Calculator · figures checked September 2026
Istanbul Cost of Living Calculator
Build a realistic monthly Istanbul budget from the rent of the flat you are looking at, your household and your lifestyle.
Monthly Total
39,204 TL
≈ 881 USD / month
For 2 adults, rent not included — type it in below. Not your situation? Change it below and this number follows.
Live USD rate loading…
Cost model checked 11 Sept 2026 — rent is the figure you enter, fares from the İBB tariff, insurance from current insurer quotes. Prices here move fast; if your street tells a different story, tell me — that report is worth more than any review. See what has changed since.
Your situation
We do not guess your rent. Rents here move month to month and vary street by street, so use the asking price of a flat you are actually considering. Leave it empty and everything else still adds up — the total just says rent is not included. Not sure which area fits your budget? Compare neighbourhoods.
Monthly breakdown
Rent (not entered)—
Utilities (elec, gas, water, internet)4,100 TL
Groceries20,000 TL
Eating out6,000 TL
Transport5,200 TL
Health insurance1,000 TL
Miscellaneous buffer (8%)2,904 TL
Total monthly39,204 TL
Nothing is stored or sent anywhere — it stays in this browser tab. It turns the total above into an answer.
Cash before keys
The monthly figure above is not what strands people. This is: what a landlord and an agent want in the same week — type your rent above and the deposit, commission and first-month lines fill in.
Deposit (2 months — 3 is the legal cap)0 TL
Agent commission (1 month + 20% VAT)0 TL
First month's rent0 TL
Health insurance for the permit (annual, paid upfront)12,000 TL
Notarised lease + passport translation1,670 TL
In the bank before you get keys13,670 TL
An agent asking two months' commission, or a landlord asking four months' deposit as a "foreigner deposit", is above the legal cap — that is not a special rule for you. The lease has to be notarised anyway: your permit file needs it.
This is an estimate
Rents vary widely within a single district, so the rent you type matters more than any other line. Utilities spike in winter (January gas bills can be 2-3x baseline). Figures exclude one-time move-in costs (deposit typically equals 1 month rent, agent fee often equals 1 month rent for landlord-paid arrangements).