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Istanbul vs Lisbon cost of living 2026
Which is cheaper, what exactly is cheaper, and how it feels on your money · Updated September 2026
🇹🇷 Istanbul
🇵🇹 LisbonIstanbul is 70% cheaper than Lisbon
Living on $2,598 a month in Istanbul feels like about $4,855 in Lisbon — same standard of living, compared by feel rather than exchange rate.
Per day
$154 vs $237
Per month
$2,598 vs $4,855
Local meal
₺ 300 vs € 11
$7.32 vs $12.8
Taxi 5 km
₺ 230 vs € 6.5
$5.61 vs $7.56
At a glance
FoodIstanbul 37% cheaper
Cafés & drinksLisbon 31% cheaper
TransportIstanbul 52% cheaper
StayIstanbul 48% cheaper
FunIstanbul 24% cheaper
- Where Lisbon is clearly cheaper: Coffee (36%↓), Cocktail & wine (28%↓), Beer (28%↓)
- Where Istanbul is clearly cheaper: Bottled water (69%↓), Transit (69%↓), Convenience store (68%↓)
Item by item
| Item | Istanbul | Lisbon | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | ₺ 300$7.32 | € 11$12.8 | Istanbul −43% |
| Street food1 item | ₺ 140$3.41 | € 5$5.81 | Istanbul −41% |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | ₺ 900$22 | € 25$29.1 | Istanbul −24% |
| Coffeeone cup | ₺ 150$3.66 | € 2$2.33 | Lisbon −36% |
| Beerone bottle | ₺ 200$4.88 | € 3$3.49 | Lisbon −28% |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | ₺ 520$12.7 | € 7.8$9.07 | Lisbon −28% |
| Bottled water | ₺ 15$0.37 | € 1$1.16 | Istanbul −69% |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | ₺ 38$0.93 | € 2.5$2.91 | Istanbul −68% |
| Taxi5 km in town | ₺ 230$5.61 | € 6.5$7.56 | Istanbul −26% |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | ₺ 160$3.9 | € 6$6.98 | Istanbul −44% |
| Transitone ride | ₺ 27$0.66 | € 1.8$2.09 | Istanbul −69% |
| Scooter rentalper day | ₺ 820$20 | € 26$30.2 | Istanbul −34% |
| Hotel night3-star | ₺ 3,500$85.4 | € 120$140 | Istanbul −39% |
| Studio rent (month) | ₺ 28,000$683 | € 1,300$1,512 | Istanbul −55% |
| Laundry | ₺ 82$2 | € 2.5$2.91 | Istanbul −31% |
| SIM card1 week data | ₺ 410$10 | € 10$11.6 | Istanbul −14% |
| Haircutcut | ₺ 350$8.54 | € 14$16.3 | Istanbul −48% |
| Massage1 hour | ₺ 1,000$24.4 | € 39$45.3 | Istanbul −46% |
| Half-day tourper person | ₺ 1,400$34.1 | € 39$45.3 | Istanbul −25% |
| Entry ticketTourist town | ₺ 620$15.1 | € 10$11.6 | Lisbon −23% |
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, Istanbul or Lisbon?
Istanbul is 70% cheaper than Lisbon. Daily budget $154 vs $237; a month $2,598 vs $4,855.
How do monthly costs compare between Istanbul and Lisbon?
With a short-term studio and living costs, Istanbul is about $2,598 and Lisbon about $4,855 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.