Turkey
A transcontinental city straddling Europe and Asia, where Byzantine mosaics, Ottoman mosques, and a rooftop bar scene create an unforgettable cultural tapestry.
#206 of 250
74% below average
Monthly cost, one adult
$ 389
Based on NYC = 100 index
Total does not include Housing — no scraped prices there (N/A)
Istanbul is the 206. most expensive of the 250 cities we track — a month here comes to $ 389 for one adult.
Cheaper here than almost anywhere else is healthcare, 97% below the median: cold medicine (6 days) $ 0.85, antibiotics (12 doses) $ 1. You also get off lightly on utilities, restaurants.
Percentages compare this city against the median of all tracked cities, category by category.
33 prices on this page come from live scrapers (3 sources, observed September 28, 2026 to October 13, 2026). They are free to reuse under CC BY 4.0: credit CostCompass and link this page.
CostCompass (2026). Cost of living in Istanbul, Turkey. Data as of 2026-10-14. https://costcompass.net/living/cities/istanbul. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
| Item | Price (USD) | Observations | Last observed | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken Breast (1kg) | 4.51 / item | 2 | 2026-10-13 | Migros, WFP food prices |
| Beef (1kg) | 19.00 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Migros |
| Fish Fillet (1kg) | 14.87 / item | 2 | 2026-10-13 | Migros, WFP food prices |
| Deli Meat / Ham (1kg) | 16.20 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Migros |
| Milk (1 liter) | 1.25 / item | 2 | 2026-10-13 | Migros, WFP food prices |
| Yogurt (150g) | 0.24 / item | 2 | 2026-10-13 | Migros, WFP food prices |
| Cheese (1kg) | 6.66 / item | 2 | 2026-10-13 | Migros, WFP food prices |
| Butter (200g) | 3.83 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Migros |
| Eggs (12) | 2.12 / item | 2 | 2026-10-13 | Migros, WFP food prices |
| Bread (500g) | 1.88 / item | 2 | 2026-10-13 | Migros, WFP food prices |
| Bread Roll (1pc) | 1.05 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Migros |
| Pasta (500g) | 0.63 / item | 2 | 2026-10-13 | Migros, WFP food prices |
| Rice (1kg) | 2.57 / item | 2 | 2026-10-13 | Migros, WFP food prices |
| Oats (500g) | 2.15 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Migros |
| Potatoes (1kg) | 1.39 / item | 2 | 2026-10-13 | Migros, WFP food prices |
| Tomatoes (1kg) | 1.67 / item | 2 | 2026-10-13 | Migros, WFP food prices |
| Bell Peppers (1kg) | 2.34 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Migros |
| Carrots (1kg) | 1.39 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Migros |
| Onions (1kg) | 0.65 / item | 2 | 2026-10-13 | Migros, WFP food prices |
| Garlic (1kg) | 4.24 / item | 2 | 2026-10-13 | Migros, WFP food prices |
| Lettuce (1 head) | 1.39 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Migros |
| Apples (1kg) | 1.26 / item | 2 | 2026-10-13 | Migros, WFP food prices |
| Banana (1kg) | 2.34 / item | 2 | 2026-10-13 | Migros, WFP food prices |
| Oranges (1kg) | 1.50 / item | 2 | 2026-10-13 | Migros, WFP food prices |
| Lentils (1kg) | 2.26 / item | 2 | 2026-10-13 | Migros, WFP food prices |
| Canned Tomatoes (400g) | 1.15 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Migros |
| Sunflower Oil (1L) | 2.12 / item | 2 | 2026-10-13 | Migros, WFP food prices |
| Flour (1kg) | 1.18 / item | 2 | 2026-10-13 | Migros, WFP food prices |
| Sugar (1kg) | 0.86 / item | 2 | 2026-10-13 | Migros, WFP food prices |
| Coffee (250g) | 5.93 / item | 2 | 2026-10-13 | Migros, WFP food prices |
| Water (1.5 liter) | 0.56 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Migros |
| Orange Juice (1L) | 4.29 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Migros |
| Cappuccino | 4.80 / item | 1 | 2026-09-28 | Café Menus (Named Venues) |
Cities where the money splits the same way
Turkey
Similar share of Restaurants & Transportation · compared on 7 of 8 categories
Kyrgyzstan
Similar share of Restaurants & Utilities · compared on 5 of 8 categories
Saudi Arabia
Similar share of Restaurants & Basic Grocery Basket · compared on 6 of 8 categories
Morocco
Similar share of Restaurants & Clothing · compared on 6 of 8 categories
Monthly average costs by category
N/A
$ 107
per month
$ 110
per month
$ 54
per month
$ 60
per month
$ 41
per month
$ 0.50
per month
$ 17
per month