Life in Turkey: what is it like, an oriental fairy tale?

We live in a time when thoughts of moving to another country come more and more often. This is due to many factors that Ukrainians have faced in recent years. Choosing a country for permanent residence is not only a matter of price, because you need to take into account important criteria for moving: climate, living conditions, mentalities, as well as all the pros and cons that can expect here.

A popular country to live in is now Turkey. Why? Let's try to understand.

Features of life in Turkey

Turkey is a beautiful country on the shores of the four seas. It has a rich history and culture, a lot of interesting mysterious locations, attractions - all this attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists every year.

When it comes to long-term residence or obtaining citizenship, it is important to delve into what conditions the country offers to new residents. Ukrainians who moved here appreciated the high level of security and opportunities for profitable investments.

It is important to carefully study the specifics of the country, its laws and orders that need to be accepted and observed.

What is the standard of living in Turkey? The country occupies a good position in the rating among other countries in terms of living standards, ahead of post-Soviet countries and some EU countries. This is not surprising, because the government is trying to create a favorable environment for learning, business development, recreation and other benefits that every person needs. Ukrainians who want to develop their own business or invest in real estate, there will be something to do here.

Cost of living in Turkey

Living in Turkey can be good, high quality and inexpensive compared to some EU countries. It is important to understand what budget to count on, and how much money you will need to earn and spend on basic needs each month. How much money do you need to live in Turkey, and what is the main item of expenditure?

It is logical that living in major cities and popular tourist destinations will cost at least 1500 - 2000 € per month (the price for a family of 2-4 people). This amount allows you to live in average comfort, without strong savings. The best cities for moving and comfortable life in Turkey are Istanbul, Antalya, Izmir, Ankara, Alanya.

Housing. If you moved alone or two with your wife/husband, you can save money by choosing a small cozy city (the price for a one-bedroom apartment starts from 170€, for a two-bedroom apartment from 250€ and above). In large population centers the price starts from 300 € per room and higher.

Note that in Turkey you can buy real estate at nice prices: housing can be used for living or renting - it is a profitable investment in your future. The real estate market offers many options: apartments, houses with sea views, penthouses, apartments in modern LCD (Ukrainians can take installments without interest or with a low interest rate). On utility bills per month costs from 50-130 € depending on the area of housing (this includes electricity, gas, water, internet). In winter the cost is higher due to heating costs.

Groceries. Plus, in Turkey at any time of the year you can buy delicious fruits and vegetables: regardless of the season they have an affordable price. The country's products are of high quality and ecological, so everyone can afford to eat healthy and tasty food here (Ukrainians will be a big plus, because at home prices for fruits and vegetables in winter bite).

The cost of basic products in Turkey pleases:

• bottle of water from 0,3€;
• bread 0,3-0,5 €;
• a dozen eggs - 1,5-2,0 €;
• milk 1 liter from 1€;
• tomatoes 1 kg - 1-1,5 €;
• cucumbers 1 kg - 0,7-1,3 €;
• pasta and rice from 1-2,0€;
• chicken fillet for 1 kg - 3,8-5,5 €;
• beef 1 kg - 7,5-11 €.

On average for a family of 4 people on food will cost 300-500 €, with a variety of fruits and vegetables, meat, fish, dairy products, etc. on the menu.

Travel. A trip by public transportation around the city starts from 0,5€ and more. For comfort you can buy a travel card for different types of transport (bus, streetcar, metro, etc.). It can be topped up at terminals for the required amount. Locals buy a monthly pass to cut costs: you can save money by using it daily.

Fuel prices (gas, diesel, gasoline) start from 0.7 € per 1 liter. Ukrainians who have chosen to live in Turkey, but come by their own car, must register a Green Card.

Entertainment. One trip to a restaurant per person will cost an average of 15€-20€ (depends on the level of the institution), a session in a movie theater ranges from 4€ and more (students and pensioners are entitled to a discount). Most of the interesting sights can be seen for free: this is also a good interesting leisure activity.

How much it costs to live in Turkey ultimately depends on your habits and needs.

Pros of moving

What does a Ukrainian get after moving to Turkey? Let's talk about the pleasant things - the advantages, because there are many of them here.

1. Friendly locals. There is a stereotype that Turks are very fiery and aggressive. In fact, their peculiarity is cordiality, politeness and hospitality. When a foreigner needs help, they will gladly provide it. It is important to understand: if you have moved to another country, you should respect its culture and traditions: then everything will be mutual, and you will be treated with respect too (regardless of your nationality, language and religion).
2. The state allocates a lot of money for infrastructure development. Construction of recreation areas, sports and children's playgrounds, landscaping of parks, restoration of landmarks - everything is created here for comfort and a good time.
3. Safety of life. Turkey is characterized by a high level of security: the peculiarity is that locals can walk the streets in the evening without fear, and children can play without adult supervision. Here law enforcement agencies are treated with respect and their work is appreciated. Therefore, you will never see Turks coming into conflict with the police or threatening them.
4. Medicine. In the country you can get quality medical care at the level of developed EU countries and even the USA. The government allocates a budget for the development of the industry, the purchase of modern equipment, which has caused such a phenomenon as medical tourism. People from all over the world come to Turkey for treatment, rehabilitation or plastic surgery. The cost of medicines is affordable for every resident: many drugs are produced in the country. Ukrainians planning to move are recommended to buy medical insurance to cover most of the medicines and services in case of an insured event.
5. Education. In Turkey you can get quality education in kindergarten, school and university. All teachers are qualified, and the technical base is very developed, which helps to better explain the material.
6. It is possible to get residence permit and citizenship. There are a number of investment programs:

The cons of living in Turkey

No matter how well Turkey welcomes tourists and potential expats, there are a number of arguments that make moving there not too happy an experience.

1. The heat. Ukrainians who before traveling to Turkey lived in the south of their country, well tolerate the temperature of Turkey in spring and summer. But those people who are used to a cooler climate and strict winter will not be very comfortable. The fact is that in the season, temperature indicators can show up to 40°C, and in addition to increased coherence, it can be difficult to tolerate such conditions. It is worth carefully choosing a region for living and taking into account the weather conditions.
2. Different culture. Turkey is a Muslim country, so namaz is performed 5 times a day. Turks drop all business and regardless of the place read the prayer, this feature can be surprising.
3. Problems with work. Foreigners at first it can be difficult to find a job without knowledge of the Turkish language or skills in a demanded profession. Therefore, many Ukrainians work here unofficially.
4. Domestic discomfort. Some apartments have poor soundproofing, which brings discomfort. Minus that in some areas there is no centralized heating, so for cold weather it is necessary to buy a heater or air conditioner.
5. Language barrier. Many Turks know English and can communicate well. If it is a small town, it is mostly Turkish, which causes difficulties in communication. You need to buy a translation program online to make it easier. There are cities in Turkey with separate English-speaking and Russian-speaking neighborhoods. A lot of Ukrainians work in the beauty and service sector, so you will have someone to talk to.
6. High prices for cars. The cost of a car here is twice as high as in Ukraine due to high taxes, which makes buying your own transportation expensive - this is a significant disadvantage.

If you still weigh all the pros and cons of moving to Turkey, real estate agency HAYAT ESTATE will be an assistant. We will find good housing at an affordable price to buy or rent. Our managers consult in all controversial issues, take care of legal aspects, so as not to distract you from more important things.

Thousands of our clients have already become happy owners of real estate abroad and started a new life. Hurry up to join the ranks of these lucky ones: just one call and you are one step closer to making your dream a reality!