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Istanbul vs Riyadh

Istanbul runs about 53% cheaper than Riyadh for this household, a difference of 752 USD a month.

drone photo of Istanbul panorama
Istanbul
$1,416/month · Türkiye
Hunanuk · CC0
Riyadh Skyline is growing. Dated February 2018
Riyadh
$2,169/month · Saudi Arabia
B.alotaby · CC BY-SA 4.0
Istanbul monthly
$1,416
Index 22 (NYC = 100)
Riyadh monthly
$2,169
Index 34 (NYC = 100)
Difference
+53%
Riyadh relative to Istanbul
Rent gap
$400
Riyadh costs more for a central 1-bed
By category

Where the gap actually is

IstanbulRiyadh
  • Housing
    Housing: Istanbul $700, Riyadh $1,100. Cheaper in Istanbul.
  • Food
    Food: Istanbul $384, Riyadh $496. Cheaper in Istanbul.
  • Transport
    Transport: Istanbul $67, Riyadh $85. Cheaper in Istanbul.
  • Utilities
    Utilities: Istanbul $112, Riyadh $204. Cheaper in Istanbul.
  • Healthcare
    Healthcare: Istanbul $16, Riyadh $35. Cheaper in Istanbul.
  • Lifestyle
    Lifestyle: Istanbul $84, Riyadh $170. Cheaper in Istanbul.
  • Other
    Other: Istanbul $53, Riyadh $79. 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

MetricIstanbulRiyadh
Cost
Total monthly cost1,416 USD✓2,169 USD
Cost index (New York = 100)22✓34
Housing700 USD✓1,100 USD
Utilities112 USD✓204 USD
Food384 USD✓496 USD
Transport67 USD✓85 USD
Healthcare16 USD✓35 USD
Lifestyle84 USD✓170 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 USD6,165 USD✓
Average local net salary800 USD2,600 USD✓
Housing
1-bed rent, city centre700 USD✓1,100 USD
3-bed rent, city centre1,400 USD✓2,200 USD
Buy price per m², centre3,200 USD2,800 USD✓
Quality of life
Safety54/10080/100✓
Healthcare66/10074/100✓
Air quality42/100✓38/100
Public transport76/100✓45/100
Walkability70/100✓30/100
English proficiency42/10066/100✓
Nightlife84/100✓25/100
Family friendliness66/10072/100✓
Median broadband90 Mbps140 Mbps✓
Climate
Average temperature15°C✓26°C
Summer high29°C✓44°C
Winter low3°C9°C✓
Sunshine hours per year2,350 h3,400 h✓
Annual rainfall840 mm110 mm✓
Practicalities
Remote-work visaYes✓No
Beach access30 min✓None nearby
CurrencyTRYSAR
Time zoneEurope/IstanbulAsia/Riyadh

Istanbul runs about 53% cheaper than Riyadh for this household, a difference of 752 USD a month.

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

Frequently asked

Is Istanbul or Riyadh cheaper?

Istanbul runs about 53% cheaper than Riyadh for this household, a difference of 752 USD a month.

What salary do you need in Riyadh compared with Istanbul?

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

Which has better quality of life, Istanbul or Riyadh?

Istanbul scores 54/100 on safety and 66/100 on healthcare; Riyadh scores 80 and 74. Istanbul averages 15°C against 26°C in Riyadh.