For one person, living is cheaper in Iran: $497 a month against $1,212 in Turkey, rent and utilities included – about $8,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Turkey and in Iran actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
A single person spends $1,212 per month in Turkey vs $497 in Iran, rent included.
Turkey $1,212
Iran $497
A couple spends around $1,844 per month in Turkey vs $809 in Iran, rent included.
Turkey $1,844
Iran $809
A family of three spends $2,475 per month in Turkey vs $1,121 in Iran, rent included.
Turkey $2,475
Iran $1,121
📏
The regional cost range is wider in Turkey ($656–$1,765) than in Iran ($361–$874), so city choice matters more there.
🌍
The cost of living in Turkey is about 144% higher than in Iran on average.
📊
Both Turkey and Iran are more affordable than the global median – Turkey 11% lower, Iran 63% lower.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Turkey
Iran
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.14₺455
$3.41$3.41
168.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$40.12₺1,998
$15.99$15.99
150.91%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.91₺444
$3.95$3.95
125.57%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$0.85$0.85
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.11$1.11
-
Cappuccino
$3.75₺187
$1.18$1.18
217.80%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47₺73.3
$0.53$0.53
177.36%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.56₺27.64
$0.85$0.85
-34.12%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.84₺191
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.91₺245
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Turkey
Iran
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.02₺51.0
$0.62$0.62
64.52%
White Bread(500g)
$1.00₺49.89
$0.48$0.48
108.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.20₺110
$2.35$2.35
-6.38%
Eggs
$2.21₺110
$1.11$1.11
99.10%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.72₺484
$3.74$3.74
159.89%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.86₺242
$3.00$3.00
62.00%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$20.09₺1,000
$9.85$9.85
103.96%
Apples(1kg)
$1.86₺92.4
$0.97$0.97
91.75%
Banana(1kg)
$1.98₺98.8
$1.47$1.47
34.69%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.06₺53.0
$0.89$0.89
19.10%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.36₺67.8
$0.58$0.58
134.48%
Potato(1kg)
$0.54₺26.84
$0.51$0.51
5.88%
Onion(1kg)
$0.45₺22.29
$0.46$0.46
-2.17%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.00₺49.57
$0.51$0.51
96.08%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.69₺34.21
$0.23$0.23
200.00%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
-
$1.01$1.01
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.53$0.53
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.44$1.44
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.26₺113
$2.21$2.21
2.26%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.91₺593
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.24₺112
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.85₺142
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Turkey
Iran
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.76₺37.98
$0.15$0.15
406.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$39.49₺1,967
$10.20$10.20
287.16%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.42₺70.9
$0.52$0.52
173.08%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.84₺41.63
$0.31$0.31
170.97%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.98₺397
$2.43$2.43
228.40%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.38₺68.8
$0.28$0.28
392.86%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$41.6K₺2.1M
$59.2K$59.2K
-29.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.3K₺2.0M
$52.7K$52.7K
-23.47%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Turkey
Iran
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$75.0₺3,733
$13.72$13.72
446.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.38₺517
$2.30$2.30
351.30%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.56₺775
$6.70$6.70
132.24%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Turkey
Iran
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.2₺2,751
$16.70$16.70
230.72%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.01₺1,047
$12.24$12.24
71.65%
Cinema Ticket
$6.87₺342
$1.54$1.54
346.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Turkey
Iran
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$680₺33.9K
$81.3$81.3
736.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.9K₺791.9K
$1,146$1,146
1287.49%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Turkey
Iran
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.7₺2,722
$22.85$22.85
139.21%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.98₺2,141
$26.56$26.56
61.82%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102₺5,070
$100$100
1.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$93.9₺4,674
$62.5$62.5
50.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Turkey
Iran
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$614₺30.6K
$252$252
143.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$441₺21.9K
$180$180
145.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,011₺50.4K
$556$556
81.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$703₺35.0K
$345$345
103.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,710₺85.2K
$994$994
72.09%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,115₺55.5K
$585$585
90.72%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Turkey
Iran
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,061₺52.8K
$243$243
337.00%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
41.67
23.39
78.15%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Turkey: October 26, 2026
Last update for Iran: October 25, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Turkey
$441 36.4%
Iran
$180 36.1% ↓ 59.2%$261
🛒Groceries & Markets
Turkey
$239 19.8%
Iran
$108 21.7% ↓ 54.9%$131
🍽Eating Out
Turkey
$182 15%
Iran
$59 11.8% ↓ 67.7%$123
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Turkey
$132 10.9%
Iran
$96 19.2% ↓ 27.6%$36
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Turkey
$101 8.3%
Iran
$23 4.6% ↓ 77.5%$78
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Turkey
$69 5.7%
Iran
$20 4% ↓ 71.3%$49
🚌Getting Around
Turkey
$48 4%
Iran
$13 2.6% ↓ 73.3%$35
🏠Accommodation & Living
Turkey
$703 28.4%
Iran
$345 30.7% ↓ 51%$358
🛒Groceries & Markets
Turkey
$549 22.2%
Iran
$264 23.5% ↓ 51.9%$285
🍽Eating Out
Turkey
$562 22.7%
Iran
$198 17.6% ↓ 64.8%$365
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Turkey
$293 11.9%
Iran
$212 18.9% ↓ 27.6%$81
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Turkey
$111 4.5%
Iran
$25 2.2% ↓ 77.5%$86
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Turkey
$159 6.4%
Iran
$52 4.6% ↓ 67.4%$107
🚌Getting Around
Turkey
$98 4%
Iran
$26 2.3% ↓ 73.4%$72
Cost Breakdown
🏠Average rent: $446 in Turkey vs $295 in Iran. For reference, capital cities sit at $765 in Ankara and $430 in Tehran.
💰Average salary: $1,034 in Turkey vs $268 in Iran. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 51% higher in Turkey.
⭐Dining out costs 113% more in Turkey.
⭐Public transport is 230% more expensive in Turkey.
⭐Salaries are about 3.9 times higher in Turkey, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Turkey.
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
Turkey vs Iran: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which country is cheaper: Iran or Turkey?
Iran is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 59% lower on average.
Is rent more expensive in Iran or in Turkey?
Housing costs more in Turkey: a central one-bedroom averages $446 versus $295 in Iran.
How do daily expenses compare in Iran vs Turkey?
Groceries, public transport, and eating out all cost less in Iran – part of why living there is about 59% cheaper overall.
Can you live in both Iran and Turkey on $800 per month?
$800 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Iran, but in Turkey it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.
Which country is better for expats: Iran or Turkey?
Iran is the budget-friendly choice for expats. But cost isn’t everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.