Cost of living in Ankara (Turkey) is 22% cheaper than in Istanbul (Turkey)
We need your help!
Expatistan is a collaborative effort. The data gets better with every new price that you enter.
Do you know the prices in Istanbul or in Ankara? You can help!
Improve the prices for Istanbul! Improve the prices for Ankara!
WARNING! This comparison is based on only a few data points. At this point it is only a guess. It is based on 1,616 prices entered by 211 different people.
Full price comparison, by category
(click to expand each category)
Currency:
| Food | - 5% | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Food in Ankara (Turkey) is 5% cheaper than in Istanbul (Turkey) | ||||
| Update prices | Update prices | |||
| Ankara | Istanbul | Diff | ||
| Basic lunchtime menu (including a drink) in the business district | 447TL | 429TL | + 4% | |
| Combo meal in fast food restaurant (big mac meal or similar) | 252TL | 278TL | - 9% | |
| 500 gr (1 lb.) of boneless chicken breast | 100TL | 149TL | - 33% | |
| 1 liter (1 qt.) of whole fat milk | 37TL | 40TL | - 6% | |
| 12 eggs, large | 77TL | 83TL | - 7% | |
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of tomatoes | 51TL | 53TL | - 5% | |
| 500 gr (16 oz.) of local cheese | 151TL | 152TL | - 1% | |
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of apples | 48TL | 52TL | - 8% | |
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of potatoes | 24TL | 29TL | - 17% | |
| 0.5 l (16 oz) domestic beer in the supermarket | 80TL | 73TL | + 11% | |
| 1 bottle of red table wine, good quality | 499TL | 501TL | - 0% | |
| 2 liters of coca-cola | 64TL | 54TL | + 20% | |
| Bread for 2 people for 1 day | 14TL | 21TL | - 34% | |
| Housing | - 21% | |||
| Housing in Ankara (Turkey) is 21% cheaper than in Istanbul (Turkey) | ||||
| Update prices | Update prices | |||
| Ankara | Istanbul | Diff | ||
| Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in expensive area | 37,832TL | 53,135TL | - 29% | |
| Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in normal area | 30,745TL | 28,641TL | + 7% | |
| Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 2 people in 85m2 flat | 1,985TL | 3,196TL | - 38% | |
| Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in expensive area | 28,948TL | 35,990TL | - 20% | |
| Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in normal area | 22,669TL | 23,309TL | - 3% | |
| Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 1 person in 45 m2 (480 sqft) studio | 1,820TL | 2,373TL | - 23% | |
| Internet 8 mbps (1 month) | 295TL | 436TL | - 32% | |
| 40” flat screen tv | 6,640TL | 12,907TL | - 49% | |
| Microwave 800/900 watt (bosch, panasonic, lg, sharp, or equivalent brands) | 2,885TL | 3,461TL | - 17% | |
| Laundry detergent (3 l. ~ 100 oz.) | 101TL | 198TL | - 49% | |
| Hourly rate for cleaning help | 178TL | 197TL | - 10% | |
| Clothes | - 6% | |||
| Clothes in Ankara (Turkey) is 6% cheaper than in Istanbul (Turkey) | ||||
| Update prices | Update prices | |||
| Ankara | Istanbul | Diff | ||
| 1 pair of jeans (levis 501 or similar) | 1,855TL | 2,287TL | - 19% | |
| 1 summer dress in a high street store (zara, h&m or similar retailers) | 1,382TL | 1,323TL | + 4% | |
| 1 pair of sport shoes (nike, adidas, or equivalent brands) | 3,244TL | 4,283TL | - 24% | |
| 1 pair of men’s leather business shoes | 4,683TL | 4,448TL | + 5% | |
| Transportation | - 38% | |||
| Transportation in Ankara (Turkey) is 38% cheaper than in Istanbul (Turkey) | ||||
| Update prices | Update prices | |||
| Ankara | Istanbul | Diff | ||
| Volkswagen golf 1.4 tsi 150 cv (or equivalent), with no extras, new | 1,178,650TL | 1,392,620TL | - 15% | |
| 1 liter (1/4 gallon) of gas | 45TL | 44TL | + 1% | |
| Monthly ticket public transport | 595TL | 1,586TL | - 62% | |
| Taxi trip on a business day, basic tariff, 8 km. (5 miles) | 248TL | 282TL | - 12% | |
| Personal Care | - 11% | |||
| Personal Care in Ankara (Turkey) is 11% cheaper than in Istanbul (Turkey) | ||||
| Update prices | Update prices | |||
| Ankara | Istanbul | Diff | ||
| Cold medicine for 6 days (tylenol, frenadol, coldrex, or equivalent brands) | 848TL | 136TL | + 523% | |
| 1 box of antibiotics (12 doses) | 97TL | 274TL | - 65% | |
| Short visit to private doctor (15 minutes) | 1,889TL | 2,805TL | - 33% | |
| 1 box of 32 tampons (tampax, ob, ...) | 192TL | 134TL | + 42% | |
| Deodorant, roll-on (50ml ~ 1.5 oz.) | 119TL | 173TL | - 31% | |
| Hair shampoo 2-in-1 (400 ml ~ 12 oz.) | 105TL | 211TL | - 50% | |
| 4 rolls of toilet paper | 22TL | 89TL | - 75% | |
| Tube of toothpaste | 95TL | 97TL | - 2% | |
| Standard men's haircut in expat area of the city | 352TL | 502TL | - 30% | |
| Entertainment | - 25% | |||
| Entertainment in Ankara (Turkey) is 25% cheaper than in Istanbul (Turkey) | ||||
| Update prices | Update prices | |||
| Ankara | Istanbul | Diff | ||
| Basic dinner out for two in neighborhood pub | 1,204TL | 1,469TL | - 18% | |
| 2 tickets to the movies | 311TL | 607TL | - 49% | |
| 2 tickets to the theater (best available seats) | 1,041TL | 2,180TL | - 52% | |
| Dinner for two at an italian restaurant in the expat area including appetisers, main course, wine and dessert | 2,004TL | 2,652TL | - 24% | |
| 1 cocktail drink in downtown club | 321TL | 423TL | - 24% | |
| Cappuccino in expat area of the city | 122TL | 149TL | - 18% | |
| 1 beer in neighbourhood pub (500ml or 1pt.) | 147TL | 189TL | - 22% | |
| Ipad wi-fi 128gb | 23,574TL | 25,574TL | - 8% | |
| 1 min. of prepaid mobile tariff (no discounts or plans) | 0.73TL | 1.47TL | - 50% | |
| 1 month of gym membership in business district | 1,303TL | 2,144TL | - 39% | |
| 1 package of marlboro cigarettes | 68TL | 71TL | - 4% | |
 |
TOTAL | - 22% | ||
WARNING! This comparison is based on only a few data points. At this point it is only a guess. It is based on 1,616 prices entered by 211 different people.
These prices were last updated on January 22, 2025.
Detailed prices for each city individually
Recent Comparisons
- Cost of living in London is 100% more expensive than in Tokyo
- Cost of living in Tokyo is 14% more expensive than in Kuwait City
- Cost of living in Tokyo is 30% cheaper than in Dubai
- Cost of living in Paris is 56% more expensive than in Madrid
- Cost of living in Buenos Aires is 63% more expensive than in Bogotá
- Cost of living in London is 128% more expensive than in Kuwait City
- Cost of living in Rio de Janeiro is 31% cheaper than in Buenos Aires
- Cost of living in Tokyo is 4% more expensive than in Riyadh
- Cost of living in London is 29% cheaper than in New York City
- Cost of living in Santiago, Chile is 20% cheaper than in Buenos Aires
Compare other countries
For example, to keep the same standard of living that would require 160,000TL in Istanbul you would need to make just about 124,227TL in Ankara.
Do you live in Istanbul? We need your help!
Cost of Living and Prices in Similar Cities
- Cost of Living, Prices in Moscow (Russia)
- Cost of Living, Prices in Madrid (Spain)
- Cost of Living, Prices in Cairo (Egypt)
- Cost of Living, Prices in London (United Kingdom)
- Cost of Living, Prices in Berlin (Germany)
- Cost of Living, Prices in Delhi (India)
- Cost of Living, Prices in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia)
- Cost of Living, Prices in Bucharest (Romania)
Prices recently added
- Monthly rent - 85 m2 furnished accommodation in expensive area in Shenzhen costs 8,000元 (about 2 hours ago)
- Basic lunchtime menu (including a drink) in the business district in Guadalajara costs Mex$ 300 (about 2 hours ago)
- Monthly rent - 85 m2 furnished accommodation in expensive area in Dubai costs Dirham 7,500 (about 2 hours ago)
- 1 liter of gasoline in Calgary costs C$1.64 (about 3 hours ago)
- 1 pack of marlboro cigarettes in Windhoek costs 750 N$ (about 4 hours ago)
- Monthly rent - 85 m2 furnished accommodation in expensive area in Oujda costs 6,000 Dirham (about 5 hours ago)