Cost of Living in Turkey in 2025: Istanbul, İzmir, Ankara
Cost of living in Turkey in 2025: a comparison of housing, food, transport and lifestyle costs in Istanbul, İzmir and Ankara.
With the rise in migration to Turkey in recent years, knowing the real cost of living in the country has become very important. Although Turkey is economically cheaper than many European countries, inflation and changes in the lira exchange rate in 2025 have had a direct impact on daily expenses.
🏠 1. Housing Costs in Turkey
Rent or the cost of buying property takes the biggest share of living expenses. In 2025, prices in the big cities have risen significantly:
| City | Rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in the city center | Rent in the suburbs | Purchase price per square meter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Istanbul | 25,000 to 45,000 TL | 15,000 to 25,000 TL | 70,000 to 120,000 TL |
| İzmir | 18,000 to 30,000 TL | 12,000 to 20,000 TL | 50,000 to 80,000 TL |
| Ankara | 15,000 to 25,000 TL | 10,000 to 18,000 TL | 40,000 to 65,000 TL |
💡 Note: The European districts of Istanbul (such as Beşiktaş and Nişantaşı) are more expensive than the Asian districts.
🍞 2. Food Costs
Food costs have risen by about 30% compared with 2024. The table below shows average prices for some items:
| Item | Average price (TL) |
|---|---|
| Bread | 10 |
| Milk (1 liter) | 25 |
| Eggs (10) | 45 |
| Chicken (1 kg) | 95 |
| Veal (1 kg) | 380 |
| Rice (1 kg) | 60 |
| Coffee at an ordinary café | 80 |
| Meal at a mid-range restaurant | 350 to 500 |
🚌 3. Transportation Costs
Public transportation in Turkey is still relatively affordable:
| Type | Approximate cost (TL) |
|---|---|
| Metro or bus card (one trip) | 18 |
| Monthly transit pass | 1,000 to 1,300 |
| Taxi (per kilometer) | 25 |
| Gasoline (1 liter) | 45 |
🚗 Driving in Istanbul is more expensive because of traffic and parking costs.
⚡ 4. Utility and Internet Costs
| Item | Monthly cost (TL) |
|---|---|
| Electricity, water, gas and waste for an 80 m² home | 2,500 to 4,500 |
| Home internet (Fiber 100 Mbps) | 700 to 1,000 |
| Mobile phone (20 GB package) | 600 to 850 |
💼 5. Summary of Monthly Living Costs
| Lifestyle | Approximate monthly cost |
|---|---|
| Single person in a mid-sized city | 30,000 to 45,000 TL |
| Small family in İzmir | 55,000 to 75,000 TL |
| Living in Istanbul (mid-range) | 70,000 to 100,000 TL |
✅ Conclusion
In 2025 Turkey remains a country with manageable costs for living and investing, but you need to pay attention to inflation and exchange-rate changes. For immigrants or Iranians with dollar income, Turkey is still a good option with a good quality of life.