✦ Compare
Athens vs
Istanbul
Cost-of-living comparison and salary equivalence. Enter your current salary to see what you'd need to earn to live equally well.
To keep the same standard of living in Istanbul, TR, you'd need
$54,089 / year
Istanbul, TR is 28% cheaper overall
Category breakdown (Istanbul, TR vs Athens, GR)
- Housing-24%
- Food & groceries-33%
- Transport-27%
- Utilities-40%
- Healthcare-31%
- Goods & services-25%
▤ Full comparison
| Athens, GR | Istanbul, TR | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of living | ||
| Overall cost index | 75 | 54 |
| Housing | 72 | 55 |
| Food | 78 | 52 |
| Transport | 55 | 40 |
| Utilities | 100 | 60 |
| Healthcare | 65 | 45 |
| Goods & services | 80 | 60 |
| Housing | ||
| Rent, 1-bed centre | $750/mo | $650/mo |
| Rent, 1-bed outside | $550/mo | $400/mo |
| Rent, 3-bed centre | $1,400/mo | $1,300/mo |
| Buy price / m² centre | $2,800 | $2,500 |
| Money & purchasing power | ||
| $1,000 goes as far as | $1,335 | $1,852 |
| Inexpensive meal | $13 | $6 |
| Monthly transit pass | $30 | $30 |
| Taxes | ||
| Income tax (top rate) | 44% | 40% |
| VAT / sales tax | 24% | 20% |
| Social security (employee) | — | 15% |
| Corporate tax | 22% | 25% |
| Economy & salaries | ||
| Avg net salary | $1,000/mo | $700/mo |
| Minimum wage | $850/mo | $600/mo |
| GDP per capita | $23,565 | $15,666 |
| Inflation (annual) | 2.6% | 44% |
| Work & digital nomad | ||
| Digital-nomad visa | Yes | Yes |
| English proficiency | Moderate | Moderate |
| Coworking spaces | 35 | 50 |
| Time zone | UTC+2 | UTC+3 |
| Quality of life | ||
| Safety index | 62 | 58 |
| Healthcare index | 65 | 65 |
| Pollution index | 55 | 62 |
| Internet speed | 100 Mbps | 60 Mbps |
| Walkability | 75 | 70 |
| Public transport | 72 | 72 |
| Family-friendly | 62 | 60 |
| Tap water | Safe to drink | Use caution |
| Life expectancy | 82 yr | 78 yr |
| LGBTQ+ acceptance | Moderate | Low |
| Climate | ||
| January avg | +10 °C | +6 °C |
| July avg | +28 °C | +24 °C |
| Sunny days / year | 250 | 190 |
| Rainfall / year | 400 mm | 810 mm |
| Connectivity | ||
| Flight to nearest hub | 2 h | 3 h |
Taxes & Economy & salaries: Greece vs Turkey. Estimates use approximate cost-of-living indices (US average = 100) and are for general guidance only.
? Frequently asked questions
Moving from Athens to Istanbul: cheaper or more expensive?
Moving from Athens to Istanbul, your cost of living will be roughly 28% cheaper. Istanbul’s cost-of-living index is 54 versus 75 for Athens (US = 100). Use the salary tool above to see the income you’d need to keep the same lifestyle.
Is Athens cheaper than Istanbul?
Istanbul is about 28% cheaper than Athens overall — its cost-of-living index is 54 versus 75 for Athens.
How much do you need to earn in Istanbul to live like in Athens?
To keep the same standard of living, a $75,000 salary in Athens is worth about $54,089 in Istanbul. Enter your own figure in the calculator above.
Which has lower taxes, Athens or Istanbul?
Turkey has the lower top income-tax rate — 40% versus 44% in Greece.
◷ More comparisons from Athens
Estimates use approximate cost-of-living indices (US average = 100) and are for general guidance only.