Explore Cities/Compare Cities/Ankara vs Istanbul

Ankara vs Istanbul

Side-by-side comparison for digital nomads

Ankara 17% cheaper Istanbul +12 Mbps Moderate / Moderate

Ankara

inlovew photography/Unsplash

Istanbul

Randy Tarampi/Unsplash

Nomad Cost

$1,488

Ankara

$1,789

Istanbul

Internet

Mbps

Safety

Moderate

Ankara

Moderate

Istanbul

Air Quality

5/5

Ankara

5/5

Istanbul

Healthcare

Moderate

Ankara

Moderate

Istanbul

Population

4.6m

Ankara

15.0m

Istanbul

Ankara and Istanbul 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

Ankara edges ahead on affordability at $1488/mo compared to Istanbul's $1789/mo — a 17% gap that matters over time.

For families, Ankara costs $1134.675259033381/mo compared to Istanbul's $1604.547123266697/mo.

Internet & Infrastructure

Istanbul edges ahead with 68 Mbps (#117 globally) versus Ankara's 56 Mbps (#125) — a modest difference for most workflows.

Quality of Life

Both Ankara and Istanbul share the same safety rating — travelers can feel equally comfortable in either city.

Healthcare quality is rated similarly in both Ankara and Istanbul.

Monthly Weather Comparison

The best time to visit Ankara is June (around 32 degrees, 0mm rain, score 437), while Istanbul peaks in June (30 degrees, 0mm rain, score 475). Timing your stay around these months can make a big difference in your experience.

Cost of Living

AnkaraIstanbul

Nomad$1,488/mo$1,789/mo

Expat$709/mo$914/mo

Local$324/mo$458/mo

Family$1,135/mo$1,605/mo

Internet & Infrastructure

AnkaraIstanbul

City Speed

56 Mbps#125

68 Mbps#117

Country Speed0 Mbps0 Mbps

Environment & Health

AnkaraIstanbul

Air Quality Score5/55/5

PollutionHighHigh

ClimateHighHigh

Humidity3665

Quality of Life

AnkaraIstanbul

SafetyModerateModerate

HealthcareModerateModerate

Monthly Weather Comparison

Ankara

Istanbul

Jan

3°

0mm364

5°

1mm392

Feb

9°

0mm387

12°

0mm425

Mar

10°

0mm383

11°

1mm421

Apr

20°

0mm417

19°

0mm435

May

20°

1mm404

20°

0mm453

Jun

32°

0mm437

30°

0mm475

Jul

32°

0mm437

32°

0mm475

Aug

31°

0mm417

31°

0mm475

Sep

27°

0mm427

28°

1mm414

Oct

16°

0mm397

18°

0mm435

Nov

11°

0mm387

13°

0mm435

Dec

5°

0mm364

10°

1mm407

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 Istanbul?

Clean air with a 5/5 air quality score
Family-friendly at $1604.547123266697/mo for families
Major city energy with 15.0m residents
Peak season in June — 30 degrees, score 475

Overall Verdict

The data favors Ankara as the more well-rounded choice. At $1488/mo versus Istanbul's $1789/mo, that is a 17% saving that adds up significantly on an extended stay.

Granular Price Comparison

Ankara Istanbul

ItemAnkaraIstanbulDiff

🍽️Restaurants8 items

Meal, inexpensive restaurant$3.76$5.37

30%

Meal for 2, mid-range (3-course)$16.1$24.15

33%

McMeal or equivalent combo$3.89$4.29

Cappuccino (regular)$1.68$1.98

15%

Domestic beer (0.5L draught)$2.28$2.68

15%

Imported beer (0.33L bottle)$2.68$3.22

17%

Coke/Pepsi (0.33L)$0.74$0.9

18%

Water (0.33L)$0.31$0.32

🛒Markets19 items

Milk (1L)$0.96$1.03

White bread (500g)$0.45$0.5

10%

White rice (1kg)$1.29$1.67

23%

Eggs (12)$1.68$1.81

Chicken fillets (1kg)$3.89$4.18

Beef round (1kg)$8.54$9.08

Local cheese (1kg)$4.95$6.32

22%

Apples (1kg)$0.75$0.86

13%

Bananas (1kg)$1.55$1.72

10%

Oranges (1kg)$0.74$1.09

32%

Tomatoes (1kg)$0.88$0.89

Potatoes (1kg)$0.55$0.61

10%

Onions (1kg)$0.44$0.53

17%

Lettuce (1 head)$0.65$0.64

Water (1.5L bottle)$0.24$0.31

23%

Wine, mid-range bottle$6.82$8.05

15%

Domestic beer (0.5L bottle)$1.53$1.68

Imported beer (0.33L bottle)$2.07$2.27

Cigarettes (pack of 20)$1.61$1.72

🚌Transport8 items

One-way local transport ticket$0.38$0.43

12%

Monthly transport pass$18.73$32.31

42%

Taxi start (normal tariff)$0.54$0.54

Taxi per 1km$0.32$0.38

16%

Taxi 1hr waiting$2.68$3.76

29%

Gasoline (1L)$1.4$1.31

Volkswagen Golf (new)$34,882.66$40,249.22

13%

Toyota Corolla (new)$31,741.92$33,094.13

⚡Utilities3 items

Utilities, 85m² apartment/mo$51$68.88

26%

Internet 60+ Mbps/mo$8.71$8.9

Mobile prepaid per minute$0.05$0.07

29%

🏋️Sport & Leisure3 items

Fitness club, monthly$19.94$26.37

24%

Tennis court rent (1hr weekend)$10.79$12.69

15%

Cinema, 1 ticket$2.68$3.76

29%

👶Childcare2 items

Preschool, full-day private/mo$199.61$243.06

18%

International primary school/yr$4,328.92$5,152.51

16%

👗Clothing4 items

Jeans (Levi's 501 or similar)$35.5$47.96

26%

Summer dress (chain store)$26.72$31.58

15%

Nike running shoes (mid-range)$67.38$78.86

15%

Men's leather business shoes$53.87$62.09

13%

🏠Rent4 items

1-bedroom apartment, city centre$283.17$554.82

49%

1-bedroom apartment, outside centre$154.32$316.01

51%

3-bedroom apartment, city centre$487.81$1,040.98

53%

3-bedroom apartment, outside centre$340.4$649.93

48%

🏗️Buy2 items

Price per m², city centre$755.37$2,374.69

68%

Price per m², outside centre$499.44$1,191.15

58%

💰Finance2 items

Average monthly net salary$371.38$383.04

Mortgage interest rate (20yr fixed)$20.98$23.8

12%

Lower is better for all cost items.

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

Related Comparisons