Skip to content

Riyadh vs Istanbul

Istanbul runs about 35% cheaper than Riyadh for this household, a difference of 752 USD a month.

Riyadh Skyline is growing. Dated February 2018
Riyadh
$2,169/month · Saudi Arabia
B.alotaby · CC BY-SA 4.0
drone photo of Istanbul panorama
Istanbul
$1,416/month · Türkiye
Hunanuk · CC0
Riyadh monthly
$2,169
Index 34 (NYC = 100)
Istanbul monthly
$1,416
Index 22 (NYC = 100)
Difference
-35%
Istanbul relative to Riyadh
Rent gap
$400
Riyadh costs more for a central 1-bed
By category

Where the gap actually is

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

MetricRiyadhIstanbul
Cost
Total monthly cost2,169 USD1,416 USD✓
Cost index (New York = 100)3422✓
Housing1,100 USD700 USD✓
Utilities204 USD112 USD✓
Food496 USD384 USD✓
Transport85 USD67 USD✓
Healthcare35 USD16 USD✓
Lifestyle170 USD84 USD✓
Income & tax
Take-home on 100,000 USD/yr8,333 USD✓4,269 USD
Effective tax + social rate0.0%✓48.8%
Left over each month6,165 USD✓2,853 USD
Average local net salary2,600 USD✓800 USD
Housing
1-bed rent, city centre1,100 USD700 USD✓
3-bed rent, city centre2,200 USD1,400 USD✓
Buy price per m², centre2,800 USD✓3,200 USD
Quality of life
Safety80/100✓54/100
Healthcare74/100✓66/100
Air quality38/10042/100✓
Public transport45/10076/100✓
Walkability30/10070/100✓
English proficiency66/100✓42/100
Nightlife25/10084/100✓
Family friendliness72/100✓66/100
Median broadband140 Mbps✓90 Mbps
Climate
Average temperature26°C15°C✓
Summer high44°C29°C✓
Winter low9°C✓3°C
Sunshine hours per year3,400 h✓2,350 h
Annual rainfall110 mm✓840 mm
Practicalities
Remote-work visaNoYes✓
Beach accessNone nearby30 min✓
CurrencySARTRY
Time zoneAsia/RiyadhEurope/Istanbul

Istanbul runs about 35% cheaper than Riyadh for this household, a difference of 752 USD a month.

Next

Go deeper

Cost of living in RiyadhCost of living in IstanbulConvert a salary between themFlip the comparison
Riyadh vs DohaRiyadh vs Abu DhabiRiyadh vs Dubai
FAQ

Frequently asked

Is Riyadh or Istanbul cheaper?

Istanbul runs about 35% cheaper than Riyadh for this household, a difference of 752 USD a month.

What salary do you need in Istanbul compared with Riyadh?

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

Which has better quality of life, Riyadh or Istanbul?

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