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...
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With a safety index of 59/100, Turkey offers moderate safety conditions for expats and their families.
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...
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17% below EU avg
10% below EU avg
6% below EU avg
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.
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.
Cost of Living Index
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
Affordable (property-to-income ratio: 6.9 years). Low rent index (12.4) benefits expats, with regional variations in major cities.
Average Income Levels
Below average purchasing power (index: 78.4). Unemployment at 8.6% and GDP per capita ~$15k limit buying power despite economic growth.
Tax System
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 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
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.
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.
5 distinct climate regions — see full guide for details
Read full guideLife Expectancy
78.0
Population
84,339,067
Religions
Ethnic Composition
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.
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.
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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
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.