Cost of Living Comparison Between Van and Ankara Cost of Living Comparison Between Van and Ankara

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $888 per month in Van vs $1,262 in Ankara, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,334 per month in Van vs $1,859 in Ankara, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,780 per month in Van vs $2,455 in Ankara, rent included.

Van is about 30% cheaper than Ankara, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Van and Ankara are more affordable than the global median – Van 34% lower, Ankara 6% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Van
Ankara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.52 ₺309
$9.75 ₺461
-33.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$17.84 ₺844
$38.20 ₺1,808
-53.30%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.30 ₺346
$8.75 ₺414
-16.57%
Cappuccino
$2.90 ₺137
$3.27 ₺155
-11.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.93 ₺44.01
$1.22 ₺57.7
-23.77%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.24 ₺11.28
$0.41 ₺19.59
-41.46%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.12 ₺195
$3.25 ₺154
26.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.78 ₺179
$3.87 ₺183
-2.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Van
Ankara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.06 ₺50.1
$1.02 ₺48.09
3.92%
White Bread (500g)
$0.78 ₺36.79
$0.65 ₺30.99
20.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.26 ₺107
$2.33 ₺110
-3.00%
Eggs
$1.87 ₺88.5
$2.30 ₺109
-18.70%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.36 ₺443
$9.36 ₺443
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.59 ₺265
$6.07 ₺287
-7.91%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.73 ₺792
$19.37 ₺917
-13.63%
Apples (1kg)
$1.05 ₺49.84
$1.52 ₺71.7
-30.92%
Banana (1kg)
$2.15 ₺102
$2.37 ₺112
-9.28%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.11 ₺52.6
$1.26 ₺59.8
-11.90%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.91 ₺43.25
$1.52 ₺72.0
-40.13%
Potato (1kg)
$0.69 ₺32.71
$0.74 ₺34.95
-6.76%
Onion (1kg)
$0.59 ₺27.98
$0.56 ₺26.57
5.36%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.92 ₺43.39
$1.12 ₺52.8
-17.86%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 ₺25.22
$0.43 ₺20.26
23.26%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.08 ₺98.3
$2.19 ₺103
-5.02%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.53 ₺498
$11.51 ₺545
-8.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.19 ₺104
$2.03 ₺96.1
7.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 ₺118
$3.14 ₺149
-20.70%
🚌 Getting Around
Van
Ankara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.45 ₺21.17
$0.63 ₺29.79
-28.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$48.66 ₺2,303
$9.54 ₺452
410.06%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.54 ₺73.0
$0.88 ₺41.56
75.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.65 ₺30.90
$0.66 ₺31.01
-1.52%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$9.00 ₺426
$6.27 ₺297
43.54%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.21 ₺57.4
$1.21 ₺57.3
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.7K ₺1.9M
$43.5K ₺2.1M
-8.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$42.3K ₺2.0M
$43.2K ₺2.0M
-2.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Van
Ankara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$96.1 ₺4,549
$85.8 ₺4,063
11.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.08 ₺477
$10.92 ₺517
-7.69%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.03 ₺427
$13.97 ₺661
-35.36%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Van
Ankara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$30.54 ₺1,446
$53.8 ₺2,546
-43.24%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$14.59 ₺691
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.10 ₺147
$6.50 ₺308
-52.31%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Van
Ankara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$603 ₺28.5K
$621 ₺29.4K
-2.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,552 ₺357.4K
$13.6K ₺643.1K
-44.42%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Van
Ankara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.9 ₺3,309
$58.5 ₺2,770
19.48%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.81 ₺1,458
$44.98 ₺2,129
-31.50%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.5 ₺4,092
$108 ₺5,088
-19.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$51.4 ₺2,434
$96.9 ₺4,585
-46.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Van
Ankara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$321 ₺15.2K
$748 ₺35.4K
-57.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$224 ₺10.6K
$525 ₺24.9K
-57.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$541 ₺25.6K
$1,106 ₺52.3K
-51.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$375 ₺17.7K
$719 ₺34.0K
-47.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,340 ₺63.4K
$1,698 ₺80.4K
-21.06%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$835 ₺39.5K
$1,126 ₺53.3K
-25.90%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Van
Ankara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$526 ₺24.9K
$1,123 ₺53.2K
-53.21%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
36.83
48.4
-23.90%

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

Last update for Van: July 21, 2026

Last update for Ankara: July 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $321 in Van versus $748 in Ankara. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 114% higher in Ankara, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $18.00 in Van versus $38.00 in Ankara. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $219 vs $239 – making Van the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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
Van vs Ankara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Van or Ankara?
Ankara costs about 42% more than Van, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Van and in Ankara?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,333 per month in Van and $1,894 in Ankara. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Van or Ankara?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Van, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do childcare costs compare in Van and in Ankara?
Kindergarten costs $603 per month in Van and $621 in Ankara. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Van or in Ankara?
Groceries cost about 9% more in Ankara, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Van or in Ankara?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Van, where all-in costs run around $888, than in Ankara at $1,262. In Van it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ankara it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Van or Ankara?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Van costs $888 versus $1,262 in Ankara. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Van compared to Ankara?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Van or to Ankara?
If budget matters most, go with Van. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ankara makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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