Cost of Living Comparison Between Turku and Kiel Cost of Living Comparison Between Turku and Kiel

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,833 in Turku versus $1,987 in Kiel.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,889 in Turku versus $2,990 in Kiel.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,946 in Turku versus $3,994 in Kiel.

Living in Turku costs roughly 8% less than in Kiel, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Turku 37% above, Kiel 48% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Turku
Kiel
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.29 €13.26
$17.30 €15.01
-11.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$111 €96.6
$77.7 €67.4
43.41%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.55 €10.02
$11.41 €9.90
1.23%
Cappuccino
$4.95 €4.29
$3.97 €3.45
24.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.16 €1.88
$3.19 €2.77
-32.29%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86 €1.62
$2.38 €2.06
-21.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.88 €7.70
$5.86 €5.08
51.54%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.91 €6.86
$4.54 €3.94
74.23%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Turku
Kiel
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.30 €1.12
$1.25 €1.09
4.00%
White Bread (500g)
$2.52 €2.18
$2.20 €1.91
14.55%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.68 €2.33
$3.34 €2.90
-19.76%
Eggs
$3.11 €2.70
$3.81 €3.30
-18.37%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.21 €6.25
$14.87 €12.90
-51.51%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.24 €13.22
$13.78 €11.96
10.60%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.46 €16.88
$21.61 €18.75
-9.95%
Apples (1kg)
$2.11 €1.83
$3.22 €2.79
-34.47%
Banana (1kg)
$2.03 €1.76
$1.70 €1.48
19.41%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.96 €1.70
$2.15 €1.86
-8.84%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.95 €3.43
$4.89 €4.24
-19.22%
Potato (1kg)
$1.51 €1.31
$1.51 €1.31
-
Onion (1kg)
$1.63 €1.41
$1.48 €1.28
10.14%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.06 €1.79
$1.88 €1.63
9.57%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.95 €1.69
$0.86 €0.75
126.74%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$12.43 €10.79
$9.76 €8.47
27.36%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.37 €14.20
$6.55 €5.68
149.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.50 €3.04
$1.11 €0.96
215.32%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.84 €3.33
$1.59 €1.38
141.51%
🚌 Getting Around
Turku
Kiel
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.42 €2.97
$2.82 €2.45
21.28%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$62.4 €54.1
$57.1 €49.54
9.25%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$8.76 €7.60
$4.88 €4.23
79.51%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.52 €1.32
$2.10 €1.82
-27.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$51.8 €44.91
$25.59 €22.20
102.27%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.14 €1.86
$2.10 €1.82
1.90%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.6K €33.5K
$31.5K €27.3K
22.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.0K €32.1K
$37.5K €32.5K
-1.14%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Turku
Kiel
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$176 €153
$324 €281
-45.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.12 €26.14
$24.29 €21.07
24.00%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.48 €20.37
$54.4 €47.23
-56.86%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Turku
Kiel
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.02 €41.66
$37.10 €32.19
29.43%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.16 €22.70
$23.32 €20.23
12.18%
Cinema Ticket
$17.35 €15.05
$17.31 €15.02
0.23%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Turku
Kiel
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$320 €278
$308 €268
3.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,124 €3,578
$9,150 €7,938
-54.93%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Turku
Kiel
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$82.0 €71.1
$77.7 €67.4
5.51%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.19 €29.66
$45.88 €39.81
-25.48%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$92.6 €80.4
$99.6 €86.4
-7.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 €93.3
$133 €116
-19.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Turku
Kiel
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$782 €678
$669 €580
16.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$635 €551
$638 €554
-0.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,292 €1,121
$1,608 €1,395
-19.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,005 €872
$1,077 €935
-6.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,403 €3,820
$5,525 €4,793
-20.31%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,956 €2,565
$2,868 €2,488
3.06%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Turku
Kiel
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,790 €2,421
$3,476 €3,016
-19.75%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.97
3.96
0.25%

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

Last update for Turku: May 30, 2026

Last update for Kiel: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $782 in Turku and $669 in Kiel. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kiel pays 25% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $111 in Turku vs $78.0 in Kiel for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $365 vs $348 per month, with Kiel cheaper across the board.

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
Turku vs Kiel: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kiel cheaper than Turku?
Turku is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 8% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Turku or Kiel?
On paper, Kiel earns 25% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Turku and Kiel?
Rent for a central apartment: $782 in Turku versus $669 in Kiel. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Turku and Kiel?
Shoppers in Kiel pay roughly 5% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Is eating out cheaper in Turku or Kiel?
Dining out is cheaper in Turku – a meal for two runs $111 versus $78.0 in Kiel. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for Turku or Kiel?
At $1,833 in Turku versus $1,987 in Kiel, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Turku but tight or insufficient in Kiel. The gap between the two cities makes Turku the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Turku or Kiel more family-friendly?
For families, Turku is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Kiel, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Turku or Kiel?
Safety-wise, Turku and Kiel are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Turku gentler on the wallet – expenses run 8% less than in Kiel. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Turku vs other spots: cost of living compared

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