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Istanbul
#107 of 124
Europe

Istanbul

Turkey

Salary & Cost of Living

View purchasing power ranking

How do salaries and expenses in Istanbul compare to San Francisco?

Purchasing Power Comparison

An engineer in Istanbul is 68% worse off vs in San Francisco

This shows how far a software engineer's salary goes in Istanbul compared to San Francisco, taking into account both salary differences and cost of living.

Median Salary
$34,259
-$238K (-87%) vs San Francisco
Based on 203 data points from levels.fyi
Net Salary
$21,172
-$151K (-88%) vs San Francisco
Tax Rate: 38%

Community Insights

New

Istanbul presents a stark dichotomy for software engineers: it is a paradise for digital nomads earning foreign currency, but often a financial struggle for those on local salaries. While the median local net income is low (~$20k/year), the cost of living ranks #31/124, meaning those with Western wages can live lavishly.

The city offers an unmatched blend of history, culinary excellence, and social vibrancy. However, residents must navigate the challenges of economic volatility (high inflation), chaotic urban logistics (traffic), and a complex political environment. For tech workers, the experience is largely defined by their income source.

Resident Sentiment

Current residents express a mixed sentiment heavily dependent on their financial status. Expats earning foreign currency often report a high quality of life, praising the ability to eat out daily, travel, and live in nice neighborhoods.

Conversely, those earning Turkish Lira frequently express anxiety over diminishing purchasing power and rental price hikes. A common theme is the 'love-hate' relationship: loving the city's soul and energy, but hating the traffic and economic stress.

Living Environment

Weather•Safety•Pollution•Events

A quick look at climate, safety, pollution, and tech community compared to San Francisco.

Rankings

Comfortable Weather

Top 20%

#25

of 124 cities

75/100 weather score

Current value

Community Events

Top 24%

#30

of 124 cities

11 events on luma

Current value

Cost of Living

Top 24%

#30

of 124 cities

34/100

Current value (lower is better)

Housing Affordability

View affordability ranking

How affordable is housing for a software engineer in Istanbul compared to San Francisco?

Avg. Property Price
$2,264 / m²
77% cheaper than San Francisco
View detailed property prices on Numbeo

Salary Converter

Enter your annual gross salary (before taxes) to see what you would need to earn in Istanbul to maintain the same standard of living.

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Cost of Living
61% cheaper than San Francisco
View detailed cost breakdown on Numbeo

Top Paying Companies in Istanbul

Turkcell logo
Turkcell
EPAM Systems logo
EPAM Systems
Trendyol logo
Trendyol

The Good

  • High purchasing power for remote workers earning USD/EUR due to currency exchange rates.
  • Rich cultural heritage, historical sites, and vibrant street life that offers a unique lifestyle.
  • World-class food scene and café culture, with affordable dining out options compared to Western Europe.
  • Strategic travel hub connecting Europe and Asia, making weekend trips easy.
  • Social atmosphere is very active; it is easy to meet people in expat-heavy districts like Kadıköy and Beyoğlu.
  • High quality private healthcare at a fraction of US/EU costs (popular for medical tourism).

The Bad

  • Hyperinflation and economic instability make local pricing unpredictable and stressful for residents.
  • Extremely low local salaries for software engineers compared to global standards (median ~$33k/year).
  • Notorious traffic congestion and overcrowded public transportation during rush hours.
  • Language barrier is significant; English is not widely spoken outside of tech/tourist bubbles, requiring Turkish for daily bureaucracy.
  • Internet censorship and occasional throttling can hinder work; a reliable VPN is mandatory.
  • Noise pollution and heavy smoking culture in public spaces can be overwhelming.

The Verdict

You'll love it if...

Remote workers earning strong currencies (USD/EUR/GBP) who want to stretch their budget while living in a culturally rich, sleepless city.

Senior engineers or adventurous expats who value social life, history, and food over quiet suburban stability, and are willing to learn some Turkish to navigate daily life.

Skip it if...

Junior developers relying on the local job market, as entry-level salaries are often insufficient to enjoy the city comfortably.

People sensitive to crowds, noise, and smoke, or those requiring absolute political and economic stability to feel secure. The chaotic energy of the city is not for everyone.

Updated 11/29/2025

Weather7.5/10-14% vs San Francisco
Safety52+32%
Pollution67+37%
Events11-78%
7.5/10TechCities weather score vs 8.7/10 in San Francisco

0–10 composite (higher is better) combining temperature comfort, sunshine hours, rainy-day count, and humid days. See methodology for weighting and data sources.

Weather snapshot

Average High
18°C(same as San Francisco)
Average Low
12°C(same as San Francisco)
Sunshine Hours
2,218h/yr-844h/yr(-28%)
Hottest Month High
29°C(vs 22°C in San Francisco)
Coldest Month Low
4°C(vs 8°C in San Francisco)
Rainy Days
69/yr+20/yr(+42%)

Community & Quality

Istanbul community pulse

Istanbul has 11 Luma events listed.

78% fewer events than San Francisco.

Home Affordability

Middle of the pack

#67

of 124 cities

≈8.6 yrs to buy 80m²

Current value

Safety Index

Middle of the pack

#70

of 124 cities

52/100

Current value

Pollution Score

Bottom 24%

#95

of 124 cities

67.4/100

Current value (lower is better)

Tax Rate

Bottom 16%

#106

of 124 cities

38%

Current value (lower is better)

Net Income

Bottom 15%

#107

of 124 cities

$21,172/yr

Current value

Purchasing Power

Bottom 15%

#107

of 124 cities

SWE Affordability
8.6 years
3.9 years longer than San Francisco
Muggy Days
33/yr+32/yr(+16200%)
Cloud Cover
37%(vs 34% in San Francisco)