What Is the Cost Of Living In Turkey?

A standard of living can be defined as the criteria for a person’s well-being in a population. While living conditions and expenses in Turkey determine the standard of living, it varies from one region to another.

Living expenses in Turkey include housing expenses, bills, taxes, insurance fees, transportation, maintenance expenses, eating and drinking out, healthcare costs, and groceries.

Turkey has the advantage in household bills since that rental costs are high in comparison to cheap monthly bills. Monthly fees such as electricity, water, sewerage, telephone, internet, gas, and satellite packages. Another aspect to consider is the monthly subscription, which is the fees that should be paid against residential services for buildings with more than 6 units. Factor in between 30 to 45 USD a month to make sure your apartment or house runs every month.

Council tax and insurance are so much cheaper in charge compared to other countries like the UK. Council tax is calculated on the official price band for your household. Earthquake insurance is a must and depends on the square meterage of your property. You can optionally have robbery and fire insurance. Factor in 30 to 50 USD a year for these two charges.

An average complete meal cost for one person is from 2 to 8 USD if you visit middle-class restaurants. The cost of one beer from the local store is 1 USD.  The average cost for a bottle of wine is 4 USD.

In Istanbul, public transportation will set you back roughly 15 USD every month. Otherwise, the price of one liter of petrol is around the US$6.65 mark and vehicle owners should also set aside approximately US$360 a year for maintenance, insurance, and MOTs.

Residency and healthcare make a significant payment and cost for people from outside the country and under the age of 65 because they need to have health insurance to qualify for residency. IA foreigners must also expect to pay US$500 on average annually, for the government-administrated health insurance plan, granted that this includes application and renewal payments.

If we are to estimate the average expenses monthly, then it equals approximately US$250 in general, to achieve a favorable lifestyle. However, this may go up to US$500 in metropolitan areas inside Istanbul, Ankara, and Izmir.

What is Life Like in Turkey?

Turkey is one of the biggest cities in the world with a different nature, from mountains to green, breathtaking lands to the deep blue of the Mediterranean Sea. The weather is always good and it has very important aspects in history. The country is also a very unique city because it’s a mix of eastern and western cultures.

Turkey’s human development index is 0.820 for 2019. This puts t the country in the very high human development category, ranking it at 54 out of 189 countries. Between 1990 and 2019, Turkey’s HDI value has an increase by 40.7%.

In big cities, there are huge shopping malls and supermarkets, and wonderful coffee houses. The people, there are very friendly and hospitable. In Istanbul, you will find a lot of people who speak English, German, French, and Russian and don’t think much of it. 

The lifestyle in Turkey is fantastic. Almost all year long the sun is up in the sky and the weather is really beautiful. Meals can be taken on the terrace and walks can be enjoyed in the spring, autumn, and even winter, people like to sit on a terrace heater and shelter from the wind and enjoy the winter sun. This outdoor lifestyle is more missed in European countries and also results in far more social interaction. In the summer, the sunshine gives you high levels of vitamin D and the sun, in general, makes us feel better on so many levels.

The cost of living in Turkey compared to other cities like the US or the UK is very affordable and it is easy to live decently with a normal income. 

Is it Possible to Work in Turkey?

If you are planning to work in Turkey, the most beneficial method is to get a job offer from an international company that operates in Turkey. After successful employment, you may smoothly relocate there.

Teaching is a very wanted job in Turkey. especially if you want to teach English and you’re a native speaker of the language, it’s easier to get a job in Turkey. Private schools need English teachers. These are quite decently paying jobs. surely it is easier to find a job in large cities such as Istanbul, Izmir, and Ankara, than in small cities.

What Is The Food Cost In Turkey?

Food in Turkey is not very expensive. Restaurants compared to European and North American counterparts are a lot cheaper. Here is a list of the food costs in Turkey.

• US$0.15-0.35 for the local snack you buy on the road.
• The average meal cost in a restaurant is around US$1.80.
• The average price for a decent meal at a medium-level restaurant varies between 5-10 USD, and 1.80 USD for a standard meal from McDonald’s.
• A bottle of water cost 0.10 USD.
• The cost of ordering a coffee at a cafe may cost between 0.75-1.80 USD.
• Taking a coke or any other fizzy drink costs about 0.35-0.50 USD.
• If you want to make your meals in Turkey, you’ll find that shopping for groceries is cheap. Buying 1 kg of oranges, apples, onions, lettuce, potatoes or tomatoes may cost at least 0.36 USD in most markets. Red meat can be quite a bit more expensive than chicken meat.

What is the Average Utility Cost in Turkey?

Annually cost of a property in Turkey is approximately lower than in western countries. Some of the utility costs in Turkey are included below.

• The monthly bills of electricity usage for a 2-bedroom flat may range between 6-15 USD as per utilization factors.
• Generally speaking, in Turkey, the charges of gas usage mostly come from cooking your food in the oven. Instead of the traditional pipe connections, it comes bottled in large capacities, which may cost around 5 USD per unit. The cost change depending on how long and how many times you use the oven, a gas bottle will last an average of 6 to 9 months.
• The old school water meters are being phased out and changed with pay-as-you-move meters. Costs range from averaging 0.10 USD for cubic meters. A big family consumes about 2.50 USD a month for water.
• The internet will fee approximately 3.60 USD a month for an annual subscription.
• The charge for your council tax changes, because it completely depends on how many people are on the tapu (title deeds) and how much the property costs. An average 2-bedroom apartment costs roughly 10 USD a year in Didim but maybe you will have to pay more in other places.
• You have to pay rubbish tax every year which is around 6 USD a year in Didim.
• DASK is a natural disaster and earthquake insurance is compulsory by law. The cost changes depending on the companies who use the square meter of your apartment to calculate it. A 70-square-meter apartment is about 18 USD a year. The cost rises if you upgrade to content and fire insurance.
• Administration charges go towards expenses like shared power, water, pool upkeep, and some other public offices as concurred by the authority of the executives’ board of trustees. They change from one complex to another from 22 to 144 USD a year.

What is the Housing Cost in Turkey?

Property costs in Turkey have expanded by 75.6% in the last four years. The Turkish property market has been to a great extent driven by expanded home loan loaning, developing metropolitan populaces, and sound monetary development. As per the report, the development in the Turkish property market has been generally determined by expanded home loan loaning, developing metropolitan populaces, and monetary development. Housing costs in Turkey are mentioned below.

• House prices in Istanbul are Turkey’s most costly lodging, with a normal house cost of US$ 765 per square meter in Q1 2020.
• Across the country, the normal house cost was US$ 455 per sq.  

What are the Rental Prices in Turkey?

For the Aegean and Mediterranean regions, you may pay an estimated amount ranging between 108-144 USD for a standard 2-bedroom apartment.

However, a basic apartment on the outskirts of the city can cost as much as 108 USD, the prices are higher near the city center. Rent a flat in Taksim Istanbul or other important districts with higher rates can be as much as 290 USD a month.

How Much Are House Prices in Turkey?

In 2020, as indicated by the CBRT, the normal house cost was US$ 455 per sq across the country. 

What are the Best Cities to Live in Turkey?

Turkey is a famous country among sightseers and outsiders who need to have a charming excursion or purchase a subsequent home to get comfortable. It is an exceptional country with four oceans around the country which have astonishing normal seashores. The nation offers various elements including a wide range of new food, different environmental conditions, and rich history. Here are the best cities to live in Turkey.

• Istanbul: Istanbul is the most well-known and cosmopolitan city in Turkey. It offers eminent history, the stunning Marmara Sea and Bosporus, its ideal variety, and social and sporting offices for all preferences. For families, it is the ideal spot with top-notch schools for youngsters. It has innumerable social and verifiable angles, along with its cutting-edge and comprehensive neighborhoods. In Istanbul, you can live in a metropolitan with an astonishing perspective and nature. The population in Istanbul was 15.46 million in 2020. In Istanbul, the summers are warm, sticky, dry, and clear and the winters are long, chilly, breezy, and part of the way overcast. Throughout the year, the temperature commonly fluctuates from 3°C to 29°C and is seldom underneath -1°C or above 32°C.
• Antalya: Antalya, the most notable area for vacationers, is an extremely decent city to live in. It dwells between the Mediterranean Sea and the brilliant Taurus Mountains. The city has various regular marvels and decent personal satisfaction and a radiant and warm environment, numerous new food openings in the week after week showcase with its perfect and safe climate. As a family, you can easily live in Antalya with its well-working administration. The typical cost for basic items in Antalya is 12% less expensive than in Istanbul. Notwithstanding where most migrants to Turkey decide to live, they are by and large attracted to the lower costs of water, power, and everyday necessities. Most land buys are made with money, and purchasers normally store into an exorbitant premium investment account with month-to-month withdrawals, in this way keeping up with their net capital worth. The stormy season endures from January to March, and the city appreciates an interesting and invigorating climate for a very long time of the year.  You can appreciate eating out, swimming in the ocean, getting into a T-shirt in March, and sunbathing in July and August.
• Izmir: Izmir is the third biggest city in Turkey, situated on the shores of the Aegean Sea. This delightful seaside city appreciates magnificent perspectives of the Aegean Sea. The number of inhabitants in Izmir, as indicated by the most recent enumeration of 2017, is assessed at 4 million and 224 individuals. Izmir is quite possibly the most delightful and biggest urban community in Turkey, where the typical cost for basic items is exceptionally low. The quantity of candidates for movement is expanding step by step, many individuals pick Turkey to head out or move because of the low expenses contrasted with other European nations. Izmir is a city with a Mediterranean environment with warm and bright summers and gentle and stormy winters. Because of the calm environment and the generally little contrast between winter and summer temperatures, you can without much of a stretch keep the house warm or cool.
• Mugla: Mugla is a district that resides on the Southeastern side of Turkey within the Agean Sea region. Partially occupying prominent spots of the crystal blue coastline, famous for being one of the finest resort destinations like Marmaris. The estimated population in 2019 is 967,487 million. People in Mulga are very welcoming and easy to talk and deal with, also they are very helpful. In Mugla, the summers are blistering, parched, and clear and the winters are long, freezing, wet, and somewhat shady. Throughout the year, the temperature commonly fluctuates from 0°C to 32°C. You are also able to do a lot of activities there if you like historical places, Mugla and various huge civilizations were set up since the beginning and left their follows, is an incredibly rich city as far as authentic antiquities. If you are a beach seeker, in the southern Aegean city, Mugla has 105 white sandy seashores incomplete that are certified with the blue banner.
• Eskisehir: Eskisehir is a city in Turkey situated in Western Asia. It is arranged at rising 794 meters above ocean level. Eskisehir has a populace of 887,475 (2019) individuals. Eskisehir’s climate is versatile, thus, summer times are mostly warm, and dry with clear skies, whereas, winter days are mostly cold with cloudy vibes. Throughout the year, the temperature commonly shifts from -3°C to 29°C and is once in a while beneath -10°C or above 33°C.
• Sakarya: The city of Sakarya, quite possibly the main urban area in Turkey for its fast development and improvement, is additional consideration commendable for its normal marvels and social lavishness. The population in 2019 is 1.011 million. In Sakarya, the summers are warm, sticky, and clear and the winters are freezing and part of the way overcast. Throughout the year, the temperature ordinarily fluctuates from 1°C to 29°C and is infrequently underneath -3°C or above 32°C. People, there are very generous, helpful, and accommodating so do not hesitate to ask them for help. The city has numerous authentic and social landmarks and has entered the field of the social travel industry.
• Bursa: The city of Bursa is perhaps the most wonderful urban community in Turkey, and it is situated close to Istanbul at the furthest edge of the Sea of Marmara, Bursa remains on the northwestern slants of Mount Uludag, on the banks of the Nilufer River, in the southern Marmara Region. It appreciates enchanting perspectives and has a renowned mountain, which made it a waterfront and Mountainous topographical climate. The current population of Bursa in 2021 is 2,021,000 million. In Bursa, the summers are warm, dry, and clear and the winters are freezing and halfway shady. During the whole year, the differences in temperature degrees vary between 1°C to 30°C and are rarely going under -3°C or over 33°C.

Is Turkey Expensive to Live in?

First of all, it depends on how many people you have in a family and your lifestyle. Families with children naturally have high educational expenses, while a person living alone will not have such expenses. The second factor is your lifestyle. Whether you want to drive, use alcohol and smoke, or eat out. Also, the cost of living varies from region to region. Although Istanbul is much cheaper than London or New York, it is still the most expensive place in Turkey.

How Much Money is Needed Per Month to Live a Life Comfortable in Turkey?

It is necessary to earn 350 to 450$ when it comes to household bill expenses, eating and drinking outside, transportation, health services, food shopping, and house rent. If you have children who are studying, this will increase even more.

What are the Most Expensive Cities in Turkey?

The most expensive cities in Turkey are listed below.

• Istanbul is the most expensive city in Turkey. It is viewed that living in Istanbul is very costly contrasted with the pay rates acquired. In Istanbul, a family of four assessed month-to-month costs is US$1,584 without a lease. A solitary individual assessed month-to-month costs are US$447 without a lease.
• Ankara, the capital city of Turkey, Ankara is the second one in the rundown. Ankara has the most exorbitant cost level in eateries, bistros, and lodgings. It is additionally seen that Ankara has concocted the most significant level of transportation. Regardless of these records, Ankara is additionally on the rundown of the most reasonable urban areas of Turkey. In Ankara, a Family of four assessed month-to-month costs is US$1,459 without a lease. A solitary individual assessed month-to-month costs are US$421 without a lease.

What are the Cheapest Cities in Turkey?

The cheapest cities in Turkey can be found below.

• Sanliurfa: The normal average cost for basic items in Sanliurfa is US$349.
• Kayseri: The average monthly cost is US$331.
• Mersin: The average monthly cost is US$338.
• Konya: The average monthly cost is US$335.
• Iskenderun: The average monthly cost is US$295.
• Hatay: The average monthly cost is US$391.

What are Clothing Costs in Turkey?

The costs of clothing are listed below.

• 1 pair of jeans (Levis 501 or similar), 23 USD
• 1 summer dress in a chain store (Zara, H&M) 17 USD
• 1 pair of Nike running shoes (Mid-Range), 42 USD
• 1 pair of men’s leather business shoes, 35 USD

How is Childcare in Turkey?

Childcare in metropolitan communities is accessible at pre-schools or with secretly masterminded carers. Pre-school instruction is suggested by most pediatricians. It isn’t free or financed, expenses should be paid. Albeit the quantity of pre-schools is expanding there are insufficient spots to satisfy requests. Pre-schools typically oblige kids to mature from two to five years, where they are held under the management of specific educators. 

Is Turkey Safe to Live?

Turkey is by and large viewed as a protected objective, and numerous ex-pats move there without issues. So it is considered a safe country. Turkey’s crime rate for 2018 was 2.59, a 16.05% decline from 2017. For further reading you can also check our article Is Turkey Safe?.

How to Become a Turkish Citizen?

Turkey presented its Citizenship by Investment Program in 2018. The Turkish Government awards financial backers Turkish Citizenship in return for capital speculation or the procurement of relentless property.

Turkey is perhaps the most socially rich nation in Eastern Europe and West Asia. It offers outstanding milestones, chronicled destinations, and superb normal views. The country’s focal area, social vicinity to the Arab culture, and stand-out experience are altogether key factors that drive sightseers just as financial backers to Turkey.

Having said that, numerous families looking to get Turkish citizenship through Investment to partake in the incalculable advantages it has to bring to the table them. Advantages of Turkish citizenship incorporate free training, full clinical help, and sans visa travel. In addition, if financial backers decide to put resources into a Turkish land property, they will want to gather rental returns.

How to get Turkish citizenship:

• Through marriage, following three years of marriage. 
• By birth, appropriate for individuals who have something like one parent who is a Turkish resident. 
• Through business, following five years of work under an agreement. 
• Through naturalization, following five years of living in Turkey. 
• By investment.

To fit the bill for citizenship, the primary candidate ought to satisfy one of the accompanying speculation prerequisites: 

• Gain essentially USD 400,000 worth of property, Here is more information about property in Turkey.
• Contribute at least USD 500,000 fixed capital commitment
• The store USD 500,000 or identical unfamiliar cash or Turkish lira into a Turkish financial balance
• Submit USD 500,000 or identical unfamiliar cash or Turkish lira into government bonds
• Submit USD 500,000 or identical unfamiliar cash or Turkish lira into land speculation store offer or funding venture reserve share
• Make occupations for no less than 50 individuals, as authenticated by the Ministry of Family, Labor, and Social Services 

The primary candidate might incorporate their life partner, subordinate youngsters over the age of 18, and offspring of all ages who are living with inabilities in their application.

Is There Racism In Turkey?

Racism is a phenomenon that excites almost every single country in the world, Turkey hadn’t had this issue in the past and now, the country is pretty peaceful for foreigners.

What are the Transportation Conditions in Turkey?

Practically the entire of Turkey is all around covered by open vehicles, including significant distance transports, homegrown flights, minibusses, and ships. The train network is being updated, with new fast lines connecting the capital Ankara with Istanbul, Konya, and Sivas. Vehicle rental rates are sensible on the off chance that you glance around, and low-season rentals are typically significantly less expensive than in the high season. Public transportation in Turkey is efficient and easy to use.

Types of transportation in Turkey are listed below.

• Train
• Bus
• Minibus
• Tram
• Metro
• Ferry
• Long-distance bus

There are essentially two different ways to pay for the passage: you may get a token (jeton) from the business corner or candy machines (jetonmatik), or you utilize the Istanbul Card (Istanbul Kart) as an electronic ticket. If you utilize a symbolic, you’ll pay 0.36 USD for each ride, with an Istanbul Card you just compensation of 0,19 USD, and get limits for each move you make. Children under the age of six can travel for free.

Is Transportation Expensive in Turkey?

Municipalities in Turkey have increased public transportation fees one after another. Municipalities point to the increase in fuel prices as the reason for the increased fuel prices after the Russia-Ukraine war. While the cheapest transportation is in Bursa, the most expensive transportation is in Istanbul.

What are our Market Prices in Turkey?

In case you are wanting to prepare your dinners in Turkey, you’ll see that shopping for basic foods won’t make a major imprint on your financial plan.

• 1 kilo of apples, oranges, lettuce, onions, potatoes, or tomatoes is on the whole under 0.80 USD.
• Red meat can be a considerable amount more costly than chicken meat, with the previous costing around 4.32 USD a kilo.
• A portion of bread is around 0.14 SD and a kilo of white rice is around 0.65 USD.
• On the off chance that you purchase liquor from the market, homegrown brew (0.5L) will cost you around 1.50 USD and imported ones (0.33L) will cost you around 3 USD. The cost for a jug of wine begins from 3.50 USD. 

How is Turkey’s Education System?

Turkey is the second country on the planet in admittance to advanced education with a 94.2% tutoring rate. Turkey engaged with European Higher Education Area is carrying out the Bologna Process impeccably; our Bologna report is 5 out of 5. Thus, the certificate you get from a college in Turkey is perceived in all European nations.

Turkey is perhaps the best nation taking an interest in the trade programs under Erasmus. Notwithstanding Erasmus, there are many trade programs in Turkey, like Mevlana, and Farabi, which support the versatility of understudies and speakers.

How is The Economy of Turkey?

In recent years, there have been significant improvements in the financial and social parts of Turkey’s economy. There have been expansions in degrees of work and pay since 2000. However, because of critical changes in outer factors like an increment in Syrian exiles and a decrease in financial changes, Turkey has dialed back its monetary advancement.

How is The Climate of Turkey?

In Turkey, there is an observable assortment of environments, with significant contrasts between the spaces, and with some microclimates because of the diverse openness of slants and drifts.

The beachfront regions have commonly a gentle environment, yet the shore of the Black Sea is colder than that of the Mediterranean. The inside has a mainland environment, with chilly, blanketed winters and warm, dry summers, however, evenings remain generally cool.

Summer is dry and bright all through the nation, besides on the northeast coast. In every one of the inland and south-focal locales, the driest months are July, August, and September.

How is The Geography of Turkey?

Turkey is an enormous promontory that connects the landmasses of Europe and Asia. Geographically, Turkey is surrounded by three major water monuments, the Mediterranean, the Black, and Agean Seas.

Istanbul is the biggest province in the country located over the Bosporus strait. The city is incompletely in Europe and halfway to Asia.

How is Social Culture in Turkey?

Turkey is well known for its exceptionally diverse cultural fabric that combines different elements of the Oguz Turkic and Anatolian, Ottoman (Already a continuation of both Greco-Roman and Islamic societies), and Western culture and customs that began with the Westernization of the Ottoman Empire and proceeds with today. This blend is an aftereffect of the experience of Turks and their way of life with those of the people groups who were in their way during their relocation from Central Asia toward the West.

As Turkish culture effectively changed from the religion-based previous Ottoman Empire into an advanced country state with an extremely amazing partition of state and religion, an increment in the techniques for imaginative articulation followed. During the principal long periods of the republic, the public authority put a lot of assets into expressive arts, like galleries, theatres, and architecture.

Because of various verifiable variables assuming a significant part in characterizing the cutting-edge Turkish identity, Turkish culture is a result of endeavors to be “current” and Western, joined with the need felt to keep up with customary strict and authentic qualities.

How is Entertainment Culture in Turkey?

Turkey’s rich social legacy and changed geology, which plunges from seashore to mountains and high levels, ensure that guests have a lot of exercises and activities available. The best things to do in Turkey can be found below.

1. Turkish hammam
2. Hot air balloon ride in Cappadocia
3. Hike the Lycian Way
4. Ephesus
5. Enjoying the sea in Fethiye with a boat
6. Oludeniz & Pamukkale 
7. Food tours
8. Dervish show
9. Istanbul ferry ride

What is Religion in Turkey?

The main religion in Turkey is Islam with 90% Muslims of the population. 0.1% are Christians and Judaism. The others are 0.1%  Christianism and Judaism.

What is the Architecture and City Structure of Turkey?

Buildings in Turkey demonstrate the special blend of components that have affected the country throughout history. In option to the customary Byzantine components present in various pieces of Turkey, numerous antiquities of the later Ottoman design, with its lovely mix of neighborhood and Islamic traditions, are to be found all through the nation, just as in numerous previous domains of the Ottoman Empire.

Since the 18th century, Turkish design has been progressively affected by Western styles, and this can be especially found in Istanbul where structures like the Blue Mosque and the Dolmabahce Palace are compared close to various current skyscrapers, all of them addressing various customs.