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Athens vs Istanbul

Istanbul runs about 20% cheaper than Athens for this household, a difference of 350 USD a month.

View of the Ancient Agora of Athens from Apostolou Pavlou Pedestrian Street on February 16, 2021
Athens
$1,766/month · Greece
George E. Koronaios · CC BY-SA 4.0
drone photo of Istanbul panorama
Istanbul
$1,416/month · Türkiye
Hunanuk · CC0
Athens monthly
$1,766
Index 28 (NYC = 100)
Istanbul monthly
$1,416
Index 22 (NYC = 100)
Difference
-20%
Istanbul relative to Athens
Rent gap
$50
Athens costs more for a central 1-bed
By category

Where the gap actually is

AthensIstanbul
  • Housing
    Housing: Athens $750, Istanbul $700. Cheaper in Istanbul.
  • Food
    Food: Athens $520, Istanbul $384. Cheaper in Istanbul.
  • Transport
    Transport: Athens $95, Istanbul $67. Cheaper in Istanbul.
  • Utilities
    Utilities: Athens $183, Istanbul $112. Cheaper in Istanbul.
  • Healthcare
    Healthcare: Athens $28, Istanbul $16. Cheaper in Istanbul.
  • Lifestyle
    Lifestyle: Athens $114, Istanbul $84. Cheaper in Istanbul.
  • Other
    Other: Athens $75, Istanbul $53. Cheaper in Istanbul.
Each row is one category priced in both cities for the same household. The bar is the gap; exact figures are in the table below.
Interactive — adjust the household

Full comparison

MetricAthensIstanbul
Cost
Total monthly cost1,766 USD1,416 USD✓
Cost index (New York = 100)2822✓
Housing750 USD700 USD✓
Utilities183 USD112 USD✓
Food520 USD384 USD✓
Transport95 USD67 USD✓
Healthcare28 USD16 USD✓
Lifestyle114 USD84 USD✓
Income & tax
Take-home on 100,000 USD/yr4,267 USD4,269 USD✓
Effective tax + social rate48.8%48.8%✓
Left over each month2,501 USD2,853 USD✓
Average local net salary1,150 USD✓800 USD
Housing
1-bed rent, city centre750 USD700 USD✓
3-bed rent, city centre1,400 USD1,400 USD
Buy price per m², centre2,600 USD✓3,200 USD
Quality of life
Safety66/100✓54/100
Healthcare72/100✓66/100
Air quality52/100✓42/100
Public transport72/10076/100✓
Walkability80/100✓70/100
English proficiency64/100✓42/100
Nightlife88/100✓84/100
Family friendliness72/100✓66/100
Median broadband90 Mbps90 Mbps
Climate
Average temperature19°C15°C✓
Summer high33°C29°C✓
Winter low7°C✓3°C
Sunshine hours per year2,850 h✓2,350 h
Annual rainfall400 mm✓840 mm
Practicalities
Remote-work visaYesYes
Beach access30 min30 min
CurrencyEURTRY
Time zoneEurope/AthensEurope/Istanbul

Istanbul runs about 20% cheaper than Athens for this household, a difference of 350 USD a month.

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Cost of living in AthensCost of living in IstanbulConvert a salary between themFlip the comparison
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FAQ

Frequently asked

Is Athens or Istanbul cheaper?

Istanbul runs about 20% cheaper than Athens for this household, a difference of 350 USD a month.

What salary do you need in Istanbul compared with Athens?

On a $100,000 gross salary you would take home $4,267 a month in Athens and $4,269 in Istanbul, before local costs. Use the salary converter for an exact equivalent.

Which has better quality of life, Athens or Istanbul?

Athens scores 66/100 on safety and 72/100 on healthcare; Istanbul scores 54 and 66. Athens averages 19°C against 15°C in Istanbul.