Living cost in Turkey 2024

Hello Fandango2020,

Thank you for this detailed post.

Indeed prices have been going up these past years.

Regards

Bhavna

@Fandango2020 Thanks, please look my posts before on costs. still affordable (very much so), but still even in hard currencies things are becoming more expensive. Still Alanya (Mahmutlar) is a great place to live.

I am happy that a member agrees that things are not as cheap as they were.

@Fandango2020 With some items I have to disagree

Rent = 10,000 to 20,000

Monthly Building Services = 1000 to 20,000

Cell phone = 275 per phone

Internet =  150 to 400   

Electric = 500 to 4000

cooking Gas = 500

Water =  100 to 350

Car purchase = 700,000 to 900,000

Fridgerator= 12,000 to 44,000

stove = 4000 to 12000

air condition = 17,000 to 20,000

washer = 15,000 to 20,000

Dryer  = 12,000 to 15,000

Dishwasher = 12,000 to 17,000

Car Insurance =  8,000 to 15,000 per year and depending on the coverage type

House insurance = 6,000 to 15,000 per year depending on the coverage type

Assigned Hospital health Insurance = 6,000 to 20,000 per year per adult

Food = 13,000 to 18,000

Taxi =  They no longer use the Meter.  negotiate before you proceed if he is not using the meter.

Restaurants =  Eating out is expensive now!

Plan to spend minimum of 1500 to 3000 Lira for 4 people every time you go to a good restaurant.

We live in Mahmutlar (Alanya) so situation might be a bit different on certain topics, on many I agree though

1. Apart from the mandatory house insurance, we just take the risk that there is a fire or earthquake, anyhow a sensible policy is not to be bought, and I have to say (for us living in a complex) not worried about burglary
2. We do not use Airco so much, not in winter, not in summer, I count for water and electrity TRY 10 K per year (I think it includes some of your topics (dishwasher, washing machine, dryer, airco, ..)
3. Water for drinking I would say TRY 3 K per year, including delivery)
4. For cooking gas I am no expert, but very very low expenses
5. Health insurance (we are both a bit older (and unfortunatly I had to use the hospital)), we spend TRY 150.000 (including own expenses (medicines, blood tests, ...) Expensive item and way above what you indicate (but you are probably young), good service though
6. We own so rent is not a topic, but the Aidat is far, far too low, it should be around at least TRY 3 K per month , but it is just 1 K (one notices the difference)
7. You do not mention local taxes (but admittedly very low)
8. For restaurants we have a big choice, we are 2, we spend something between TRY 800 and TRY 1400 (including tips)
9. I suppose you do not drink (but Alcohol can be  very expensive)

Thanks again for your contribution, again for the two of us I count EUR 3 K per month (which is very fine)

Hey There ! Hope all is well with you and yours.

The expensis i listed is for a family of 4.   and I stated...  It is from low end to high end scale.

(Not too high scale )   so you can only spend 50 lira per month for shower and washing or like us we spend around 325 lira for showers and washing. we don't drink the water, we have a reverse osmosis filteration system hooked to the main water.  also, you can choose not to turn on the heat or the air condition.  and only spend around 90 lira per month for electric . but we can't live without air condition in the summer we spend around 4000 lira per summer months and about 2000 lira winter months.  Aidat , if you live in Yekta on Ataturk you will pay at least 100 euro per month and you may pay at least around 1000 lira per month in another smaller complex.  Stove Gas tanks are around 500 lira now. it may last 2 months.  Good Restaurants each lunch or dinner dish is around 250  plus drinks and desert plus tips  ,,, one donut is 75 lira LOL .  anyway i stand by my list of expensis as stated for 2 adults and 2 kids under 18.    by they way cell phone .. you can get it for less than 100 lira per phone . but basically for 2 GB of data or less per 28 days. which is useless.   my rate is for 275 is for 12 GB of data.    home Internet is 150 if you have a 2 year contract. i don't like contracts i pay 360

No contract.     cigaretss are 590 lira per carton now.  don't know about drinks. my spending is a little above average because i want to retire comfie       and tell it as it is....  thats why i listed a scale amounts between tight fisted and comfie....     Nice to see you again on expat.    Cheers

Internet (which is very important  (is cheap (we pay EUR 200 py (100 mb and quite stable I have to say))

We have WIFI, my wife has whatsapp (i do not like), But useful nevertheless.

As a small side note I smoke 3 packages per day (still affordable in Turkey)

As for showers I hate them, if possible I would go once per 8 weeks (personal)

I am shocked to hear about airco, quite a big expense, for us far less and in winter we use a electric heater in bedroom (fine), not yet heating in the living room

For the phones, internet, audible, Netflix in total max EUR 35 pm (which for me is very fine)

For Aidat I have to tried to push for a higher level (other owners do not agree), really a shame.

On cigarettes, the price is fine, there is an official rate and I am fine with this (590?, I have doubt it) anyhow with my shop once per few months I go and I order 300 packages (it works fine)

On Restaurants in Turkey (in general service is excellent), prices indeed are much, much higher. Your indication is correct, still I am relatively happy, we try to go at least 3 x pw. (for the remainder my wife cooks)

@cdw057 Indeed, Turkey is still pretty cheap to retire in... when you convert to dollars or euros.   my whole purpose of posting; so people who are interested to come and live here get a pretty good idea how much money they need to have..  you can live with 1,500  to 1,700 dollars or euros per month, but tight!    However, with 2000 to 2300 dollars or euros, can live without worries.  smoke all you want for around $2 per pack of cigarettes too

@Fandango2020, Hello, thanks for your useful post!

Do you know if there is a way to have short term internet and wifi?

I only visit turkey on a regular basis but maximum 7 weeks in the year (soon having my own property there).

i do not want to have full year contract on internet,  so, short term or “pay as you go” is suitable for me.

i appreciate your input.

KR

@mnaghbash  yes, satelite dish  , it is around 5000 lira to install and connect you.. check the price with them.. 

then you pay for the months you are here..  it is about 162 Lira per month.. max  speed is 16 GB

ultranetinternet.com.tr they give you onlne account, to login and pay for each month by your self using your credit card or bank debit card.

Contact Ultra Internet   com tr    you own the dish.  it is just internet however if you connect your TV  to the modem  cable or wifi you will also have  you tube and if you have a firestick you will have access to movies, hulu netflex etc... 

@Fandango2020 For me 100 MB without dish is good enough, a dish is going too far for me.

@cdw057 He was asking for a cheap way to pay without contract and pay only when he is here.  the best way is to use ultra internet , pay only for when you use it or for the month you are here.  when he is living here permanently then he can get 100 MB speed get a contract.   otherwise. 5000 lira to buy the peace of mind for around a one time payment of $170.  is nothing. 

I happen to be visiting Kuşadası,  and i am astounded by the cost of food and restaurants.  Prices converted to dollars now vs my last visit April 2022 have increased roughly 35% to 40% based on my personal observation.    Yesterday, I bought 3L natural (raw) milk, .7Kg feta, .8kg tulum cheese, & a kg of suzme yogurt and it totaled 700TL or $23.70.  I believe these are pricey items but sheesh, it surprised me. 

I’ll have to adjust my planned monthly expenditures to a bit more than $2k for my wife and I when we move as Fandango2020 suggested.    So, yes for a retiree from the US, it is still cheaper but it’s hitting our pocketbook deeper.

Excellent topic and thanks for all of your contributions.

As for our expenses, they are high admittedly, we try to go 3 or 4 x per week to a restaurant, but prices have increased considerably (I budgetted EUR 800 pm for the two of us, but I am afraid I have to adjust upwards).

For the rest the budget is fine, I do not know why especially restaurants are more expensive than before (the service and good remain excellent).

Alcohol and cigarettes (my vices) even with higher prices (in TRY) I have to say not so much changed.

My budget (without rent as we own) in a way remains the same EUR 3 K pm is fine, having said that for many (also for expats this type of this budget is high)

Life is very comfortable though (provided Ikamet (a bit of continuing nightmare)).

I do not want to repeat the pluses (mentioned in prior posts)

Bottom line what is important, health, finances and feeling relatively happy. All countries have their pluses and minuses (Netherlands, UK, Luxembourg, Hungary, Turkey)

Turkey many pluses, but as for me I get older.

@cdw057 Many bloggers and some claim to have a comfortable with EUR 700 pm as a couple (including rent???) (rubbish in my view, and I expressed like this)

@Gino_C Welcome back..  yup the prices in Turkey is actually more than 300% higher for people living in Turkey.. 

before i used to pay for 1 full bag around 100 lira .... Now one bag  with cheese , butter, eggs and bread toast it cost me 400 lira.   if you convert to dollars is very cheap compared to USA and Europe.     in 2018 I used to purchase 1 KG meat for 35 lira i now pay 360 lira in December 2023 for the same I kg of beef.

@Fandango2020

Thanks,  I’m not as active in posting since I’m still living in the US and therefore don’t have experience to post about.  But I find it educational and entertaining in reading the MB and inquire/comment on topics relevant to my concerns.  I’m glad to see you back as well.  It had been a while since I’ve seen you post.

I have to add that I’ve noticed during my current visit, I’m puzzled as to how the average Turk survives in this difficult economic situation plus I’m concerned that the wealth gap is so great and the continued devaluing of the TL may result in damaging economic consequences to the country.  It’s amazing that commerce is chugging along fairly well.

@Gino_C I am concerned too.  But, this inflation has nothing to d o with the economy.  it is a false flag inflation, (made up) the deep state is ruining the  economy on purpose.  to get rid or Erogan.  They make up rules that destroyed the real estate and  made it harder to get residency.  the prices are going up even tjough the dollar and the euro was around 12 lira.   now it is around 31.5 lirra .   the people know this. the turks are surviving. the minimum wage is 17,001 lira per month on January 1, 2024 . the jobs now for educated and well trained Turks is around 40,000 lira per month..    too bad that the deep state is ruining the economy on every country in the world. 

@Fandango2020 Provided one has a job, unemployment is not excessive but certainly existing

@Fandango2020 I lived in many, many countries, but I have to say minimum salary in Turkey matches Hungary (measured in EUR 700 is not too bad)

@Fandango2020

Thank you, i did not know one could get internet/wifi through satelite dish installed in the house. i just need to find out if the property management allows the residents to install one.

xx

@Fandango2020

can i ask if this final estimate ($2,300 p/m) is for a couple or a single person?

i have also heard of a single expats from US, currently living in kushadasi and owns his property, his pension is $2,000 p/m and spend only half every month which provide him a comfortable living.

As you said before, i agree it depends on individual style of living.

One also needs to factor relative cost of living from city to city.  For example, using the Numbeo website  to compare Eskisehir (my desired city) to Alanya (seems to have a large expat population), purchasing an apartment is roughly 106% more in Alanya and restaurant prices are 56% higher in Alanya then it is in Eskisehir.  I haven’t looked at Istanbul but I’m certain the differential in COL is larger.  Noteworthy is that Numbeos numbers may not be high precision but the provided differences far exceed the margin of error and provide guidance.  I’m factoring this into my plans for my move.

@mnaghbash I would say good for a couple without too many vices (please refer to my posts on the topic)