Athens vs Istanbul — Cost of Living Comparison 2026
Which city is cheaper, safer, and better for remote workers? Here's the data.
Istanbul
Turkey
Cost of Living (NYC=100)
38
affordable
NoodlePants Verdict — generated from live data
Istanbul edges out Athens on affordability with a Cost of Living index of 38 vs 50 (NYC=100; affordable vs mid-priced). Istanbul scores higher on safety (null/100), and Istanbul wins on internet at ~—. Overall, Athens takes the Nomad Score crown with null/100 — best for .
* Some figures are country averages — full city-level data coming soon.Pro members get neighbourhood-level breakdowns.
Metric
Athens
Istanbul
Avg Rent 1BR (city centre)
US$650
US$650
Avg Rent 1BR (outside centre)
US$480
US$450
Cost of Living (NYC=100)
50
38
Safety Score
—
—
Internet Speed
—
—
Nomad Score
—
—
Healthcare Score
—
—
Digital Nomad Visa
Not available
Not available
Who is each city for?
Athens is better for…
See the Greece country profileIstanbul is better for…
See the Turkey country profileSee full city data — neighbourhood breakdowns, internet speeds & coworking scores
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