Cost of Living Comparison Between Thailand and Turkey Cost of Living Comparison Between Thailand and Turkey

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $923 in Thailand versus $1,081 in Turkey.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,553 in Thailand versus $1,676 in Turkey.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,183 in Thailand versus $2,271 in Turkey.

Living in Thailand costs about 15% less than in Turkey on average.

Both countries sit below the global median: Thailand 31% lower, Turkey 19% lower.

Internal cost variation is higher in Thailand: monthly costs span $629 to $2,135, compared to $878$1,750 in Turkey. City choice carries more weight in Thailand.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Thailand
Turkey
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.12 ฿104
$8.84 ₺420
-64.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.26 ฿943
$38.14 ₺1,813
-25.90%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.98 ฿233
$8.02 ₺381
-12.97%
Cappuccino
$2.06 ฿68.8
$3.33 ₺158
-38.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68 ฿22.61
$1.29 ₺61.1
-47.29%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32 ฿10.65
$0.49 ₺23.35
-34.69%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.10 ฿70.1
$3.45 ₺164
-39.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.60 ฿120
$4.49 ₺214
-19.82%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Thailand
Turkey
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.89 ฿62.9
$1.00 ₺47.46
89.00%
White Bread (500g)
$1.42 ฿47.42
$0.75 ₺35.55
89.33%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.33 ฿44.43
$2.22 ₺106
-40.09%
Eggs
$2.16 ฿71.9
$2.22 ₺106
-2.70%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.94 ฿565
$9.74 ₺463
73.92%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.04 ฿102
$5.77 ₺274
-47.31%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.72 ฿358
$19.39 ₺921
-44.71%
Apples (1kg)
$3.04 ฿101
$1.33 ₺63.3
128.57%
Banana (1kg)
$1.39 ฿46.41
$2.25 ₺107
-38.22%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.04 ฿67.9
$1.18 ₺56.2
72.88%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.63 ฿54.5
$1.48 ₺70.1
10.14%
Potato (1kg)
$1.57 ฿52.5
$0.76 ₺36.10
106.58%
Onion (1kg)
$1.29 ฿42.88
$0.62 ₺29.69
108.06%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.18 ฿39.43
$1.05 ₺49.75
12.38%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.37
$0.50 ₺23.88
-2.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.56 ฿152
$2.18 ₺103
109.17%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.18 ฿573
$10.99 ₺522
56.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.84 ฿61.3
$2.12 ₺101
-13.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.08 ฿103
$2.85 ₺136
8.07%
🚌 Getting Around
Thailand
Turkey
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.73 ฿24.40
$0.72 ₺34.40
1.39%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$33.32 ฿1,111
$45.34 ₺2,155
-26.51%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.21 ฿40.26
$1.06 ₺50.3
14.15%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.20 ฿40.13
$0.62 ₺29.36
93.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.25 ฿209
$7.60 ₺361
-17.76%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 ฿43.76
$1.23 ₺58.4
6.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7K ฿991.7K
$43.9K ₺2.1M
-32.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.4K ฿948.6K
$44.5K ₺2.1M
-36.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Thailand
Turkey
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$79.9 ฿2,666
$70.3 ₺3,341
13.70%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.58 ฿453
$10.93 ₺520
24.25%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.35 ฿612
$14.03 ₺667
30.79%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Thailand
Turkey
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$50.6 ฿1,688
$50.1 ₺2,383
0.94%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.40 ฿347
$17.76 ₺844
-41.44%
Cinema Ticket
$7.42 ฿248
$6.33 ₺301
17.22%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Thailand
Turkey
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$411 ฿13.7K
$630 ₺29.9K
-34.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.8K ฿426.9K
$13.0K ₺619.9K
-1.89%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Thailand
Turkey
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.74 ฿1,593
$53.5 ₺2,544
-10.80%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.05 ฿1,136
$43.48 ₺2,067
-21.69%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.5 ฿3,218
$104 ₺4,965
-7.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.7 ฿2,493
$97.0 ₺4,610
-22.95%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Thailand
Turkey
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$497 ฿16.6K
$648 ₺30.8K
-23.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$263 ฿8,770
$451 ₺21.4K
-41.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,219 ฿40.7K
$1,159 ₺55.1K
5.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$662 ฿22.1K
$725 ₺34.5K
-8.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,428 ฿114.4K
$1,697 ₺80.7K
101.97%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,956 ฿65.2K
$1,076 ₺51.1K
81.78%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Thailand
Turkey
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$559 ฿18.7K
$1,071 ₺50.9K
-47.75%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.68
42.38
-86.60%

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

Last update for Thailand: July 27, 2026

Last update for Turkey: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $452 in Thailand, $526 in Turkey. Capital cities: $662 in Bangkok vs $737 in Ankara.

National salary averages: $620 in Thailand, $1,039 in Turkey. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 16% higher in Turkey.

Public transport is 288% more expensive in Turkey.

Salaries are 68% higher in Turkey, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Turkey.

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
Thailand vs Turkey: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How does the cost of living in Thailand compare to the cost in Turkey?
At $1,382 per month in Thailand and $1,314 in Turkey, there's a 5% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
How do daily expenses compare in Thailand vs Turkey?
Day-to-day life is simply cheaper in Turkey: lower food prices, cheaper commutes, smaller household bills. Over time, those daily savings make a real difference to your monthly budget and ability to put money away.
Is rent more expensive in Thailand or in Turkey?
Rent in Thailand is consistently higher than in Turkey across the board, especially in major cities. Housing is usually the single biggest driver of the overall cost difference between the two countries.
Can you live in both Thailand and Turkey on $2,000 per month?
In Turkey, $2,000 covers most cities easily; in Thailand it stretches only to regional areas and falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
Which country is better for expats: Thailand or Turkey?
It depends on what you're after: Turkey wins on affordability; Thailand may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.

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