-62.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.65 ₺2,217

$54.1 ₺2,624

-15.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$61.8 ₺2,998

$38.94 ₺1,890

58.58%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.7 ₺4,259

$101 ₺4,881

-12.72%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$79.6 ₺3,866

$94.4 ₺4,583

-15.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$435 ₺21.1K

$991 ₺48.1K

-56.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$309 ₺15.0K

$638 ₺31.0K

-51.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$766 ₺37.2K

$1,946 ₺94.5K

-60.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$588 ₺28.6K

$1,144 ₺55.5K

-48.57%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,489 ₺72.3K

$2,979 ₺144.6K

-50.01%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,115 ₺54.1K

$1,694 ₺82.3K

-34.22%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,196 ₺58.1K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

39.17

41.26

-5.07%

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

Last update for Side: September 7, 2026

Last update for Istanbul: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $435 in Side versus $991 in Istanbul. 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 $51.0 in Istanbul. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $276 vs $259 – making Istanbul 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 Istanbul: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Istanbul is pricier by about 33%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,685 per month in Side and $2,242 in Istanbul. 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 $978 in Istanbul. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 6% cheaper in Istanbul – 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 Istanbul at $1,494. In Side it covers expenses comfortably, while in Istanbul it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Side – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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, Istanbul makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.