We spent three months living in Turkey from March to June 2024.
Our Turkish journey began in Istanbul which we stayed for a week before flying to Antalya, where we found long-term accommodation about 6 km from the city center, and settled for 2.5 months.
Istanbul proved to be significantly more expensive than Antalya (more details here and here), and we've grown quite comfortable in our small local neighborhood in Antalya, enjoying the local lifestyle to the fullest!
Our accommodation costs us 466 TL per night ($21) or 35,000 TL for the 2.5 months. For comparison, in Thailand, we paid $24 per night, making Turkey slightly cheaper. We got a great deal on our place here. For more info on finding long-term accomodation in Turkiye click here!
When we first mentioned a budget of 18,000 TL per month to real estate agents, they laughed. Despite this, we found an awesome one-bedroom, one-bathroom flat for 14,000 TL per month. Know your budget and dont be afraid to stick to it!
We definitely timed our arrival well and secured a good rate before the tourist season began. This was evident when we requested to extend our stay by 4 nights to align with our flight. The host offered to extend our stay but at a rate of 1,000 TL per night—over double what we were paying. Shocked by this, we negotiated a rate of 2,500 TL for the 4 nights, which was still higher than our original rate.
Our car hire was similarly cost-effective because we booked early. The owner warned us that prices would increase as the high season approached. We paid 400 TL ($21) per day or 35,000 TL for 75 days. For comparison, our scooter rental in Thailand was only $6 per day, showing a significant difference. For more information on our experience hiring a car in Turkiye, click here!
On a daily basis, we manage to live on around 700 TL ($33), excluding accommodation and transport. This budget covers our weekly market shop of about 1,000 TL ($47), which supplies our fresh produce for the week (more on market prices here). We usually dine out once a week at a kebab shop and occasionally visit the chicken shop down the road for a whole rotisserie chicken and bulgur—definitely the best 180 TL I've ever spent. We also buy olive breads every second morning on our way to the mountains to go climbing and enjoy occasional pastries on walks with Kaia. Once or twice a week, we treat ourselves to coffee and cake from a nearby café. Additionally, we like to enjoy a beer or two in the afternoons, especially after climbing.
Overall, living in Antalya is affordable and straightforward, without feeling like we're missing out on anything. It’s a bit more expensive than Thailand, with fewer dining-out options, but still cheaper than back home in Perth, Australia. Plus, we get to experience and learn about a beautiful new place and culture!
Next, we'll be heading to Bulgaria. I'm curious to see how it compares, given that it's still in Europe but has its own currency (similar to Turkey). In July, we'll be in Italy for a wedding, and I already anticipate it will be much more expensive than what we're used to. Will it surpass Australia in cost? We’ll find out!
Until next time,
R
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