Ankara Vs Istanbul | Population + Cost Of Living

As I mentioned in the previous articles, every year, a large number of tourists travel to Turkey to visit the sights of this country, but many people who intend to travel or immigrate to Turkey always doubt choosing Turkish cities.

Therefore, we always see different comparisons of people between Turkish cities; among the most famous and popular comparisons, we can mention Antalya vs Istanbul, Antalya vs Bodrum, Alanya vs Antalya, and Ankara vs Istanbul.

All these comparisons that I mentioned have been examined in a special article. Therefore, in this article, I will specifically compare Ankara and Istanbul so that, in the end, you can tell which Ankara or Istanbul is better.

In this article, I will compare Ankara and Istanbul together. Ankara is the capital of Turkey, and Istanbul is the tourism hub of this country, and both are of special importance in business and tourism.

Still, the weather, cost of living, job positions, and even the sights of these two cities are different, and each has advantages and disadvantages. Join Travelling Topic to introduce these two cities from all directions and reach a general conclusion at the end.

Introducing Istanbul

Before checking the difference between Ankara and Istanbul, it is better to familiarize yourself with these two cities. First, I will introduce the city of Istanbul to you.

As I mentioned in the article “Where Is Istanbul located“, Istanbul is a city with a history of 2500 years, known as Constantinople in the ancient world. This city is considered the tourism hub of Turkey due to its historical and modern attractions, such as beautiful Ottoman mosques and water parks.

It is good to know that part of Istanbul is located in the continent of Asia, and the other part is located in the continent of Europe. The famous Bosphorus Bridge connects these two parts, and for this reason, many tourists travel to this city.

Introducing Ankara

Ankara is one of the most important cities in Türkiye. This city is the main capital of Turkey. If you travel to Ankara, you will witness the presence of tradition and modernity simultaneously.

The old parts of Ankara with Ottoman style and the new parts of Ankara with the style of modern European cities will give you an interesting feeling.

This city will have many attractions for those who travel or want to immigrate. The area of Ankara is about 24,000 square kilometers, and it is the second largest city in Turkey.

Istanbul vs Ankara in terms of weather

The first comparison you should make between any city is the weather of that two cities because the weather conditions greatly impact your decision. You should know that the climate of Ankara is continental and has cold and dry winters and very hot summers. On the other hand, the climate of Istanbul is known as semi-tropical and humid. So Istanbul will have milder weather conditions than Ankara.

Ankara vs Istanbul | which is better for life?

Among the most important factors that must be considered for life, I can mention each city’s population, housing, shopping, and commuting. Comparing these factors with each other will give you general information about Istanbul and Ankara and make it easier for you to make a decision.

Population comparison: To learn about Ankara vs Istanbul population, it should be mentioned that according to the latest statistics, the population of Istanbul reaches 15 million and 70 thousand people, and the population of Ankara is 5 million and 67 thousand people. This difference in population makes the cost of living and expenses in Istanbul higher than in Ankara.

Comparison of housing: The large population of Istanbul causes an increase in housing consumption and therefore increases the price of property and houses. At the same time, Ankara will have a lower housing cost with its smaller population.

Comparison of transportation in the city: public transportation in Istanbul is much more than in Ankara, and there is more traffic there than in Ankara. Based on the latest statistics, the transportation cost in Istanbul will be 2 times that of Ankara every month. Of course, this is even though the fuel price is the same in all Turkish cities!

Comparing food and buying other things: In general, Ankara and Istanbul have different shopping centers, and each has many attractive restaurants. So, the only option remains the discussion of expenses, which naturally has a higher price in Istanbul.

As you can see above, the costs are higher in Istanbul, and in response to the question “living in Ankara is better or Istanbul?” I must say: Ankara is better; because it costs less; It is quieter; It has green space and clean parks; It is known for the highest position in terms of health standards and municipal handling.

However, choose Istanbul to live in if you want to experience the hustle and bustle of Turkish life and benefit from the most modern facilities and recreational and comfortable equipment.

Ankara vs Istanbul | Which is better for travel?

Undoubtedly, the entertainment places in Istanbul and Ankara have a wide variety; each is very beautiful and unique. However, prepare for the Istanbul tour if you are interested in water sports, nightclubs, famous food of Turkey, famous restaurants, and more tourist and natural attractions. On the other hand, if you like to visit historical monuments and learn about Turkey traditions, go to Ankara.

You should also know that many international festivals and exhibitions, such as Istanbul international jazz festival and the color festival in Istanbul, are held in Istanbul, and many tourists come to Turkey to participate in them every year.

Meanwhile, Ankara holds few festivals and is weaker than Istanbul in tourism. But in the end, the decision to choose a travel destination will be completed according to your taste.

Comparison of Ankara vs Istanbul and terms of costs

As I mentioned in the section Ankara vs Istanbul for Life, the population of Istanbul is much higher than Ankara. This causes the price of housing and public transportation to rise.

The cost of food, buying supplies, and bills is also higher in Istanbul. However, the price difference is less than the cost of property and housing. So if you are looking for a lower-cost destination, choose Ankara.

Ankara or Istanbul for education

Another common comparison between Istanbul and Ankara is education. If we want to check the quality of these two cities’ universities and educational centers, I must say that they are in the same condition.

In other words, Ankara Universities are similar to Istanbul universities, so the most important issue you should consider is living costs. 

Ankara vs Istanbul for a job position

Since Ankara is the capital of Turkey and Istanbul is one of the most important port cities of the country, the job position of both is almost the same. Therefore, it is unsurprising that various companies, industrial factories, large commercial centers, etc., exist widely in Istanbul and Ankara.

Therefore, finding a job in both cities has an equal ratio and will not greatly impact your decision that Ankara or Istanbul is better.

To better understand the salary of doctors and compare it with other jobs in these two cities, go to the articles ” Dentist salary in Turkey ” and “ Average doctor salary in Turkey “.

Is Istanbul bigger than Ankara?

In response to the question “Is Ankara bigger than Istanbul?” it should be mentioned that Istanbul is bigger than Ankara, and if you would like to travel to a bigger city, I suggest you choose Istanbul.

The area of Ankara is 24,521 square kilometers, and its population reaches 5 million people. In contrast, Istanbul has an area of 5,323,22 square kilometers and a population of 15 million people.

Ankara or Istanbul which is better?

Suppose you are interested in historical places and want to see the historical monuments of Turkey. In that case, I suggest you travel to Istanbul, but if you plan to immigrate to Turkey and work in this country, I suggest you choose Ankara because there are more job opportunities in this city.

At the end of the line

In this article, I compared Ankara vs Istanbul, but in the end, you decide which city is better according to your taste.

It is also better to know at the end of the article that Ankara is introduced as Turkey’s political and commercial capital and is a very suitable place for investment. This matter is more important when establishing a business in the city or starting a company. For this, Ankara will be better than Istanbul.

Finally, the comparison of Ankara and Istanbul ended, and I tried to examine these two cities from all important and necessary aspects. Therefore, before traveling, living, or even studying and working in Turkey, it is better to read the mentioned items carefully and decide with a correct and complete comparison.

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