Living in Turkey

Introduction

Turkey is a great place to live but there are some things to consider before you pack your bags. Turkey has been on the rise in recent years and it is now one of the most visited countries in Europe. 

In fact, the United Nations ranks Turkey as the second safest country in the world after Japan. However, it is important to note that safety standards vary between each neighborhood and city. 

In this article we will discuss what factors go into making Turkey a good place to live.

Cost of Living in Turkey

The cost of living in Turkey is low compared to the rest of Europe and North America. Food is cheap, rent is cheap, transportation is cheap, entertainment is cheap, healthcare and education are also very affordable. Utilities like electricity and water are less expensive. it's difficult to find someone paying more than $100 per month for either service at their home.

There are many reasons why Turkey remains one of the cheapest countries in which to live in Europe:

• The Turkish lira has been steadily losing value against other currencies over the past decade or so; this means that if you convert your money into Turkish liras before going there with a balance from an ATM machine when first arriving at Istanbul Airport in European side of Istanbul or Sabiha Gökçen Airport in the Asian side of Istanbul, whatever amount was given out by your bank will go further once converted into local currency.
• There aren't many taxes on goods sold in Turkey, whereas most countries charge 20% VAT tax on all items sold within them; some even have higher rates!

Pros and Cons of Living in Turkey

Pros:

• Low crime rates mean less stress about personal safety which means that Turkey is a safe country to live in.
• The cost of living is low in Turkey compared to other European countries.
• The Turkish people are friendly and welcoming. Turks  will help you if they see you struggling with something or asking questions about something even if they can't understand the language you’re using well. They're happy to share their culture with visitors from other countries as well!
• Turkey has a good quality of life for its citizens.
• The economy of Turkey is growing rapidly, and there are plenty of job opportunities for foreigners who want to work there.
• The education system in Turkey is excellent, as are its healthcare facilities, so you can be sure that all your needs will be met while living here!
• Ample sunshine means lots more outdoor time
• Diverse landscapes mean plenty of opportunities for adventure!
• And as expected, the Turkish cuisine is rich and delicious. You can enjoy delicious meals all the time in Turkey. Above all, food in Turkey is cheap compared to other countries like the United States, Canada or Europe. You can eat out for less than $5 per day! Also, many types of food are very healthy for you!

Cons:

• Many people also find it difficult to communicate with Turks because they speak their own language (Turkish), which means they often struggle when communicating with foreigners like yourself. There aren't many opportunities for expats looking to make friends either, partly because most Turks don't speak English well enough or have limited interests outside their own culture. So finding common ground isn't easy either way, even though the Turkish people are considered friendly and welcoming!
• The Turkish lira has decreased a lot in the past few years in front of USD and Euro, which affects the prices, the bills and house rents. So if your income is based on Turkish lira, it could be difficult at the beginning.

Where to Live in Turkey

The best place to live depends on what you want. There are many different major cities in Turkey, and all of them have their own unique offerings.

For example: 

- Istanbul is a very popular tourist destination with lots of history and culture. 

- Ankara is the capital city of Turkey and has been modernizing itself over the past few years. 

- Antalya has beautiful beaches. 

- Bodrum if you want a beach resort town.

- Bursa is known for its natural beauty. 

- Edirne has a rich architectural history due to being on the border between Europe and Asia; it also has great food! 

- Aydin offers some incredible rural experiences through nature walks or horseback riding tours through tulip fields (in spring). 

- Gaziantep, Antakia and Adana are popular with their cuisine and delicious food. All these cities offer affordable living costs. Also Gaziantep is considered one of the oldest inhabited cities in the world.

In fact, the list goes on and on. We’ll have a blog post giving more details about the Turkish cities.

Working in Turkey

If you want to work in Turkey, then it's not going to be easy. You need to be qualified and speak Turkish, as well as find a job that will give you the right work permit.

You can also work as a freelancer if you have the right qualifications and a residence permit. This means that the tax breaks are not available for freelancers. 

In fact, what makes working in Turkey promising is that the living costs are low, especially compared with western Europe, Canada or the United States of America where people pay much more for rent and food than here in Turkey.

Expats Community in Turkey

Expats are a part of the community and can help you find a job, get around the city. The expat community is very welcoming and offers many opportunities for socializing. It also offers many opportunities for expats to meet other expats.

How to Meet People as an Expat in Turkey?

The first thing you need to know is that Turkish people are very friendly and welcoming. If you're an expat, you will likely have to make friends with other expats who speak English. You can also make friends with Turkish people if you learn the language or at least get a basic understanding of it. The best way to make friends is to be involved in the community—participate in local festivals or get involved with a charity or non-profit organization. There are many ways that living in Turkey can enhance your life, but there are also some drawbacks.

Pros: Turkish people are very friendly and welcoming

Cons:  Language barrier can be a problem for some; others will find this exciting!

Is Turkey a Good Place to Live?

Absolutely yes. Turkey is a great place to live. It is cheap, beautiful, safe and promising. 

It's important to note that the pros and cons of living in Turkey are easily balanced if you make the right choices. For example, the food is very cheap and healthy if you buy locally. The economy is growing rapidly and opportunities are plentiful. Safety is good as well, with a low crime rate overall.

The quality of life is high here—you'll find plenty of things to do, many people to meet, and plenty of ways to save money on everything from rent to food costs. If you're looking for somewhere comfortable but still exotic, then Turkey may be just your cup of tea!

Conclusion

Turkey is a nice country to live in. It's a promising country and rich in heritage, culture and amazing nature. The people are friendly and living costs are affordable compared to other countries.