GSP made a comparison between the prices in Istanbul and those in Romania, and the conclusion is clear: in Turkey, many basic products are cheaper.
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The explanation lies in the economy: in Turkey, GDP per capita is lower, which means that people have, on average, lower incomes, and prices are adjusted to this level. In addition, high inflation and the devaluation of the Turkish lira make products seem even cheaper for those who come with lei or euros to the city on the Bosphorus.
How do the prices in Istanbul compare with those in Romania, on average:
|
Product |
Istanbul (average) |
Romania (average) |
|---|---|---|
|
Bread |
3.7 lei |
5 lei |
|
Eggs (12 pieces) |
12.5 lei |
17 lei |
|
Milk (1 liter) |
4 lei |
8 lei |
|
Cigarettes (pack of 20) |
15 lei |
27.5 lei |
|
Chicken breast (1 kg) |
24 lei |
35 lei |
|
Bananas (1 kg) |
7.5 lei |
10 lei |
|
Tomatoes (1 kg) |
8 lei |
22 lei |
|
Oil (1 liter) |
11 lei |
15 lei |
|
Coke (2 liters) |
7 lei |
10.5 lei |
|
Corn (1 kg) |
4 lei |
5.5 lei |
|
Flour (1 kg) |
6.5 lei |
6.5 lei |
|
Apples (1 kg) |
5.5 lei |
8 lei |
|
Still water (1.5 liters) |
1.8 lei |
3 lei |
|
Honey (1 kg) |
32 lei |
45 lei |
|
Potatoes (1 kg) |
3 lei |
5 lei |
|
Rice (1 kg) |
7.5 lei |
10 lei |
|
Coffee (250 g) |
12.5 lei |
20 lei |
|
Pasta (500 g) |
5 lei |
6.5 lei |
On average, products from Istanbul are 26% cheaper than those from Romania.
In Turkey, Istanbul is the undisputed regional leader, with an average net salary between 35,000 and 45,000 Turkish liras (approximately 1,020-1,310 euros). The top of the highest paying fields is dominated by IT, finance and banking, engineering and marketing.
On the other hand, Romania has caught up with Istanbul in terms of salary: in December 2025, the average net salary was 5,914 lei (about 1,160 euros), placing the two markets in a comparable area in terms of income. However, strictly comparing the economic poles of the two countries, Bucharest and Istanbul, the Romanian capital registers, at the beginning of 2026, average salaries of 6900-7000 lei.
Even if the salaries between Istanbul and Romania, in general, are close, the economies of the two countries tell different stories:
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Turkey has a huge GDP of 1.57 trillion dollarsbeing a large-scale economy, with a growth of 3.5% in 2025.
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Romania, on the other hand, has a GDP of 422.5 billion dollarsalmost four times lower, and a more modest economic growth of 1.0%.
Although Turkey produces more in total, Romania offers a better economic level per capita.
$22,436is the GDP per capita in Romania, while in Turkey it reaches only 18,198 dollars.
Thus, the difference in GDP per capita partially explains why daily life, especially food and common products, is cheaper in Istanbul and Turkey than in Romania.
At the same time, inflation completes the picture provided by GDP per capita and explains why prices can be, at the same time, lower but also more unstable. In Turkey, high inflation in recent years has eroded the purchasing power of the population and weakened the national currencywhich led to the maintenance of relatively low prices compared to euros or lei, but continuously increasing for the locals.
The annual inflation rate in Turkey was 31.53% in February 2026, while Romania is among the countries with the highest inflation in the European Union, recording a rate of 8.3% in February 2026, however much lower than that of the “Crescent Land”.
1 leu is equivalentwith 10.10 Turkish lira, at the evening rate of March 24.
PHOTO. Istanbul, in pictures
