Bursa vs İzmir
How to read the comparison chart
The grouped bars score each city 0–100 on cost, climate and safety — taller is better. Bursa leads on any axis where its bar is higher, İzmir where its is. The cost bar uses a higher-is-cheaper scale, so İzmir's taller cost bar reflects its lower cost of living, not a higher price.
| Axis | Bursa | İzmir |
|---|---|---|
| Livability | 61 | 60 |
| Cost (higher=cheaper) | 42 | 42 |
| Climate | 88 | 87 |
| Safety | 56 | 55 |
| Summer °C | 18.1 | 26.6 |
| Winter °C | 0.5 | 7.8 |
| Top disaster risk | wildfire | wildfire |
Bursa vs İzmir: the short answer
Bursa comes out ahead on overall livability (61/100), only marginally above İzmir (60/100). The two cities diverge most on climate. On affordability İzmir is the cheaper base — nearly identical prices on our cost index (Bursa 42 vs İzmir 42, where a higher score means a lower cost of living, normalised from World Bank price levels). For climate, İzmir runs warmer in summer (about 26.6°C peak vs 18.1°C in Bursa), while winter lows sit near 0.5°C in Bursa and 7.8°C in İzmir. On natural-disaster exposure Bursa is the safer choice (safety 56/100); the dominant modelled hazard is wildfire for Bursa and wildfire for İzmir.
Which city should you choose?
- On a tight budget → İzmir — lower everyday costs..
- You want warmth → İzmir — hotter summers.
- Safety is the priority → Bursa — lower disaster risk.
- Best all-rounder → Bursa — highest overall livability.
Data & methodology
Cost scores are normalised from World Bank price-level data. Climate figures (summer highs, winter lows) are drawn from 1991–2020 climate normals. Disaster-safety blends USGS earthquake history (magnitude 4.5+ within 300 km since 1980), tropical-cyclone basin position, flood/elevation exposure and Köppen climate zone. The livability score is the weighted composite of cost, climate and safety. All figures are planning indicators for 2026, not guarantees — verify specifics before relocating.
FAQ
Is Bursa or İzmir better to live in?
Bursa scores higher overall — 61 vs 60 on our 0–100 livability index, which weights cost, climate and safety.
Which is cheaper, Bursa or İzmir?
İzmir has the lower cost of living (cost index 42 vs 42; higher = cheaper, from World Bank price levels).
Which is warmer, Bursa or İzmir?
İzmir — summer highs reach about 26.6°C versus 18.1°C in Bursa.
Which is safer from natural disasters, Bursa or İzmir?
Bursa (disaster-safety 56/100). Main hazard: wildfire in Bursa, wildfire in İzmir.
What is the main natural-disaster risk in Bursa?
wildfire is the dominant modelled hazard for Bursa on our risk index.
How is the Bursa vs İzmir comparison calculated?
Cost comes from World Bank price levels, climate from 1991–2020 normals, and disaster risk from USGS earthquake data, cyclone-basin position and flood exposure; livability is their weighted composite.