Bengaluru vs Istanbul: cost of living for digital nomads
Bengaluru, India and Istanbul, Turkey, line by line from the catalogue: what a month costs, rent, food, coworking, safety and internet. Every figure links back to its source on the city page.
The short version
- Bengaluru is about 27% cheaper than Istanbul for a month of nomad living ($1,025 vs $1,400).
- Rent is the biggest gap: $400 in Bengaluru against $650 in Istanbul.
- Istanbul scores higher on safety (7/10 vs 6/10).
- Internet is faster in Bengaluru: 200 Mbps typical against 60 Mbps.
- Bengaluru is tropical; Istanbul is mediterranean.
Bengaluru wins 5 of the measured lines; Istanbul wins 2.
| Line | Bengaluru | Istanbul |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly total (USD) | $1,025 | $1,400 |
| Rent | $400 | $650 |
| Food | $250 | $380 |
| Transport | $35 | $45 |
| Coworking | $110 | $110 |
| Safety (out of 10) | 6/10 | 7/10 |
| Internet (Mbps) | 200 | 60 |
| Climate | tropical | mediterranean |
| City size | metro | metro |
| Setting | inland | coast |
| Nomad score (out of 10) | 7/10 | 8/10 |
Costs are typical monthly figures for one person in USD, from the sources named on each city page; safety and internet are the catalogue's own ratings. Check the city pages for the dates each was last verified.