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Compare cities › Bodrum vs Istanbul
Bodrum vs Istanbul cost of living 2026
Which is cheaper, what exactly is cheaper, and how it feels on your money · Updated September 2026
🇹🇷 Bodrum
🇹🇷 IstanbulIstanbul is 19% cheaper than Bodrum
Living on $3,228 a month in Bodrum feels like about $2,598 in Istanbul — same standard of living, compared by feel rather than exchange rate.
Per day
$190 vs $154
Per month
$3,228 vs $2,598
Local meal
₺ 410 vs ₺ 300
$10 vs $7.32
Taxi 5 km
₺ 410 vs ₺ 230
$10 vs $5.61
At a glance
FoodIstanbul 20% cheaper
Cafés & drinkssimilar
TransportIstanbul 26% cheaper
StayIstanbul 9% cheaper
FunIstanbul 11% cheaper
- Where Istanbul is clearly cheaper: Bottled water (69%↓), Convenience store (68%↓), Taxi (44%↓)
Item by item
| Item | Bodrum | Istanbul | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | ₺ 410$10 | ₺ 300$7.32 | Istanbul −27% |
| Street food1 item | ₺ 180$4.39 | ₺ 140$3.41 | Istanbul −22% |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | ₺ 1,000$24.4 | ₺ 900$22 | Istanbul −10% |
| Coffeeone cup | ₺ 140$3.41 | ₺ 150$3.66 | Bodrum −7% |
| Beerone bottle | ₺ 200$4.88 | ₺ 200$4.88 | similar |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | ₺ 520$12.7 | ₺ 520$12.7 | similar |
| Bottled water | ₺ 49$1.2 | ₺ 15$0.37 | Istanbul −69% |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | ₺ 120$2.93 | ₺ 38$0.93 | Istanbul −68% |
| Taxi5 km in town | ₺ 410$10 | ₺ 230$5.61 | Istanbul −44% |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | ₺ 190$4.63 | ₺ 160$3.9 | Istanbul −16% |
| Transitone ride | ₺ 33$0.8 | ₺ 27$0.66 | Istanbul −18% |
| Scooter rentalper day | ₺ 940$22.9 | ₺ 820$20 | Istanbul −13% |
| Hotel night3-star | ₺ 4,100$100 | ₺ 3,500$85.4 | Istanbul −15% |
| Studio rent (month) | ₺ 29,000$707 | ₺ 28,000$683 | similar |
| Laundry | ₺ 82$2 | ₺ 82$2 | similar |
| SIM card1 week data | ₺ 410$10 | ₺ 410$10 | similar |
| Haircutcut | ₺ 420$10.2 | ₺ 350$8.54 | Istanbul −17% |
| Massage1 hour | ₺ 1,200$29.3 | ₺ 1,000$24.4 | Istanbul −17% |
| Half-day tourper person | ₺ 1,700$41.5 | ₺ 1,400$34.1 | Istanbul −18% |
| Entry ticketTourist town | ₺ 620$15.1 | ₺ 620$15.1 | similar |
Reference prices start as estimates from published price levels; items with 3+ traveler reports use the median of real reports. Hostels and local eateries cut both by 30%+.
FAQ
Which is cheaper, Bodrum or Istanbul?
Istanbul is 19% cheaper than Bodrum. Daily budget $190 vs $154; a month $3,228 vs $2,598.
How do monthly costs compare between Bodrum and Istanbul?
With a short-term studio and living costs, Bodrum is about $3,228 and Istanbul about $2,598 per month.
Where do the numbers come from?
They start as estimates informed by published price levels; any item with 3+ traveler reports switches to the median of real reports. Live reports are in the app.