Calculator · figures checked August 2026
Istanbul Cost of Living Calculator
Build a realistic monthly Istanbul budget based on your neighborhood, household, and lifestyle.
Monthly Total
98,604 TL
≈ 2,216 USD / month
For 2 adults in a mid-range 2-bed. Not your situation? Change it below and this number follows.
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Cost model checked 4 Aug 2026 — rents from live Istanbul listings, 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
Şişli, Kadıköy city side, Beylikdüzü, Maltepe, Ataşehir
Monthly breakdown
Rent55,000 TL
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%)7,304 TL
Total monthly98,604 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, on a 55,000 TL flat.
Deposit (2 months — 3 is the legal cap)110,000 TL
Agent commission (1 month + 20% VAT)66,000 TL
First month's rent55,000 TL
Health insurance for the permit (annual, paid upfront)12,000 TL
Notarised lease + passport translation1,600 TL
In the bank before you get keys244,600 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
Istanbul rents have risen roughly 36% year-over-year and vary widely within each tier. 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).