Cost of Living Comparison Between Turkey and Saudi Arabia Cost of Living Comparison Between Turkey and Saudi Arabia

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,078 in Turkey versus $1,178 in Saudi Arabia.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,674 in Turkey versus $1,800 in Saudi Arabia.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,270 in Turkey versus $2,422 in Saudi Arabia.

Living in Turkey costs about 8% less than in Saudi Arabia on average.

Both countries sit below the global median: Turkey 19% lower, Saudi Arabia 12% lower.

Turkey ($858$1,721) and Saudi Arabia ($918$1,790) have similar cost spreads. Where you settle within each country has roughly equal impact on the budget.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Turkey
Saudi Arabia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.09 ₺410
$6.60 SAR 24.76
37.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.58 ₺1,740
$40.41 SAR 152
-4.53%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.96 ₺359
$8.02 SAR 30.08
-0.75%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.84 SAR 6.92
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.91 SAR 7.16
-
Cappuccino
$3.17 ₺143
$3.65 SAR 13.67
-13.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.33 ₺60.0
$0.73 SAR 2.73
82.19%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48 ₺21.86
$0.25 SAR 0.94
92.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.57 ₺161
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.52 ₺204
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Turkey
Saudi Arabia
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.98 ₺44.22
$1.67 SAR 6.25
-41.32%
White Bread (500g)
$0.76 ₺34.25
$1.03 SAR 3.86
-26.21%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.17 ₺97.6
$2.15 SAR 8.06
0.93%
Eggs
$2.34 ₺105
$2.57 SAR 9.63
-8.95%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.58 ₺432
$7.38 SAR 27.68
29.81%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.69 ₺257
$8.26 SAR 30.97
-31.11%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.38 ₺874
$12.81 SAR 48.04
51.29%
Apples (1kg)
$1.38 ₺62.4
$2.15 SAR 8.07
-35.81%
Banana (1kg)
$2.30 ₺104
$1.62 SAR 6.09
41.98%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.21 ₺54.6
$1.71 SAR 6.41
-29.24%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.53 ₺69.0
$1.59 SAR 5.96
-3.77%
Potato (1kg)
$0.76 ₺34.38
$1.27 SAR 4.77
-40.16%
Onion (1kg)
$0.61 ₺27.64
$1.30 SAR 4.89
-53.08%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.00 ₺45.03
$1.20 SAR 4.51
-16.67%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.50 ₺22.62
$0.62 SAR 2.31
-19.35%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
-
$4.08 SAR 15.31
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.75 SAR 6.58
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.16 SAR 8.10
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.12 ₺95.6
$7.36 SAR 27.61
-71.20%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.91 ₺492
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.13 ₺96.0
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.86 ₺129
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Turkey
Saudi Arabia
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.72 ₺32.44
$1.05 SAR 3.95
-31.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$44.87 ₺2,023
$36.94 SAR 139
21.47%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.06 ₺47.60
$2.68 SAR 10.06
-60.45%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.66 ₺29.55
$2.65 SAR 9.95
-75.09%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.44 ₺336
$13.54 SAR 50.8
-45.05%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.22 ₺54.9
$0.59 SAR 2.22
106.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$43.1K ₺1.9M
$25.1K SAR 94.0K
71.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$43.0K ₺1.9M
$22.0K SAR 82.5K
95.51%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Turkey
Saudi Arabia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$69.4 ₺3,128
$105 SAR 394
-33.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.93 ₺493
$33.52 SAR 126
-67.39%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.73 ₺619
$72.7 SAR 273
-81.11%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Turkey
Saudi Arabia
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.89 ₺2,205
$95.3 SAR 357
-48.69%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.01 ₺812
$41.38 SAR 155
-56.48%
Cinema Ticket
$6.52 ₺294
$16.21 SAR 60.8
-59.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Turkey
Saudi Arabia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$631 ₺28.4K
$352 SAR 1,322
78.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.0K ₺585.0K
$7,166 SAR 26.9K
81.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Turkey
Saudi Arabia
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.7 ₺2,422
$51.7 SAR 194
3.79%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.75 ₺1,972
$59.3 SAR 222
-26.20%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$108 ₺4,856
$93.8 SAR 352
14.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$97.1 ₺4,379
$82.1 SAR 308
18.29%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Turkey
Saudi Arabia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$628 ₺28.3K
$476 SAR 1,783
32.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$459 ₺20.7K
$407 SAR 1,527
12.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,152 ₺51.9K
$885 SAR 3,320
30.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$720 ₺32.5K
$634 SAR 2,379
13.57%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,729 ₺78.0K
$2,303 SAR 8,636
-24.93%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,104 ₺49.8K
$1,278 SAR 4,793
-13.61%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Turkey
Saudi Arabia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,069 ₺48.2K
$2,034 SAR 7,626
-47.43%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
42.38
4.65
811.40%

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

Last update for Turkey: April 27, 2026

Last update for Saudi Arabia: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $527 in Turkey, $418 in Saudi Arabia. Capital cities: $729 in Ankara vs $1,103 in Riyadh.

National salary averages: $1,041 in Turkey, $2,012 in Saudi Arabia. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 26% higher in Turkey.

Dining out costs 33% more in Saudi Arabia.

Public transport is 29% more expensive in Saudi Arabia.

Salaries are 93% higher in Saudi Arabia, giving Saudi Arabia stronger purchasing power.

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 Saudi Arabia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How does the cost of living in Saudi Arabia compare to Turkey?
At $1,354 per month in Saudi Arabia and $1,290 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 Saudi Arabia vs Turkey?
Turkey is simply cheaper day-to-day: 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 Saudi Arabia or Turkey?
Rent in Saudi Arabia beats 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 Saudi Arabia and Turkey on $2,000 per month?
In Turkey, $2,000 covers most cities easily. In Saudi Arabia, it works in regional areas but falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
Which country is better for expats: Saudi Arabia or Turkey?
It depends on what you're after. Turkey wins on affordability; Saudi Arabia may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.

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