Thinking of Moving to Istanbul? Read this First
Are you thinking about moving to Istanbul, Turkey? In this article, I’ll show you when it makes sense moving to Istanbul and when you should think twice before moving to Turkey.
All information in this article and more is also included in my YouTube video:
Overview moving to Istanbul Turkey
Living in Istanbul is very different from visiting as a tourist. I’ll explain for whom it makes financial sense moving to Istanbul. I’ll focus on these 5 groups:
- Digital Nomads in Istanbul Turkey
- Expats in Istanbul Turkey
- Retirees in Turkey
- People who love Istanbul
- Moving to Istanbul Turkey permanently
1) Digital Nomads in Istanbul Turkey
Let’s start with digital nomads and fully remote workers. Many foreigners can stay in Turkey for up to 90 days with a tourist visa.
And there is even a dedicated visa for digital nomads for longer stays. Check the official requirements on this website here: https://digitalnomads.goturkiye.com/
If you’re a digital nomad and earn more than 2.000 Euros per month, you can enjoy an amazing lifestyle in Istanbul or anywhere in Turkey.
2) Expats in Istanbul Turkey
Next are expats working for international companies or organisations. If your company has offices in Istanbul, you might apply for a temporary transfer lasting a few years.
The big advantage is: Many expats continue to receive their home-country salary plus an additional country allowance.
I highly recommend this option. Expats in Istanbul often enjoy a high living standard. And they can see if they would like to stay long-term.
3) Retirees in Turkey
Then we have retirees. I recommend choosing a nice town along the Aegean or Mediterranean coasts of Turkey. Living in Istanbul might be too hectic for retirees.
Explore different coastal cities in Turkey over the years. If one really speaks to you, consider buying a property there. A couple can live very comfortably on around 1.000 Euros per month if they do not pay rent.
4) People who love Istanbul
Number four are people, who simply love Istanbul. Maybe you visit the city a few times a year to enjoy the weather, food and lifestyle. If that sounds like you, and you have the means, buying a property in Istanbul could make sense.
I used to be in this group myself. Vacationing in your own home is a completely different experience compared to staying in a hotel. When we were living in Germany, we bought our first property in Istanbul in 2018. My personal record was flying to Istanbul 10 times in a single year. If your flight is under 4 hours, you can even come for an extended weekend trip.
5) Moving to Istanbul Turkey permanently
Now, let’s talk about moving to Istanbul permanently. I have three important points to make:
- Finding a well-paying job in Turkey is very difficult.
- Do not move to Turkey without a signed job contract. This is crucial.
- I only recommend moving to Istanbul if you have a good income level.
Let me show you why based on the monthly cost of living in Istanbul. Start with rent. The green highlighted districts (see picture) along the Bosphorus are the most beautiful and central places in Istanbul. Rent for a one-bedroom apartment here costs between 600 and 1.000 Euros. In the orange highlighted middle class districts, rent for a 2-bedroom apartment ranges between 600 and 800 Euros.
Monthly living expenses for two people cost between 600 and 900 Euros.
If you have children, fees for good private schools are between 500 and 1.000 Euros per month. Top international schools can cost up to 2.000 Euros per child per month. However, public schools teach in Turkish and are free of charge.
If your income is below these levels and if you currently live in a western country, I would not recommend moving to Istanbul. Living in Istanbul on low wage is very difficult.
You can explore other articles about Istanbul by clicking on one of the following categories: