All those who want to move to Turkey always wonder what exactly their expenses and living budget should be. How much will they pay for accommodation, and how much of it will be spent on food or medicine? Today we will definitely answer this crucial question.
Your expenses, of course, will vary greatly depending on how many family members you have and how old they are, whether you rent or own a home, which stores you prefer to shop at, and many other factors.
So, let’s assume that your family consists of two middle-aged people, you own an apartment and shop mainly in popular chain supermarkets and local bazaars.
One of your biggest expenses will be the maintenance of the house. This is due to the fact that electricity and water in Turkey are quite expensive, which makes the monthly utility bill quite large.
In general, the judgment of many people who have lived in Turkey is that the cost of living in Turkey is lower than in other European countries.
Or, if we want to look at this issue more closely, we can say that the prices of goods, current expenses such as food and clothing, and even renting and buying a house in Turkey will not empty your wallet. However, other costs, such as fuel, water, electricity, etc., may be higher.
Many factors influence the determination of prices in Turkey. These are the factors of your choice of city, the inflation rate, the exchange rate, your salary and, of course, the lifestyle that you lead.
In any case, the purpose of migration to Turkey is to improve living conditions. Regardless of whether you are staying in Turkey to study or for other reasons, it is unwise to embark on this path without sufficient information.
The cost of obtaining a residence permit and Turkish citizenship
If you want to know how much money is needed to immigrate to Turkey, in addition to the minimum cost of living, you should also consider the cost of obtaining a residence permit or Turkish citizenship.
To get Turkish citizenship and passport, you need to buy a property worth 400,000 US dollars. (Thus, the prices for living in Turkey have increased in 2022.)
You can also get a residence permit by buying a property in Turkey. Any house of any value that you buy will bring you a residence permit in Turkey (not on a permanent basis).
The cost of housing and rent
As for the cost of living in Turkey, perhaps the most important issue is the cost of housing and rent. If you are wondering how much it costs to live in Turkey, you should know that housing is the most expensive item of expenditure. The average cost of living in Turkey is directly related to housing prices. Therefore, you should be careful in choosing it.
The most expensive cities in terms of price and rent are Istanbul, Izmir, Ankara and Antalya, respectively.
But, for example, the price of a house in Bursa is cheaper than in Istanbul. The cost of living in Istanbul in 2022 or even the cost of a month of living in Istanbul is higher than in other cities. Even the prices for household appliances are higher in Istanbul. But, on the other hand, the chances of finding a job in these cities and wages are higher.
Even in which city you buy or rent a property is important and has a direct impact on the cost of living in Turkey.
Buying an apartment in Istanbul, for example, requires a larger budget.
Besiktas is one of the most expensive districts. The Shishli district is also built up with old buildings, but it is located near the city center and attracts many tourists. Thus, it increases the chances of finding a good and profitable job or clients.
The cost of food in Turkey
Such expenses in Turkey are more related to your lifestyle. If you are fond of restaurants and nightlife, then most of your money will be spent on food. The prices of food in restaurants, especially in Istanbul in 2022, are very high. Undoubtedly, in any country of the world, eating out will cost more.
Usually everyone goes to shops and supermarkets. However, if you go to the market, you will undoubtedly be able to buy food at a lower price.
It should be noted that the cost of food in Istanbul or Ankara, and indeed in large cities, is usually higher. But in more remote cities, such as Bursa or Izmir, they will cost less.
The cost of medical services in Turkey in 2022
Living conditions in Turkey are also related to the cost of insurance and treatment. In accordance with Turkish immigration law in the country, health care is part of social security. You will have to pay about 3,000 lire a year for insurance.
Result
The cost of living in Turkey depends on many factors. But the most important determining factor is your lifestyle and region of residence. It’s up to you to decide how you plan to spend your time in Turkey. The minimum you need to count on is 500 dollars. It will not work to live in a big way, but it is quite realistic to live for a month on this money. It should be borne in mind that you should always count on unforeseen expenses. This country is really cheaper than other European countries, the prices there are comparable to Russian ones.
