Istanbul is the most expensive of Turkey's 7 priced cities — $1,142 a month in essentials, 134% above Gaziantep at $487. The average net salary of $1,240 covers that 1.1×. 101.3 men per 100 women aged 20–39, measured at province level. PM2.5 averages 22.6 µg/m³ a year, 5× the WHO guideline of 5. Jan averages 7°C, Aug 25°C.
Monthly cost breakdown
Rent outside centre plus utilities, groceries, dining and local transport make up the essentials figure. Not a full lifestyle budget.
| Item | Monthly USD |
|---|---|
| Rent, 1-bed outside centre | $632 |
| Rent, 1-bed city centre | $967 |
| Groceries | $104 |
| Dining out | $238 |
| Utilities | $106 |
| Local transport | $62 |
| Essentials / mo | $1,142 |
| Avg net salary | $1,240 |
| Rent, 3-bed outside centre | $1,148 |
| Rent, 3-bed city centre | $1,919 |
Single person, USD. Data updated July 27, 2026.
Everyday prices
What single items cost in Istanbul, in USD. The monthly figures above are built from these.
Eating out
| Item | USD |
|---|---|
| Meal, inexpensive restaurant | $10.56 |
| Meal for 2, mid-range, three courses | $52.81 |
| McMeal at McDonald's | $9.44 |
| Cappuccino, regular | $4.07 |
| Domestic beer, 0.5 L draught | $4.22 |
| Imported beer, 0.33 L bottle | $5.69 |
| Coke/Pepsi, 0.33 L | $1.72 |
| Water, 0.33 L bottle | $0.58 |
Groceries
| Item | USD |
|---|---|
| Milk, 1 L | $1.28 |
| White bread, 500 g | $0.84 |
| White rice, 1 kg | $2.51 |
| Eggs, 12 | $2.49 |
| Local cheese, 1 kg | $10.45 |
| Chicken fillets, 1 kg | $5.42 |
| Apples, 1 kg | $2.02 |
| Bananas, 1 kg | $2.28 |
| Tomatoes, 1 kg | $2.10 |
| Potatoes, 1 kg | $0.58 |
| Onions, 1 kg | $0.47 |
| Water, 1.5 L bottle | $0.60 |
Transport & bills
| Item | USD |
|---|---|
| One-way ticket, local transport | $0.89 |
| Monthly transit pass | $61.68 |
| Taxi start | $1.37 |
| Taxi, 1 km | $0.91 |
| Gasoline, 1 L | $1.34 |
| Basic utilities, 85 m² flat | $90.29 |
| Internet, 60 Mbps+ | $15.86 |
| Mobile plan, monthly | $11.80 |
Leisure
| Item | USD |
|---|---|
| Gym, monthly | $69.17 |
| Cinema, one seat | $8.45 |
Dating-age sex ratio
Istanbul has 101.3 men per 100 women aged 20–39 (province level). That is the 5th-highest of 7 Turkey cities we track. Turkey's national figure is 104, so Istanbul runs 3 below the country as a whole.
A supply figure, 20–39. The dating-pool model is in Pro.
Climate & air
Ten-year monthly means, 2015–2024 — a climate profile, not a forecast.
| Month | Avg | Feels | Humidity | Cloud | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 7.4°C | 3.5°C | 78% | 66% | 106 mm |
| Feb | 8.2°C | 4.4°C | 78% | 63% | 76 mm |
| Mar | 9.2°C | 6°C | 78% | 61% | 73 mm |
| Apr | 12.6°C | 10.5°C | 76% | 48% | 56 mm |
| May | 17.1°C | 16.4°C | 77% | 50% | 39 mm |
| Jun | 22.3°C | 23.4°C | 75% | 37% | 28 mm |
| Jul | 24.9°C | 26.4°C | 72% | 20% | 32 mm |
| Aug | 25.4°C | 26.9°C | 73% | 24% | 15 mm |
| Sep | 22.3°C | 22.5°C | 72% | 37% | 46 mm |
| Oct | 17.5°C | 16.5°C | 77% | 49% | 47 mm |
| Nov | 13.9°C | 11.6°C | 77% | 56% | 81 mm |
| Dec | 9.9°C | 6.7°C | 78% | 63% | 91 mm |
Need the full Turkey model?
Open the gated deep-dive for city shortlist, cost detail, weather, visa, tax, dating-market signals, and subregion rankings.
Unlock Turkey deep-dive