Göbekli Tepe, Şanlıurfa
Map showing countries and autonomous subdivisions with an offic…
Topographical map of Turkey
Traditional service of Turkish coffee with Turkish delight and …
Façade of the Celsus library, in Ephesus, near Selçuk, west Tur…
Photographs from Deyrulzaferan Monastry, Mardin, Turkey

Turkey

Aegean Sea, Black Se…
Climate
TRY
Currency
Moderate
Safety
Low
Cost of Living
Turkish
Language
Country Information Turkey

Turkey is a transcontinental nation strategically positioned at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, with territory spanning both continents. Located primarily in Anatolia (Asian Turkey), the country also includes a smaller northwestern region in the B...

Cost of Living
vs EU Average17% cheaper
Rent
₺31,490Apartment (1 bedroom) in City…
Meal
₺425Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant
Groceries
₺46.50Milk (regular), (1 liter)
Transport
₺37.00One-way Ticket (Local Transpo…
Read the full cost-of-living guide

Your Turkey Roadmap

40+ page relocation analysis tailored to your profile.

  • Custom Tax & Cost Projection
  • District Matching for your Lifestyle
  • Vetted Local Partner Directory

With a safety index of 59/100, Turkey offers moderate safety conditions for expats and their families.

Entry Requirements & Visa Options

Turkey offers visa-free entry to citizens of over 100 countries, including the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, and most EU nations, for tourism or business stays up to 90 days within any 180-day period. This policy was expanded in 2024 to include US and Canadian passport holders previously requiring eVisas, eliminating the $50 fee and simplifying access.[2][4][6] All visitors must hold a passport valid for at least 60 days beyond the planned stay (e.g., 150 days total for 90-day...

Visa-free entry: 90 days
Digital Nomad Visa available
Work permits available
Retirement visa options
Read full guide

Discover Cities in Turkey

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Location Intelligence for Turkey
Cost of Living39.1

17% below EU avg

Safety58.5

10% below EU avg

Quality of Life145.0

6% below EU avg

Purchasing Power80.4

15% above EU avg

Baselines based on EU averages. Source: Numbeo indices.

Capital

Ankara

Timezone

UTC+03:00

Area

783,562 km²

Population

84,339,067

Turkey shows a purchasing power index of 80/100, indicating excellent economic conditions for expats.

Economic Overview in Turkey

GDP

$905.99B

HDI

0.8

Quality of Life

63/100

+20 vs NYC

Purchasing Power

33/100

-9 vs NYC

Understanding the economic landscape is essential for evaluating living costs and opportunities in Turkey. This comprehensive overview covers key financial indicators including cost of living, housing markets, income levels, and fiscal policies that shape daily life and long-term financial planning.

Comparison data legendCompare:
Turkey
Continent Avg

Cost of Living Index

Very High

Very affordable (CPI: 39.3). Groceries (39.5), restaurants (37.8), and rent (12.4) are low compared to global standards, though inflation remains elevated at ~30%.

Housing Market

Good

Affordable (property-to-income ratio: 6.9 years). Low rent index (12.4) benefits expats, with regional variations in major cities.

Average Income Levels

Poor

Below average purchasing power (index: 78.4). Unemployment at 8.6% and GDP per capita ~$15k limit buying power despite economic growth.

Tax System

Moderate

Progressive income tax 15-40%, VAT 20% standard (8-18% reduced rates), property tax ~0.1-0.6%. System is clear but high inflation erodes real burdens; expat incentives available.

Business Environment

Moderate

Moderate ease of doing business (World Bank rank ~33 pre-2021). Strong growth (3.7% Q3 2025), exports $273B, but high inflation (30%) and bureaucracy challenge startups.

Social Security

Good

Universal healthcare via SGK, pension system covers most workers, unemployment benefits up to 10 months. HDI 0.838 reflects solid coverage amid 8.6% unemployment.

Work & Business in Turkey
Business ClimateSee full guide for details
Work PermitsRequirements vary by nationality
Key IndustriesExplore opportunities
Read full guide
Education SystemInternational schools, universities & curricula
Explore Guide
Climate

Turkey's climate is diverse and generally temperate, shaped by its varied geography spanning Mediterranean coasts, Black Sea shores, continental interiors, and high plateaus. The country experiences hot, dry summers and mild, rainy winters along the coasts, transitioning to more extreme continental conditions inland with cold, snowy winters and significant day-night temperature swings.

Climate
Mediterranean, Continental
Summer
25–35°C
Winter
0–15°C
Sunshine
3000+ hrs/yr

5 distinct climate regions — see full guide for details

Read full guide
Demographics in Turkey

Life Expectancy

78.0

Population

84,339,067

Religions

Islam
99.8%

Ethnic Composition

70–75% Turkish
N/A
Kurdish
19%
6–11% other minorities
N/A
What Expats Say About TurkeyBETA

Research in Progress

We're currently analyzing expat perspectives for Turkey. Check back soon for insights from real experiences!

We're gradually rolling out this feature and continuously improving the insights. The data is based on real expat discussions and will become more comprehensive over time.

Transportation & Infrastructure in Turkey
Public TransitAvailable in major cities
AirportsInternational connectivity
InfrastructureRoad & rail networks
Read full guide
Social Integration in Turkey
Expat CommunityActive communities available
Cultural IntegrationTips & resources
Language BarrierSee guide for details
Read full guide
Retirement & Benefits in Turkey
Retirement VisaCheck eligibility
Healthcare AccessPublic & private options
Pension RecognitionSee guide for details
Read full guide
Political Landscape & Stability

Turkey operates as a centralized presidential republic under President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and the AKP since 2018, with a unicameral legislature dominated by the ruling coalition. The 2024 local elections marked a significant opposition gain led by CHP, while efforts for a new constitution continue amid concerns over democratic backsliding and institutional centralization.

System
Presidential republic
Stability
Low stability
Democracy
Hybrid regime
Legal System
Civil law system
Read full guide
Environment & Sustainability in Turkey
Air QualitySee detailed assessment
Green SpacesParks & nature areas
SustainabilityEnvironmental policies
Read full guide
Turkey flag
Turkey at a Glance

Capital

Ankara

Languages

Turkish

UN Member

Yes

Quick Facts for Turkey

Population

84,339,067

Currency

TRY

Timezone

UTC+03:00

Calling Code

+90

Week starts on

Monday

Gini Coefficient

41.9 (2019)

Traffic side

right side

Location

Data Source: Safety, crime, and quality metrics are sourced from Numbeo, a crowd-sourced global database of reported data.

All scores are relative comparisons on a 0-100 scale, where 50 = global average. Higher scores mean better than average, lower scores mean worse than average.