On this page we will provide you information on the following topics:
-Cost of Living in Turkey 2025
-Focus on other cost on living in Turkey 2025
-Cost of Living in Turkey-İzmir 2025
-İzmir the more affordable city globally
-İzmir vs Istanbul
-Housing market in Izmir 2025
-Quality of life in İzmir
The Cost of Living in Turkey 2025
Many people often approach our real estate office in İzmir regarding the cost of living in Turkey. To answer this question properly we need some information regarding a few important factors like; the size of the family, ages of the family members and other lifestyle preferences. Obviously, the rent is general the highest expense on a monthly basis, owning a property (if possible) drastically lowers the cost of living. The cost of living of living in Turkey varies from region to region. While Istanbul is significantly cheaper than most European cities or American cities, it is still the most expensive city in Turkey. A basic studio apartment on the outskirts of the city can cost up to 25.000 TL a month, and of course prices go up for houses closer to the center. An apartment near major districts with a decent view can reach 60.000 TL per month. Next to the Aegean Coast in the metropolis city of İzmir you will pay in-between 25.000 to 40.000 TL a month for a rental property on a decent location.
Focus on other costs of living in Turkey
Household bills in Turkey
This is where Turkey makes up for the high cost of rent, as household bills are incredibly cheap. The monthly fees include electricity, water, waste water, telephone, internet, gas and internet packages. People who live in multi-family houses with six or more apartments must also pay service fees, a fee for community services. According to the number of facilities the monthly fees vary. Allow for between 100 USD and 200 USD per month to ensure for these service/maintenance costs.
Real Estate Taxes and Insurance in Turkey
These annual expenses really make foreigners smile because they are only a fraction of that in European countries or in the US. Local tax is calculated based on the official price of your property and how many people are listed on the title deed. In İzmir the yearly real estate tax is 0.2 percent over the recorded value of the property per year. Earthquake insurance is mandatory and the fee depends on the amount of square meters of your property. You can also upgrade to fire and theft insurance. Please consider around 6.000 TL for yearly earthquake insurance fee and around a yearly theft/fire insurance fee starting from 8.000 TL a year.
Transportation in Turkey
If you plan to live in Istanbul, transportation is a high expense and using public services will cost you something like 6.ooo TL in comparison with 3.000 TL per month in İzmir.
Owning a car in Turkey
Driving a car is quite expensive in Turkey. Because of the high import duties purchasing a car is more expensive in comparison with European countries. You should also budget around 50.000 TL per year for maintenance, insurance and technical inspection if you own a car.
Gasoline prices in Turkey 2025 edition
We now look at more recent figures: as of mid-2025, the price for 95-octane gasoline in Turkey stands at around ₺ 46.85 per liter (≈ USD 1.20 per liter). In major cities like Istanbul, recent averages have ranged between about ₺ 48.4 and ₺ 53.1 per liter. For example, on 25 July 2025 the national average for unleaded gasoline was ₺ 52.44 per liter. By comparison, during your original period (Aug–Nov 2022), the average price was ₺ 20.52 per liter, with a low of ₺ 19.23 and a high of ₺ 22.68. Because of inflation, currency fluctuations, taxes, and global oil market trends, the price level in 2025 is more than double what it was in late 2022.
Medical Costs in Turkey 2025
This is a mandatory cost for foreigners under the age of 65 as they must have health insurance to qualify for residency. Including the application and renewal fees, as well as the subscription to Turkish State Health Insurance, a foreigner pays approximately 10.000 TL per year. Please note that the SGK payment for couples is the same as for a single person.
Eating out and drinking in Turkey 2025
A cheap or fast-food meal costs around 500 TL, if you visit the home-style gastronomy, it is around 400 TL per person. Beer prices in bars range from 120 to 200 TL. Expect to pay around 1.500 TL for a mid-range bottle of wine.
Grocery shopping in Turkey
Singles or couples on a tight budget can save a lot of money in this area. Using the local markets instead of the big supermarkets for fruit, veg and dairy is cheaper, averaging around 700 TL a week for a good range of produce. Nowadays, lamb and beef are expensive in Turkey, averaging between 1.000 TL and 1.500 TL per kilogram. The most consumed meat in Turkey is chicken, which costs about 600 TL per kilogram.
Monthly General Estimate 2025
Suppose you own your property and have no rent or mortgage to pay, the cost of living in Turkey is around 70.000 TL for a decent lifestyle, but rising to 100.000 TL in big cities like Istanbul.
Cost of Living in İzmir 2025
-The estimated monthly cost of living excluding rent for a single person is USD 708.
-The estimated monthly cost of living excluding rent for a family of four is USD 2,549.
-The Cost of Living Index in İzmir is ~ 40.37
-The Quality of Life Index in İzmir is ~ 143.09
-The Purchasing Power Index in İzmir is ~ 52.60
-The Property Price to Income Ratio in İzmir is ~ 9.03
İzmir the more affordable city globally
This places İzmir among the more affordable cities globally, ranking 8,423rd out of 9,294 cities in Numbeo’s cost of living index, and 4th out of 128 cities in Turkey.
The average monthly net (after-tax) salary in İzmir is about USD 741.24. This income is sufficient to cover approximately 1.05 months of living expenses, indicating a reasonable balance between earnings and cost of living.
İzmir vs Istanbul
Yes, İzmir is considered an affordable city to live in, especially when compared to other major Turkish cities like Istanbul and Ankara. The cost of living in İzmir is approximately 32% lower than in Istanbul.
Housing Market in İzmir
The real estate market in İzmir has experienced significant growth. As of October 2022, the average price for residential properties in İzmir was ₺ 2,069,592 for a 127 square meter apartment, equating to about ₺ 16,296 per square meter. Prices have increased by approximately 193% compared to previous years. However, prices can vary significantly depending on the district, with areas like Balçova, Çiğli, Konak, Gaziemir, and Menemen seeing the most substantial increases.
Quality of Life in İzmir
İzmir boasts a high quality of life, with a Quality of Life Index of approximately 143.09 and a Cost of Living Index of around 40.37, indicating a favorable balance between affordability and amenities.