Short answer: The same shopping list that costs about $250 in Istanbul costs less in Spain and more in Portugal, Thailand, Vietnam, Georgia, Kosovo, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Japan, and Switzerland, at prices of 8 November 2026.
Last updated: 8 November 2026. Source: the WhatCanIBuyThere.com price table (shop and brand names are not published) and official reference rates.
How we compared
This article looks at what money buys abroad from the supermarket shelf. With our comparison tool we built a shopping list with a $250 budget at Istanbul prices, priced the same products in the same quantities at each country's own supermarket prices, and converted the result back with official reference rates. Each pair of countries is compared on its own matched products, so the number of products on the list varies; the table shows it.
The same list in 11 countries
| Country | City | Products on the list | List in Istanbul | Same list there | In budget currency |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spain | Madrid | 28 | $249.88 | €213.94 | $238.87 |
| Portugal | Lisbon | 23 | $249.79 | €231.71 | $258.71 |
| Thailand | Bangkok | 25 | $249.76 | ฿8,695.39 | $259.17 |
| Vietnam | Hanoi | 19 | $249.71 | ₫6,861,640 | $272.21 |
| Georgia | Tbilisi | 27 | $249.95 | ₾721.50 | $277.80 |
| Kosovo | Pristina | 22 | $249.71 | €251.52 | $280.83 |
| Germany | Berlin | 31 | $249.62 | €292.13 | $326.17 |
| United Arab Emirates | Dubai | 30 | $249.90 | AED 1,391.77 | $378.97 |
| Japan | Tokyo | 13 | $249.85 | ¥67,540 | $426.59 |
| Switzerland | Zurich | 27 | $249.91 | CHF 393.25 | $480.23 |
The table runs from the lowest to the highest cost of the list there. It is not a ranking of "cheap countries": it measures this supermarket list only, without incomes, rent or services.
Product by product
| Country | Products compared | Lower-priced there | Lower-priced in Istanbul |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spain | 45 | 19 | 24 |
| Portugal | 40 | 18 | 21 |
| Thailand | 35 | 12 | 22 |
| Vietnam | 26 | 12 | 14 |
| Georgia | 38 | 23 | 13 |
| Kosovo | 37 | 20 | 17 |
| Germany | 50 | 14 | 33 |
| United Arab Emirates | 42 | 10 | 31 |
| Japan | 32 | 17 | 15 |
| Switzerland | 47 | 7 | 39 |
The basket total and the product count do not always agree: a few weighty items (cleaning, personal care, meat) can turn the list the other way. Our detailed article for each country breaks this down product group by product group.
What the table says and does not say
The table says what a grocery list built in Istanbul costs on another country's shelves. The point of view is Istanbul's: the list consists of the products and quantities that fit the budget at Istanbul prices. Build the same comparison from a list made in Berlin or Bangkok and the result can change, because different products and quantities make the list.
The table does not say what it costs in total to live or holiday somewhere. Rent, transport, restaurants and services, incomes and taxes are not included. The rate you pay as a visitor also depends on your bank and payment method and will differ from these official rates.
Short notes, country by country
Spain (Madrid)
The 28-product list that costs $249.88 in Istanbul costs €213.94 (≈ $238.87) in Madrid. Of 45 compared products, 19 have a lower price per unit in Spain and 24 in Türkiye. Clearly lower-priced there: toothbrush ($0.38 vs $1.59) and shower gel ($0.95 vs $3.12). Clearly lower-priced in Istanbul: gloves ($4.49 vs $17.85) and paper towels ($0.62 vs $1.71). Spain uses the euro (EUR); euro–lira figures come from the European Central Bank's daily reference rate. Madrid prices were read from the online shelves of large supermarket chains; store-brand products are common in Spain too.
Portugal (Lisbon)
The 23-product list that costs $249.79 in Istanbul costs €231.71 (≈ $258.71) in Lisbon. Of 40 compared products, 18 have a lower price per unit in Portugal and 21 in Türkiye. Clearly lower-priced there: toothbrush ($0.45 vs $1.59) and single bed linen set ($6.69 vs $19.93). Clearly lower-priced in Istanbul: onions ($0.78 vs $1.89) and potatoes ($0.81 vs $1.41). Portugal uses the euro (EUR); conversions use the European Central Bank's daily reference rate. Lisbon prices were read from the online shelves of large supermarket chains.
Thailand (Bangkok)
The 25-product list that costs $249.76 in Istanbul costs ฿8,695.39 (≈ $259.17) in Bangkok. Of 35 compared products, 12 have a lower price per unit in Thailand and 22 in Türkiye. Clearly lower-priced there: blanket ($3.55 vs $12.46) and cooking pot ($7.42 vs $19.44). Clearly lower-priced in Istanbul: individually packaged cake ($0.36 vs $1.16) and pasta ($0.73 vs $1.95). Thailand's currency is the baht (THB). Baht figures are converted with the European Central Bank's daily reference rates; the dollar–lira rate comes from the Central Bank of the Republic of Türkiye.
Vietnam (Hanoi)
The 19-product list that costs $249.71 in Istanbul costs ₫6,861,640 (≈ $272.21) in Hanoi. Of 26 compared products, 12 have a lower price per unit in Vietnam and 14 in Türkiye. Clearly lower-priced there: tomatoes ($0.79 vs $2.13) and instant noodles ($0.19 vs $0.40). Clearly lower-priced in Istanbul: biscuits ($0.52 vs $1.82) and pasta ($0.73 vs $1.91). Vietnam's currency is the dong (VND). The European Central Bank does not list it, and the State Bank of Vietnam's rates could not be read, so we use Vietcombank's euro transfer rate (a commercial bank's rate). Leave a little room for rate differences in dong figures.
Georgia (Tbilisi)
The 27-product list that costs $249.95 in Istanbul costs ₾721.50 (≈ $277.80) in Tbilisi. Of 38 compared products, 23 have a lower price per unit in Georgia and 13 in Türkiye. Clearly lower-priced there: laundry detergent ($1.93 vs $4.96) and deodorant ($2.29 vs $5.78). Clearly lower-priced in Istanbul: multi-purpose cleaner ($1.30 vs $9.01) and paper towels ($0.62 vs $1.78). Georgia's currency is the lari (GEL). The European Central Bank does not list it, so we use the National Bank of Georgia's official euro rate, combined with the ECB's reference rates for other currencies. Every converted figure here therefore comes from published official rates; an exchange office will quote something slightly different.
Kosovo (Pristina)
The 22-product list that costs $249.71 in Istanbul costs €251.52 (≈ $280.83) in Pristina. Of 37 compared products, 20 have a lower price per unit in Kosovo and 17 in Türkiye. Clearly lower-priced there: basic jacket ($25.62 vs $59.82) and socks ($2.46 vs $5.38). Clearly lower-priced in Istanbul: paper towels ($0.62 vs $1.66) and toilet paper ($0.68 vs $1.57). Kosovo does not issue its own currency; the euro (EUR) is used day to day, and conversions use the European Central Bank's rate. Pristina prices were read from the online shelves of supermarket chains.
Germany (Berlin)
The 31-product list that costs $249.62 in Istanbul costs €292.13 (≈ $326.17) in Berlin. Of 50 compared products, 14 have a lower price per unit in Germany and 33 in Türkiye. Clearly lower-priced there: blanket ($3.35 vs $12.46) and deodorant ($2.65 vs $5.78). Clearly lower-priced in Istanbul: toilet paper ($0.68 vs $2.09) and paper towels ($0.62 vs $1.86). Germany uses the euro (EUR). Euro–lira figures come from the European Central Bank's daily reference rate.
United Arab Emirates (Dubai)
The 30-product list that costs $249.90 in Istanbul costs AED 1,391.77 (≈ $378.97) in Dubai. Of 42 compared products, 10 have a lower price per unit in United Arab Emirates and 31 in Türkiye. Clearly lower-priced there: blanket ($3.39 vs $12.46) and towel ($2.71 vs $5.64). Clearly lower-priced in Istanbul: paper towels ($0.62 vs $3.36) and toilet paper ($0.68 vs $3.71). The UAE's currency is the dirham (AED). It is pegged to the US dollar at the Central Bank of the UAE's published reference rate: 1 dollar = 3.6725 dirhams. We convert to lira with that reference rate and the Turkish central bank's dollar–lira rate; a bank or exchange office will quote a different rate.
Japan (Tokyo)
The 13-product list that costs $249.85 in Istanbul costs ¥67,540 (≈ $426.59) in Tokyo. Of 32 compared products, 17 have a lower price per unit in Japan and 15 in Türkiye. Clearly lower-priced there: women's dress ($8.15 vs $33.90) and blanket ($4.73 vs $12.46). Clearly lower-priced in Istanbul: chicken ($2.97 vs $12.13) and potatoes ($0.81 vs $2.82). Japan's currency is the yen (JPY); yen–lira figures are calculated from the European Central Bank's daily reference rates. Local product types in Tokyo often differ from Türkiye's, so fewer products match in the same type and the Tokyo list is shorter.
Switzerland (Zurich)
The 27-product list that costs $249.91 in Istanbul costs CHF 393.25 (≈ $480.23) in Zurich. Of 47 compared products, 7 have a lower price per unit in Switzerland and 39 in Türkiye. Clearly lower-priced there: blanket ($4.21 vs $12.46) and cooking pot ($12.15 vs $19.44). Clearly lower-priced in Istanbul: gloves ($4.49 vs $21.92) and toilet paper ($0.68 vs $2.59). Switzerland's currency is the franc (CHF). Franc–lira figures are calculated from the European Central Bank's daily reference rates.
Limits of the data
- Prices were read on 8 November 2026 from the online shelves of large chains; the number of sources differs by country (Istanbul: 14). Single-source prices are labelled "limited data" on the comparison page.
- Conversions use official reference rates; an exchange office rate will differ.
- Incomes, rent, transport and services are not included. Method: Data & methodology.
Try it with your own budget
Open the comparison tool: pick your budget and two countries; the same list is filled with your budget in both.
Frequently asked questions
Where does a lira buy more groceries?
At prices of 8 November 2026, the same list costs less than in Istanbul in Spain.
Does this show the cost of living?
No. It measures the same supermarket list only; rent, incomes, transport and services are not included.
Why does the number of products differ?
Each pair compares only products priced in the same local type in both countries, so the list differs by pair.