Cost of living in Turkey in 2024

Thanks Cheryl to explicit raising the topic, I have made some posts, but if it is coming from you it might get more attention.

Bottom line in Turkey life remains very affordable, Electricty, Water and Gas are very cheap. I think we (2 of us) we spend max EUR 50 per month, in practice I think closer to EUR 30. Having said that water for making tea or drinking I would advise to buy (bottles of 19 Liters), we spend I think around EUR 20 pm.

Health insurance is a more costly topic, we go with an international company (very good service I have to say) We are a bit older 61/53 and we pay around EUR 250 pm, with the national insurance I think it is around EUR 140 for two of us (but then again ease and service are also important)

On children they can be expensive if going to private school, but we do not have any so for us no topic.

We live in Mahmutlar, all amneties are close, so we rarely take a taxi or bus, but from my experience VERY cost effective (unbelievable I have to say)

We own our own apartment, I do not know the current value (we bought end of 2021 and I think it was still fine at the time, skyrocketed since, but in 2023 new rules were implemented and it is both difficult to buy or sell for that matter. We have no plans to move (at this stage) so lets see what happens. Any buyers however should be aware of changing rules (and cost attached)

Not for me (for my wife), but dentistsare good and cost-effective (in Hungary in my view they are better though). Depending it can be expensive even fees are VERY acceptable.

In Turkey they do not seem to know the concept of GP (health care). In hospitals they will help you.

Leisure activities are wide, for me and my restaurants are the main item (prices go to the level of 60% of Western Europe, but service is very, very good I have to say). For a luxury restaurant you have to expect to pay EUR 40/45, average is EUR 30, cheap is EUR 20. I have to say without alcohol (I drink at home).

All in all restaurants EUR 700 pm (decadent I know)

My wife takes a tour through the local operators (a complete rip-off in my view) and spending far too much time in buses and bad offered lunches.

Alcohol is expensive (but honestly still not too expensive), having said that I drink (a lot) I budget EUR 500 pm.

Smoking is cheap (relatively), but I smoke 3 packages per day, so that is coming to EUR 200 pm

Depreciation of tools are not mentioned, but it might be that a TV/computer/furniture/.. has to be replaced (I set aside EUR 80 pm)

Something will go wrong with your property, repairs have to be made (EUR 100 pm should be fine)

Aidat (maintenance costs of complex) in general far too low. But in our case just EUR 30 pm (should be EUR 150 to get 5 star service)

Local taxes, very low, perhaps EUR 100 per year (currently ,they should be well advised to increase (but that is just me).

Mandatory earthquake insurance can also be ignored (but you have to pay annually), you will not get a serious refund. As a side note we did not even consider insuring our property for burglaty or fire (in Turkey insurance companies do not recognize the issue)

Bottom line, if you do not drink or smoke EUR 2.200 per month should be relatively fine.

As a PS for future expats, find a good real estate agent which arranges all for you, of course you have to pay for additional services (which is fine), But they arranged for bank-accounts, changing driving license, direct debits, ... we pay well and in Turkey people are very friendly and welcoming they are still commercial (rightfuly so)

@cdw057 I just budget EUR 3 K per month with our life

I live in Pamukkale area of Denizli. I moved here 3 months ago from Fethiye, I bought my 3 bedroom apartment for 2,000,000 tl last July. Similar buildings are still around the same price and the average rent of these properties is 8 to 12 000 tl a month depending on the size and location on the site

I Just had last months electric bill which was 1120 tl. I use electric for heating and sometimes hot water as well as the usual washing machine , lights, fridge etc. I mainly cook with bottled gas which I think is around 650tl a bottle now, it will last me around 4 or 5 months

My last 2 water bills were 75tl per month

I have fibre internet which at the moment is 380tl a month but I think its on offer for 6 months and will increase to around 600tl

I dont really do a big shop so couldnt estimate how much we spend a month on groceries, but its definately increased a lot recently

I dont drink or smoke and we have our own car so dont use public transport

I have had the government SGK health insurance for a long time its just increased to 4 800 tl a month from 3200 tl last year and is available for those that have lived in Turkey over 12 months

Hello all,

Kudos for the comprehensive breakdown of the cost of living in Turkey for the year 2024.

Your insights will be very useful to people who are thinking of relocating to this country, offering them a clear understanding of the financial aspects they can anticipate in this exciting new chapter.

Cheers,

Cheryl

Expat.com team

Own car must be expensive and I am also surpirised with the electricity bill (in any case you must live warm )

What is you internet speed? We pay EUR 200 per year for 100 mb.

Good that you do not drink or smoke (it makes a difference).

What is your restaurant bill (per month?)

For me those are the three items which can make a difference.

Again I am shocked (a little bit) on your electrictiy bill, but then again 1 Liter of whisky is the same price.

@cdw057 we have minimum heat  for the electric, we use 1 oil filled radiator at night and when we need extra we have a UFO infra red heater. My internet speed is around 30 gb which is fast enough for me, it should be faster but we are waiting for them to mend the underground cable, that is with unlimited data, We do eat out quite often but not big meals, for example last week we went to a little place alongside the fishmarket, its very basic not a posh restaurant but the food is lovely. We had 3 meze plates, 1 fish soup, a small salad and a portion of sardines, (200gram) , 1 ayran and a salgam, the bill was 380tl. Pide here where I live you can buy for 100tl with salad and a drink included. It was 65tl until last week .

I have to say restaurants with you are incredibly cheap, for 3 people (I assume) it is good, very good price. We are 2 and we count TRY 800 (in simple to medium restaurant) for 2 (soup, main, tea and fresh orange juice for me and fanta for my wife.

In our favorite restaurant I count TRY 1200, very good starters (with tasty bread) a selection of 4 (my wife likes humus, I like spicy atomb bomb and then 2 are varying (they know us), then a soup, and main dish (of course tea thereafter, more then often we get extra tea at the house (but they know we give (good) tips)

We try to go to a restaurant 3 times per week and order 1 time at home.

As for our electricity, we use an oil filled radiator as well (for our bedroom only), it is fine for me (and my wife who wears comfy warm clothes at home). Perhaps the Infrared heater might drive the bill upwards, you seem to live very modest, apart from the heater we seem to live like you.