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Istanbul vs Abu Dhabi

Istanbul runs about 109% cheaper than Abu Dhabi for this household, a difference of 1,544 USD a month.

drone photo of Istanbul panorama
Istanbul
$1,416/month · Türkiye
Hunanuk · CC0
View of the beach at the Beach Rotana hotel, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Abu Dhabi
$2,960/month · United Arab Emirates
Jpbowen · CC BY-SA 4.0
Istanbul monthly
$1,416
Index 22 (NYC = 100)
Abu Dhabi monthly
$2,960
Index 46 (NYC = 100)
Difference
+109%
Abu Dhabi relative to Istanbul
Rent gap
$1,000
Abu Dhabi costs more for a central 1-bed
By category

Where the gap actually is

IstanbulAbu Dhabi
  • Housing
    Housing: Istanbul $700, Abu Dhabi $1,700. Cheaper in Istanbul.
  • Food
    Food: Istanbul $384, Abu Dhabi $597. Cheaper in Istanbul.
  • Transport
    Transport: Istanbul $67, Abu Dhabi $83. Cheaper in Istanbul.
  • Utilities
    Utilities: Istanbul $112, Abu Dhabi $255. Cheaper in Istanbul.
  • Healthcare
    Healthcare: Istanbul $16, Abu Dhabi $42. Cheaper in Istanbul.
  • Lifestyle
    Lifestyle: Istanbul $84, Abu Dhabi $191. Cheaper in Istanbul.
  • Other
    Other: Istanbul $53, Abu Dhabi $93. 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

MetricIstanbulAbu Dhabi
Cost
Total monthly cost1,416 USD✓2,960 USD
Cost index (New York = 100)22✓46
Housing700 USD✓1,700 USD
Utilities112 USD✓255 USD
Food384 USD✓597 USD
Transport67 USD✓83 USD
Healthcare16 USD✓42 USD
Lifestyle84 USD✓191 USD
Income & tax
Take-home on 100,000 USD/yr4,269 USD8,333 USD✓
Effective tax + social rate48.8%0.0%✓
Left over each month2,853 USD5,373 USD✓
Average local net salary800 USD3,900 USD✓
Housing
1-bed rent, city centre700 USD✓1,700 USD
3-bed rent, city centre1,400 USD✓3,400 USD
Buy price per m², centre3,200 USD✓4,200 USD
Quality of life
Safety54/10092/100✓
Healthcare66/10080/100✓
Air quality42/10052/100✓
Public transport76/100✓55/100
Walkability70/100✓45/100
English proficiency42/10086/100✓
Nightlife84/100✓66/100
Family friendliness66/10080/100✓
Median broadband90 Mbps290 Mbps✓
Climate
Average temperature15°C✓28°C
Summer high29°C✓42°C
Winter low3°C14°C✓
Sunshine hours per year2,350 h3,400 h✓
Annual rainfall840 mm60 mm✓
Practicalities
Remote-work visaYesYes
Beach access30 min15 min✓
CurrencyTRYAED
Time zoneEurope/IstanbulAsia/Dubai

Istanbul runs about 109% cheaper than Abu Dhabi for this household, a difference of 1,544 USD a month.

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Go deeper

Cost of living in IstanbulCost of living in Abu DhabiConvert a salary between themFlip the comparison
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FAQ

Frequently asked

Is Istanbul or Abu Dhabi cheaper?

Istanbul runs about 109% cheaper than Abu Dhabi for this household, a difference of 1,544 USD a month.

What salary do you need in Abu Dhabi compared with Istanbul?

On a $100,000 gross salary you would take home $4,269 a month in Istanbul and $8,333 in Abu Dhabi, before local costs. Use the salary converter for an exact equivalent.

Which has better quality of life, Istanbul or Abu Dhabi?

Istanbul scores 54/100 on safety and 66/100 on healthcare; Abu Dhabi scores 92 and 80. Istanbul averages 15°C against 28°C in Abu Dhabi.