Turkey (TR)
Turkey is a transcontinental nation straddling Europe and Asia across the Bosphorus Strait, uniting 85 million people under a rich civilisational heritage stretching from the ancient Hittites and Romans to the Byzantine Empire and Ottoman Empire.
Capital: Ankara
Region: Europe
Language: Turkish
Currency: TRY (₺)
Cost of living: Very affordable (index 35)
Emergency: 112
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Cost of Living
Real prices in Turkey — 2026 data in TRY.
35
Cost of living index
(100 = NYC reference)
Very affordable compared to major global cities. Your money goes a long way here.
Rent
1-bed apartment, Istanbul city centre (Beyoğlu / Kadıköy / Beşiktaş) TRY 25,000–50,000/month
1-bed apartment, Istanbul suburbs / Anatolian side TRY 15,000–28,000/month
2-bed apartment, Istanbul city centre TRY 40,000–80,000/month
1-bed apartment, Ankara city centre TRY 15,000–28,000/month
1-bed apartment, İzmir city centre TRY 18,000–32,000/month
1-bed apartment, Antalya / coastal TRY 15,000–30,000/month
Food & Groceries
Bread (ekmek, 1 loaf) TRY 8–15
Simit (sesame bread ring — iconic Turkish street food) TRY 10–15
Eggs (12) TRY 60–100
Chicken (1kg) TRY 120–180
Beef (1kg, quality cut) TRY 400–700
White cheese (beyaz peynir, 1kg) TRY 200–350
Milk (1L) TRY 35–55
Rice (1kg) TRY 60–100
Tomatoes (1kg, seasonal) TRY 25–60
Weekly groceries for 1 person (basic) TRY 1,500–3,000
Dining Out
Lokanta (local diner) lunch menu TRY 150–350
Döner kebap (from dönercü) TRY 80–180
Mid-range restaurant, 2 people TRY 600–1,500
Fine dining Istanbul (per person) TRY 1,500–5,000+
Turkish coffee (Türk kahvesi) in café TRY 60–120
Çay (tea, glass) TRY 15–40
Beer (Efes / Tuborg pint, bar) TRY 150–300
Bottle of Turkish wine (restaurant) TRY 400–1,000
Rakı (glass, meyhane) TRY 150–350
Cappuccino / filter coffee (international café) TRY 100–200
Transport
İstanbulkart single metro / bus trip TRY 35–45
Monthly transit (Istanbul, based on top-up) TRY 1,000–1,800
Taxi, 5km in Istanbul TRY 150–250
Petrol (benzin, 1L) TRY 50–65
Istanbul–Ankara intercity bus (6 hours) TRY 500–900
Istanbul–Ankara high-speed train TRY 400–700
Domestic flight Istanbul–Antalya (one way) TRY 600–2,000
Health & Insurance
GP visit (private polyclinic / poliklinik) TRY 500–1,500
Specialist visit (private hospital) TRY 1,000–3,000
Dental check-up (private) TRY 500–1,500
Private health insurance (individual, monthly) TRY 600–2,500
Prescription medication (pharmacy, average course) TRY 50–300
DASK earthquake insurance (annual — mandatory for homeowners) TRY 1,500–5,000
Utilities
Electricity (85m² apartment, monthly) TRY 1,500–3,000
Natural gas (heating + hot water, winter, monthly) TRY 1,500–4,000
Water (monthly) TRY 200–500
Internet (100 Mbps fibre, monthly) TRY 300–600
Mobile phone plan (unlimited data, monthly) TRY 150–400
Childcare
State okul öncesi / preschool (ages 4–6) Free
Private anaokulu / kindergarten (monthly) TRY 2,000–8,000
International school Istanbul (annual) TRY 250,000–700,000+
Private tutor (per hour) TRY 300–800
Babysitter (per hour) TRY 200–500
Leisure
Cinema ticket (standard) TRY 200–400
Bosphorus ferry trip (İstanbulkart) TRY 20–30
Topkapı Palace entrance (foreigner price) TRY 900–1,200
Hot air balloon, Cappadocia (full day) TRY 6,000–15,000
Gym membership (monthly) TRY 1,000–3,500
Haircut (barber / berber) TRY 150–400
Hamam (Turkish bath + kese scrub — iconic experience) TRY 500–2,000
Netflix subscription (basic, monthly) TRY 150–300
Cost of Living
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