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111
Cost of Living Index in Canada
Learn more Last update: Oct 2026
Cost of Living Comparison Between the United Arab Emirates and Istanbul
For one person, living is cheaper in Istanbul: $1,526 a month against $2,227 in the United Arab Emirates, rent and utilities included – about $8,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
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😐 Solo nomad: The United Arab Emirates is 18% more expensive than Istanbul without rent, and 45.9% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: The United Arab Emirates is 15.7% more expensive than Istanbul without rent, and 37.7% more expensive with rent.
🍽 Eating Out
United Arab Emirates
Istanbul
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.40 AED 34.51
$11.88 ₺585
-20.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$60.5 AED 222
$55.1 ₺2,714
9.80%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.69 AED 35.60
$9.14 ₺450
6.02%
Cappuccino
$5.34 AED 19.63
$4.24 ₺209
25.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05 AED 3.86
$1.75 ₺86.0
-40.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46 AED 1.70
$0.54 ₺26.83
-14.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$11.80 AED 43.33
$4.69 ₺231
151.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$12.35 AED 45.35
$5.97 ₺294
106.87%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
United Arab Emirates
Istanbul
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.72 AED 6.33
$1.26 ₺62.1
36.51%
White Bread (500g)
$1.46 AED 5.38
$0.95 ₺46.81
53.68%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.14 AED 7.85
$2.31 ₺114
-7.36%
Eggs
$3.22 AED 11.82
$2.47 ₺122
30.36%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.60 AED 38.92
$10.55 ₺520
0.47%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.82 AED 32.38
$5.60 ₺276
57.50%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.55 AED 42.44
$21.21 ₺1,045
-45.54%
Apples (1kg)
$2.46 AED 9.04
$1.93 ₺95.1
27.46%
Banana (1kg)
$1.77 AED 6.51
$2.29 ₺113
-22.71%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.68 AED 6.18
$1.28 ₺63.1
31.25%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.36 AED 4.99
$1.84 ₺90.8
-26.09%
Potato (1kg)
$1.07 AED 3.92
$0.67 ₺32.86
59.70%
Onion (1kg)
$1.06 AED 3.88
$0.59 ₺29.31
79.66%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.49 AED 5.46
$1.33 ₺65.4
12.03%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 AED 2.06
$0.59 ₺29.10
-5.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.09 AED 22.38
$2.36 ₺116
158.05%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.52 AED 49.66
$13.47 ₺664
0.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.43 AED 8.94
$2.42 ₺119
0.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76 AED 10.14
$3.54 ₺174
-22.03%
🚌 Getting Around
United Arab Emirates
Istanbul
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.62 AED 5.94
$0.83 ₺40.64
95.18%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$47.10 AED 173
$66.5 ₺3,273
-29.12%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.25 AED 11.93
$1.35 ₺66.6
140.74%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.60 AED 2.22
$0.85 ₺42.05
-29.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.32 AED 30.57
$10.86 ₺535
-23.39%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.95 AED 3.48
$1.47 ₺72.3
-35.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$44.9K AED 165.0K
$51.6K ₺2.5M
-12.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.4K AED 82.2K
$44.4K ₺2.2M
-49.62%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
United Arab Emirates
Istanbul
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$198 AED 726
$89.2 ₺4,395
121.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$53.4 AED 196
$11.60 ₺572
360.34%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$91.3 AED 335
$16.10 ₺793
467.27%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
United Arab Emirates
Istanbul
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$73.8 AED 271
$77.3 ₺3,805
-4.43%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$33.45 AED 123
$22.66 ₺1,116
47.62%
Cinema Ticket
$13.77 AED 50.6
$8.34 ₺411
65.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
United Arab Emirates
Istanbul
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$570 AED 2,094
$974 ₺48.0K
-41.45%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.2K AED 44.8K
$25.8K ₺1.3M
-52.69%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
United Arab Emirates
Istanbul
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.2 AED 225
$52.7 ₺2,597
16.11%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.0 AED 213
$39.16 ₺1,929
48.16%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.5 AED 365
$103 ₺5,083
-3.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$100 AED 368
$96.6 ₺4,759
3.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
United Arab Emirates
Istanbul
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,553 AED 5,704
$994 ₺49.0K
56.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,092 AED 4,011
$629 ₺31.0K
73.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,731 AED 10.0K
$2,024 ₺99.7K
34.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,022 AED 7,427
$1,155 ₺56.9K
75.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,628 AED 20.7K
$3,160 ₺155.7K
78.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,849 AED 10.5K
$1,838 ₺90.5K
55.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
United Arab Emirates
Istanbul
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,827 AED 10.4K
$1,203 ₺59.3K
134.91%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.63
41.09
-88.73%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for the United Arab Emirates: October 3, 2026
Last update for Istanbul: October 3, 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
United Arab Emirates $1.1K 48.3%
Istanbul $629 41.2% 42.4% $463
Monthly Utilities & Internet
United Arab Emirates $342 15.2%
Istanbul $117 7.7% 65.8% $225
Groceries & Markets
United Arab Emirates $263 11.6%
Istanbul $264 17.3% 0.4% $1
Eating Out
United Arab Emirates $258 11.4%
Istanbul $218 14.3% 15.6% $40
Clothing & Footwear
United Arab Emirates $143 6.4%
Istanbul $131 8.6% 8.5% $12
Sport & Entertainment
United Arab Emirates $101 4.5%
Istanbul $94 6.1% 7.3% $7.4
Getting Around
United Arab Emirates $60 2.7%
Istanbul $75 4.9% 26% $16
Accommodation & Living
United Arab Emirates $2K 45%
Istanbul $1.2K 35.5% 42.9% $867
Monthly Utilities & Internet
United Arab Emirates $396 8.8%
Istanbul $129 4% 67.5% $267
Groceries & Markets
United Arab Emirates $599 13.3%
Istanbul $606 18.6% 1.2% $7.3
Eating Out
United Arab Emirates $801 17.8%
Istanbul $712 21.9% 11.1% $89
Clothing & Footwear
United Arab Emirates $319 7.1%
Istanbul $292 9% 8.5% $27
Sport & Entertainment
United Arab Emirates $236 5.3%
Istanbul $211 6.5% 10.9% $26
Getting Around
United Arab Emirates $123 2.7%
Istanbul $152 4.7% 24% $29
Good to know
🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates
🇹🇷 Istanbul
Weather
Population
9,890,400
15,701,602
Exchange rates and currency converter
On the map
Lowest
Highest
Between locations
- United Arab Emirates Istanbul 2,990 km ≈ 4 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
- United Arab Emirates
- Istanbul
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
United Arab Emirates vs other spots: cost of living compared
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