Ankara vs Bursa

Side-by-side comparison for digital nomads

Ankara 10% cheaper Ankara +44 Mbps Moderate / High
Nomad Cost

$1,488

Ankara

$1,660

Bursa

Internet

56

Mbps

12

Mbps

Safety

Moderate

Ankara

High

Bursa

Air Quality

5/5

Ankara

5/5

Bursa

Healthcare

Moderate

Ankara

Moderate

Bursa

Population

4.6m

Ankara

1.8m

Bursa

Ankara and Bursa are both in Turkey, making this one of the most common comparisons for digital nomads planning a base in the region. This guide breaks down the key differences across cost, internet, safety, weather, and quality of life.

Cost of Living

The cost difference is noticeable: Ankara at $1488/mo is 10% cheaper than Bursa at $1660/mo, worth considering for extended stays.

For families, Ankara costs $1134.675259033381/mo compared to Bursa's $794.6778323563054/mo.

Internet & Infrastructure

Remote workers will appreciate Ankara's 56 Mbps (global #125) — considerably faster than Bursa's 12 Mbps (#0).

Quality of Life

Bursa has a stronger safety profile than Ankara, which may be a deciding factor for solo travelers or families.

Healthcare quality is rated similarly in both Ankara and Bursa.

Monthly Weather Comparison

The best time to visit Ankara is June (around 32 degrees, 0mm rain, score 437), while Bursa peaks in June (33 degrees, 0mm rain, score 435). Timing your stay around these months can make a big difference in your experience.

Cost of Living

AnkaraBursa
Nomad$1,488/mo$1,660/mo
Expat$709/mo$885/mo
Local$324/mo$227/mo
Family$1,135/mo$795/mo

Internet & Infrastructure

AnkaraBursa
City Speed
56 Mbps#125
12 Mbps
Country Speed0 Mbps0 Mbps

Environment & Health

AnkaraBursa
Air Quality Score5/55/5
PollutionHighModerate
ClimateHighHigh
Humidity3653

Quality of Life

AnkaraBursa
SafetyModerateHigh
HealthcareModerateModerate

Monthly Weather Comparison

Ankara
Bursa
Jan
3°
0mm364
7°
1mm361
Feb
9°
0mm387
14°
0mm385
Mar
10°
0mm383
14°
1mm381
Apr
20°
0mm417
21°
0mm415
May
20°
1mm404
22°
0mm415
Jun
32°
0mm437
33°
0mm435
Jul
32°
0mm437
35°
0mm415
Aug
31°
0mm417
33°
0mm415
Sep
27°
0mm427
30°
0mm433
Oct
16°
0mm397
19°
0mm415
Nov
11°
0mm387
14°
0mm395
Dec
5°
0mm364
11°
1mm367

Who Should Choose Ankara?

  • Great for budget nomads — monthly costs around $1488
  • Clean air with a 5/5 air quality score
  • Family-friendly at $1134.675259033381/mo for families
  • Major city energy with 4.6m residents
  • Peak season in June — 32 degrees, score 437

Who Should Choose Bursa?

  • High safety rating for peace of mind
  • Clean air with a 5/5 air quality score
  • Family-friendly at $794.6778323563054/mo for families
  • Peak season in June — 33 degrees, score 435

Overall Verdict

For the typical digital nomad, Bursa is the stronger pick. At $1660/mo it beats Ankara's $1488/mo by 10%, and the 12 Mbps internet handles video calls without issues.

Granular Price Comparison

Ankara Bursa
ItemAnkaraBursaDiff
🍽️Restaurants8 items
Meal, inexpensive restaurant$3.76$3.22
14%
Meal for 2, mid-range (3-course)$16.1$48.3
67%
McMeal or equivalent combo$3.89$3.76
3%
Cappuccino (regular)$1.68$1.69
1%
Domestic beer (0.5L draught)$2.28$2.15
6%
Imported beer (0.33L bottle)$2.68$2.68
=
Coke/Pepsi (0.33L)$0.74$0.61
18%
Water (0.33L)$0.31$0.2
35%
🛒Markets19 items
Milk (1L)$0.96$0.76
21%
White bread (500g)$0.45$0.47
4%
White rice (1kg)$1.29$1.43
10%
Eggs (12)$1.68$1.51
10%
Chicken fillets (1kg)$3.89$4.25
8%
Beef round (1kg)$8.54$8.72
2%
Local cheese (1kg)$4.95$6.37
22%
Apples (1kg)$0.75$0.69
8%
Bananas (1kg)$1.55$1.21
22%
Oranges (1kg)$0.74$0.72
3%
Tomatoes (1kg)$0.88$1.08
19%
Potatoes (1kg)$0.55$0.51
7%
Onions (1kg)$0.44$0.33
25%
Lettuce (1 head)$0.65$0.68
4%
Water (1.5L bottle)$0.24$0.3
20%
Wine, mid-range bottle$6.82$8.05
15%
Domestic beer (0.5L bottle)$1.53$1.41
8%
Imported beer (0.33L bottle)$2.07$2.09
1%
Cigarettes (pack of 20)$1.61$1.61
=
🚌Transport8 items
One-way local transport ticket$0.38$0.4
5%
Monthly transport pass$18.73$26.83
30%
Taxi start (normal tariff)$0.54$0.8
33%
Taxi per 1km$0.32$0.48
33%
Taxi 1hr waiting$2.68$5.37
50%
Gasoline (1L)$1.4$1.23
12%
Volkswagen Golf (new)$34,882.66$40,249.22
13%
Toyota Corolla (new)$31,741.92$38,339.17
17%
⚡Utilities3 items
Utilities, 85m² apartment/mo$51$106.61
52%
Internet 60+ Mbps/mo$8.71$11.37
23%
Mobile prepaid per minute$0.05$0.25
80%
🏋️Sport & Leisure3 items
Fitness club, monthly$19.94$28.54
30%
Tennis court rent (1hr weekend)$10.79$21.07
49%
Cinema, 1 ticket$2.68$4.02
33%
👶Childcare2 items
Preschool, full-day private/mo$199.61$285.5
30%
International primary school/yr$4,328.92$8,781.65
51%
👗Clothing4 items
Jeans (Levi's 501 or similar)$35.5$45.01
21%
Summer dress (chain store)$26.72$35.52
25%
Nike running shoes (mid-range)$67.38$64.3
5%
Men's leather business shoes$53.87$64.68
17%
🏠Rent4 items
1-bedroom apartment, city centre$283.17$209.15
26%
1-bedroom apartment, outside centre$154.32$175.27
12%
3-bedroom apartment, city centre$487.81$359.21
26%
3-bedroom apartment, outside centre$340.4$243.76
28%
🏗️Buy2 items
Price per m², city centre$755.37$965.98
22%
Price per m², outside centre$499.44$606.42
18%
💰Finance2 items
Average monthly net salary$371.38$331.46
11%
Mortgage interest rate (20yr fixed)$20.98$20.17
4%

Lower is better for all cost items.

Data from Open-Meteo (weather) and global internet speed rankings. Updated monthly.

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