Cost of living in Turkey as a foreigner in 2025: Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, Antalya

There are a number of cities that expats choose to move to in Turkey. Big cities are better for doing business and enjoying an active lifestyle, while smaller ones are ideal for leading a relaxed and comfortable life on the sea shore.

Big cities such as Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, and Antalya are well developed. Living there can be more expensive, but the quality of life is similar to that of the big European cities.

Smaller towns, like Bodrum, Fethiye, or Gaziantep, are cheaper, but have less developed infrastructure and service industry

However, all of these places have their admirers among expats and Turkish citizens.

The capital of Turkey is Ankara, situated in the centre of the country, with a population of 5.8 million. However, the largest and most popular city is Istanbul, where 16 million people live.

Istanbul is known as a city located in both Europe and Asia: three bridges and an underwater tunnel cross the Bosphorus, connecting the European and Anatolian parts of the city.

Izmir is the third largest city in Turkey, its population is 4.4 million people. The city is located in the west of Turkey, on the shore of the Aegean Sea. Bursa is a big city situated near Izmir.

Antalya, a famous tourist destination, is the biggest city in the southern coast with a population of 1.4 million. There are also smaller towns such as Bodrum and Fethiye.

The climate in these cities is the warmest and driest. They are washed by the Mediterranean Sea, where the water’s temperature is above 20°C for 7 months in a year.

Healthcare. Turkey offers a high standard of healthcare, with both public and private options available. Public healthcare is generally affordable, with low costs for basic treatments, but many expats opt for private hospitals due to their advanced technology and faster services.

Private healthcare can be more expensive, with consultation fees ranging from $20 to $100, depending on the city and hospital.

Istanbul and Ankara offer the best medical facilities, while smaller cities like Izmir and Antalya also have well-equipped hospitals. Health insurance is recommended to cover private care costs.

Education. Education in Turkey is generally affordable, with a mix of public and private schools.

Public education is free but may have varying quality depending on the region.

Private international schools in major cities like Istanbul, Ankara, and Izmir tend to have higher tuition fees, ranging from $3,000 to $20,000 annually, depending on the school and curriculum. These schools often offer bilingual education, with English being the most common second language.

Higher education in Turkey is also affordable, with university tuition fees ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 per year for international students.

Average salary, minimum wage, and mortgages. The average monthly salary in Turkey varies by city and industry. But the gross minimum wage is set at 26,005 liras for 2025, which is around $730 per month, which is sufficient to cover basic living expenses, especially in smaller cities.

In larger cities like Istanbul and Ankara, salaries can be higher, especially in sectors such as IT, engineering, and finance.

Mortgages are available with interest rates ranging from 20 to 50%, and down payments typically require 25 to 30% of the property’s value. Housing prices are more affordable in cities like Ankara and Izmir compared to Istanbul.

Several other Turkish cities are popular among expats due to their affordability and high quality of life. Cities like Alanya, Bodrum, Bursa, Fethiye, and Gaziantep offer a wide range of housing options, access to fresh groceries, and convenient transportation systems. The cost of living in these cities is often significantly lower than in major hubs like Istanbul and Ankara.

The table below compares the cost of living in these cities for a single person, including expenses for rent, utilities, groceries, and transportation, as well as average net salaries.

Istanbul, being the most popular and well-developed city, is naturally also the most expensive one. About $2,500 is required to live in Istanbul for a month as a family of 4.

Housing. Price on renting accommodation in Istanbul, Turkey, depends on the location. In the city centre the cost for a 3 bedroom apartment is around $1,700, while in the non-central districts it is around $990.

Utility bills. On average, a family of 4 pays $70 a month for electricity, water, cooling, and taking out garbage. Internet connection for a month costs around $13.

Food. Turkish people usually buy groceries in supermarkets. There are also open bazaars with fresh fruit and vegetables. The average prices on fruit like apples, bananas, or oranges are $1.2—2.2 per kilogram. Vegetables like tomatoes, potatoes, or onions cost $1—1.5 for a kilogram.

The average food basket that includes milk, eggs, bread, cheese, and meat costs around $25—35.

Eating out is also not expensive. For a dinner for two in an average restaurant you would need to pay around $50. A fast-food meal in a place like McDonalds will cost you around $8.

Transportation. Turkish citizens and residents have special monthly passes that allow them to save money on regular trips. The monthly pass costs $44. The taxi has different tariffs: on the basic tariff, for example, the average cost for a kilometre is $0.6.

Litre of gasoline costs around $1.2—$1.3.

Healthcare. To visit a private doctor in Istanbul, you need to spend $35—$40. The cost for a box of antibiotics is around $2, for a cold-treatment medicine — $1.8.

Salary. Average net salary in Istanbul, Turkey is $890.

Living in Ankara is less costly than in Istanbul. The main difference is housing: in terms of rent cost, Istanbul is 2 times more expensive than Ankara. At least $2,100 is required to live in Ankara for a month as a family of 4

Rent. For renting an apartment for a family of 4 in the city centre, you would need $1,000. If you consider renting a similar apartment outside the city centre, you would need to pay around $700.

Utility bills. On average, a family of 4 pays $66 a month for electricity, water, cooling, and taking out garbage. The Internet for a month costs $13.

Food. The average food basket in Ankara includes milk, water, bread, 12 eggs, cheese, and meat, as well as fruit and vegetables.

To buy chicken and steak, you would need to pay $20—25. A set of ordinary fruit and vegetables like apples, oranges, potatoes, and tomatoes costs $6—10. Milk you can buy for $1, a loaf of bread — for $0.8, 12 eggs — for $2. Cheese is rather expensive and costs around $9—12 for one kilogram.

If you would like to have dinner in a restaurant, you would need to pay approximately $34 for two people. The average price for a fast-food meal is $8.

Transportation. Turkish citizens have special monthly passes that cost less than one-way tickets for a month accumulated. The price of a monthly pass is around $8—15. The taxi has different tariffs: on the basic tariff, the average cost for a 1 km trip will cost $0.6.

Litre of gasoline costs around $1.2.

Healthcare. Healthcare in Ankara is a bit more pricey than in Istanbul. One visit to a private doctor in Ankara costs around $46. The cost of a box of antibiotics is around $3.5, of a cold-treatment medicine — $1.3.

Salary. On average, people working in Ankara earn $750 per month after tax reduction.

Prices in Izmir and Ankara are quite similar. On average, it is less expensive to rent housing in Izmir than in Ankara, and groceries cost mostly the same. Just like in Ankara, $2,100 is needed to comfortably live in Izmir for a month as a family of 4.

Rent. The cost for renting an apartment for a family of 4 in the expensive district is around $900, in the moderate one — around $650.

Utility bills. Average monthly bill that includes electricity, water, cooling, and taking out trash is $63. Monthly cost of the Internet is $13.

Food. To buy the most basic groceries in Izmir’s supermarket, you would need to spend $45—50. Non-exotic fruit and vegetables cost around $1 for a kilogram. Meat, depending on a type — $6—18. 12 eggs can be bought for $2, and a litre of milk — for $1.

Prices for eating out in Izmir and Ankara are pretty much the same. Dinner for 2 in a mid-range restaurant will cost around $34. Cost of a meal in a fast-food restaurant is around $7.

Transportation. A monthly pass that is more profitable for people living in Izmir permanently costs around $20. The price of a basic taxi tariff is around $0.6 for a 1 km ride. Litre of gasoline costs around $1.2.

Healthcare. For a visit to a private doctor in Izmir, you would need to pay $30. The cost of a box of antibiotics is around $3.4, of a cold-treatment medicine — $3.

Salary. Average net monthly salary in Izmir is $680.

Antalya is a popular city for both tourists and residents, offering a more affordable cost of living compared to Istanbul. On average, $2,000 is needed to live in Antalya for a month as a family of four.

Rent. Renting a 3-bedroom apartment in the city centre costs around $970. In less expensive districts, the cost decreases to about $660.

Utility bills. A family of four typically spends $60 per month on electricity, water, cooling, and waste disposal. Monthly Internet costs are approximately $12.

Food. Groceries in Antalya are reasonably priced. The average cost of basic groceries, including fruit, vegetables, bread, meat, and dairy, is around $40—50.

Fruits such as apples and oranges cost $1 per kilogram. Vegetables like tomatoes and potatoes cost $0.5—1 per kilogram. A kilogram of meat costs between $6—18. Milk costs $1 per litre, while a dozen eggs costs $1.6.

Dining out in Antalya is also affordable. A dinner for two in a mid-range restaurant costs around $42. A fast-food meal costs approximately $8.

Transportation. Residents in Antalya can benefit from monthly transportation passes, which cost around $12. The average cost of a taxi ride is $0.7 per kilometre. A litre of gasoline costs around $1.2.

Healthcare. A visit to a private doctor in Antalya costs around $30—35. A box of antibiotics is priced at $3, while cold-treatment medicine costs about $2.

Salary. The average net monthly salary in Antalya is approximately $570.

In general, life is cheaper in Turkey than in the UK. However, that depends on the destination. For example, Istanbul, the largest Turkish city, might be more expensive than a small village in the north of the UK. However, compared to London, it is more affordable.

Cost on renting housing in London is 3—3.5 times higher than in Istanbul. If you rent an apartment in Istanbul for $900, you could rent the look-alike place in London for $2,700. If your apartment in Istanbul costs $1,700 per month, in London the cost of it would be almost $5,200.

However, the difference in costs can be explained by the difference of salaries. On average citizens of Istanbul earn $900 per month, while Londoners earn around $4,000.

The cost of living in both countries depends on the chosen destination. The USA is considered one of the top—20 most expensive countries in the world, so a person living there needs more money than a person living in Turkey.

Let’s take New York, one of the most expensive cities in the USA. To rent a 3 bedroom apartment there, you would need $5,000—8,000 per month. In Istanbul, the same apartments will be way cheaper — $990—1,700. One square metre in an apartment in New York costs between $13,000—18,000, while in Istanbul — $1,600—3,300, depending on the location.

Among the cheapest cities in the USA that have more than 50,000 inhabitants are Harlingen in Texas, Decatur in Illinois, and McAllen in Texas. Still, a median income there is around $3,600—5,000 per month. In Istanbul, the most expensive Turkish city, people earn around $900 a month on average.

In general, the cost of living in big US cities is 2—3 times higher than in Turkish ones.

1. Low cost of living. Turkey is one of the cheapest countries in Europe and the cheapest country in the Middle East region. A family of four would need around $1,500 without rent for a month.

2. Warm climate. The majority of the year in Turkey is warm and sunny. Winters there are usually mild, and the air temperature almost never goes below 0°C. Summers are hot and dry. Sun shines 300 days a year, it is usually raining in winter.

Due to the pleasant climate, people living in Turkey benefit from sea activities and fresh food almost all year long.

3. Opportunities for business. There are 18 free zones in Turkey, with various benefits for companies opening there. For example, you don’t need to pay property tax on buildings and lands located in a free zone.

4. High quality healthcare. Turkey is a popular place for medical tourism: prices on healthcare are rather low, yet the quality of medical services are high. Turkish clinics meet international standards, and 34 of them have an accreditation of the Joint Commission International.

5. Education for children. There are international schools and kindergartens for foreign children. Most of them are located in Istanbul and offer studies in English and Turkish. The average price is $10,000 per year.

There are over 200 universities in Turkey. The best ones are located in Ankara or Istanbul: Cankaya University, Middle East Technical University, Bogazici University, and Istanbul Bilgi University. Costs for studying in universities are relatively low, starting at $250. Turkish citizens can also apply for scholarships that reduce expenses on education.

As Turkey is a part of the Bologna system, the country’s diplomas are recognized in EU countries.

6. Friendly people. Turkish people are in general nice and welcoming. Big cities are full of expats that come to the country from all over the world.

7. Convenient travel options. Turkey is a well-connected hub, making it easy to travel both within the country and internationally. Its airports, particularly in Istanbul, serve as major transit points, with affordable flights to Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.

Turkish citizenship can be obtained by:

• birth;

• descent — it can be claimed by someone who have close Turkish relatives;

• marriage — if you are married to a Turkish citizen and your marriage lasts for at least 3 years;

• naturalisation — you would need to live in Turkey officially for at least 5 years.

However, the easiest way to become a citizen of Turkey is to invest in the country’s economy. The investment option options are the following:

• purchase of real estate — $400,000+;

• business investment — $500,000+;

• bank deposit — $500,000+;

• purchase of government bonds — $500,000+;

• purchase of units in an investment fund — $550,000+.

To be eligible to apply for citizenship, the investor must be over 18, have no criminal record or prosecutions, have no serious illnesses, and be capable of confirming the legality of the income.

The investor can also add their close family members, a spouse and children under 18, to the application.

1. The most popular and therefore the most expensive city in Turkey is Istanbul. Ankara and Izmir are the second and the third biggest cities in the country. The cost of living there is almost similar to one another.

2. Other popular cities among expats are Antalya, Bodrum, Bursa, Fethiye, and Gaziantep.

3. Living in Turkey is 2—3 times less expensive than in the UK or the USA.

4. Foreigners choose Turkey as the place of their permanent residence because of the pleasant climate, low cost of living, opportunities for business, high quality healthcare, affordable education, and friendly people.

5. People who decide to move to Turkey often consider getting the country’s passport. It can be obtained by investment.