Have you fallen in love with the charms of Turkey after a family holiday or a business trip? Before you settle there, it is normal to wonder how much money you should plan for each month to live in Turkey. In this guide, Foyer Global Health answers this question and explains all the expense items associated with the cost of living in Turkey.
Overview of the average cost of living in Turkey
For a single person, the monthly budget for living in Turkey is €970 on average. By contrast, a family of four needs a monthly budget of around €2,800.
These estimates are based on the largest expense items for living in Turkey, namely rent, shopping, transportation, healthcare and leisure.
| Services | Average price in Turkey |
|---|---|
| Average net salary | €665 per month |
| Rent for a small apartment | Between €390 and €560 per month |
| Purchase price of an apartment per m2 | 1,080 to €1,820 |
| Petrol (1 L) | €1.14 |
| Telephone flat rate (calls + 10 GB data) | €9 |
| Restaurant meal | €32 for two people |
| Cinema ticket | €5.45 |
Currency and exchange rates in Turkey
The official currency in Turkey is the Turkish lira, abbreviated as TRY and symbolised by ‘₺’. The banknotes in circulation are worth 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200 Turkish lira. Today, 1 TRY is worth €0.027, i.e. 36.60 TRY to get €1 (index of 11 December 2024).
It should be noted that Turkey has been experiencing a ‘dollarisation’ of its market for several years. It is now common to make payments in US dollars, especially when larger amounts are involved. Currently, 1 USD is equal to 34.87 TRY.
Living and rent in Turkey
The property market in Turkey is booming, which is reflected in rising prices and increased investment in the sector.
On average, you should plan for 20,470 Turkish Lira (€560) in the city centre and 14,255 Turkish Lira (€390) on the outskirts of the city to rent a small apartment. The price per square metre for an apartment ranges from 394,000 to 68,000 Turkish Lira (€1,080 to €1,820).
However, property prices in Turkey vary greatly from city to city. To give you a rough idea of your budget, here is a comparative table of prices in the main Turkish cities (in €):
| Accomodation | Price in Ankara | Price in Istanbul | Price in Izmir |
|---|---|---|---|
| Renting an apartment (1 bedroom) in the city centre | €600 | €875 | €560 |
| Rent for a one-bedroom apartment on the outskirts of the city | €400 | €550 | €370 |
| Average purchase price per square metre in the city centre | €1,520 | €3,120 | €1,700 |
| Average purchase price per square metre on the outskirts of the city | €1,010 | €1,660 | €980 |
Food prices in Turkey
Although the shopping budget is the largest expenditure item in Turkey, prices for basic foodstuffs are among the lowest in Western Asia.
| Food item | Average price in Turkey |
|---|---|
| Milk (1 L) | €0.89 |
| Water (1,5 L) | €0.33 |
| Bread (500 g) | €0.94 |
| 12 Eggs | €1.54 |
| Local cheese (1 kg) | €9.65 |
| Chicken fillet (1 kg) | €5.35 |
| Meat (1 kg) | €17.60 |
| Apples (1 kg) | €0.90 |
| Bananas (1 kg) | €1.90 |
| Tomatoes (1 kg) | €1.13 |
| Potatoes (1 kg) | €0.52 |
| Onions (1 kg) | €0.50 |
| Local beer (500 ml) | €1.90 |
| Imported beer (330 ml) | €2.50 |
Transport in Turkey
Metro: If you are planning to live in Ankara, Istanbul or Izmir, there is the option of travelling by metro for an average price of 20 TRY (€0.55) per journey. In Istanbul, you can use the Istanbulkart, a public transport card that allows you to use the metro, bus and tram. The card costs 130 TRY (€3.56) to purchase and can be topped up as much as you like. The base price is 20 TRY per trip.
Tram: The average cost for a single trip by tram is around 15 Turkish Lira (€0.41).
Bus: It is also possible to travel by bus. The average cost is 18.28 Turkish Lira (€0.50) per trip.
Taxi: The following basic prices apply for taxi rides:
| City | Taxi prices |
|---|---|
| Ankara | 31,92 ₺ (€0.87) |
| Istanbul | 30 ₺ (€0.82) |
| Antalya | 29 ₺ (€0.79) |
On average, 22.90 TRY (€0.63) per additional kilometre driven is added to this price.
Car: Most people in Turkey also use their cars to get around. The roads are well maintained, and the road network is relatively well developed. You should expect to pay around 41.67 Turkish Liras (€1.14) per litre of petrol.
Plane: Finally, you can also book a flight for longer distances. The price of a ticket depends on the distance. For example, a one-way flight from Ankara to Izmir with Turkish Airlines costs from 4,970 TRY (€142).
Health costs in Turkey
A few years ago, Turkey launched a programme to transform the healthcare system, which is intended to improve medical care in Turkey.
As a result, the current Turkish healthcare system has a modern infrastructure and offers high-quality care, particularly in the private sector. Although progress has been made in the public healthcare sector, access to medical care is still limited and waiting times are still relatively long.
Here are the prices for certain treatments in the private sector:
| Medical services | Average price in Turkey |
|---|---|
| Consultation with a general practitioner | 550 – 1,100 ₺ (€15 – €30) |
| Consultation with a specialist | 1,100 – 1,830 ₺ (€30 – €50) |
| Teleconsultation with a doctor | from 695 ₺ (€19) |
| Teeth whitening at a specialised facility | 7,330 ₺ (€200) |
| Childbirth | 139,270 – 310,430 ₺ (€3,800 – €8,470) |
In order to get comprehensive cover for themselves and their family, many expats in Turkey choose to take out private international health insurance.
This guarantees high-quality medical services and ensures that they have health insurance cover that is valid in Turkey, their home country and anywhere else in the world. It is the ideal solution for peace of mind when travelling.
Education in Turkey
There is the possibility of sending smaller children to a private school.
- For a private kindergarten in Turkey, you have to expect an average of 16,450 TRY (€450) per month.
- For an international primary school, the average annual school fees are 376,530 TRY (€10,300).
The American International School in Istanbul (AISI) – AISI offers an American-style education and the Advanced Placement (AP) program. Fees range from €15,000 to €24,000 per year.
Telecommunications services in Turkey
Prices for telecommunications services vary depending on the provider; Turk Telekom, Turkcell, Vodafone Turkey, TurkNet – there are many providers. To give you an idea of the budget you need to plan for each month, here are the average prices in this sector:
- Mobile phone flat rate (calls + 10 GB of data): between 200 and 500 TRY (€5.45 to €13.60).
- Internet flat rate (60 Mbps with unlimited data): between 300 and 612 TRY (€8.20 to €16.70).
Things to do
There is no question about it: living in Turkey leaves no room for boredom! From the Bosporus to Cappadocia, from the large markets to the Turkish baths, not to mention natural wonders like Pamukkale, there are a thousand leisure activities to enjoy at the end of the day or on a weekend excursion.
- Go to an upscale hammam (Turkish bath): exfoliation, lather and oil massage for 3,000 TRY (€81).
- Visit the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul: 1,500 TRY (€40.5) per entry.
- Discover the ruins of the ancient city of Ephesus: 1,465 Turkish Lira (€40) per person.
- Enjoy a hot-air-balloon ride in Antalya: 5,500 Turkish Lira (€150) on average per adult.
- Go sailing on the Bosphorus: 65 to 150 Turkish Lira (€1.80 to €5) per trip.
- Cinema: 200 TRY (€5.45)
- Joining a gym: 1,392 TRY (€38)
- A cappuccino in a café: 102 TRY (€2.80)
Cost of living in Turkey compared to Western Europe / Germany
The cost of living in Turkey is 40% lower than in Germany, including rent. All expenditure items are cheaper (housing, food, health).
Housing:
- In Turkey, rent for a three-bedroom house is on average between €650 and €945 per month.
- In Germany, by contrast, rent for a three-bedroom house is between €1,200 and €1,600.
Shopping:
- Milk (1 L): €0.89 in Turkey, compared to €1.35 in Germany.
- Eggs (dozen): €1.54 in Turkey, compared to €3.00 in Germany.
- Potatoes (1 kg): €0.52 in Turkey, compared to €1.50 in Germany.
Transport :
- Single ticket: €0.55 in Turkey, compared to €3.00 in Germany.
- Petrol (1 L): €1.14 in Turkey, compared to €1.95 in Germany.
However, it should be noted that the monthly salary in Germany is significantly higher (€2,900 compared to €665 in Turkey) and local purchasing power is about 60% higher than in Turkey.
Cost of living in Turkey compared to neighbouring countries
Compared to Azerbaijan
A single person needs €835 per month to live in Azerbaijan, while in Turkey it is €970. This difference in the cost of living of around 15% is partly due to the level of rents in Turkey, which are sometimes a third higher than in the Azerbaijani property market.
Since the Turkish economy is more stable, purchasing power is higher (+20%), which is accompanied by a higher average wage.
Interested in this topic? Discover our guide to the cost of living in Azerbaijan.
Compared to Armenia
Living in Armenia is about 15% more expensive than in Turkey, mainly due to rents being above the Turkish average.
However, the average wage is higher in Turkey: €665 compared to €575 in Armenia. Purchasing power in Turkey is also 40% higher.
Compared to Georgia
A monthly budget of around €900 is needed to live in Georgia, compared to €970 in Turkey. This means that the cost of living in Georgia is 10% lower than in its Turkish neighbour.
This difference is still moderate, especially since monthly incomes are almost the same in both countries. However, Turkey benefits from higher purchasing power (+20%).
Compared to Greece
The cost of living in Greece is about 25% higher than in Turkey. This difference is mainly due to more expensive rents and higher prices for shopping and eating out.
Wages in Greece are on average 44% higher than in Turkey, and purchasing power is also higher.