Pros and Cons of Living in Turkey (2026)

Turkey has experienced sustained high inflation and significant lira devaluation. For EUR/GBP/USD earners, this is mostly positive — your purchasing power increases as the lira weakens. But local costs in TRY terms rise fast, and some landlords now price in EUR/USD to protect themselves. Budget planning requires ongoing attention.

Turkish is linguistically distant from all European languages. Government offices, contracts, leases, medical documents, and legal paperwork are in Turkish. In expat areas, English is widely spoken in shops and restaurants — but bureaucracy operates in Turkish. Without basic Turkish or a trusted translator, official processes are frustrating and error-prone.

The ikamet (residence permit) process requires documentation, appointments booked months in advance, specific insurance, and in some cities significant waiting times. Requirements have changed unpredictably in recent years. First-time applicants often encounter confusing instructions, inconsistent enforcement, and appointment systems that crash. It works — but it rarely works smoothly.

Opening a Turkish bank account without residency is possible but difficult. Without a residence permit, most banks decline. Once you have a tax number and residency, accounts open readily — but the process of getting those can take weeks. Wire transfers from foreign accounts are subject to verification scrutiny.

Turkey's political environment has shifted significantly over the past decade. Policy changes affecting expats — residence permit requirements, property purchase regulations, currency movement restrictions — have occurred with short notice. Expats must accept a higher baseline level of institutional unpredictability than in EU countries.

Turkish traffic — especially in Istanbul — is genuinely challenging. Motorcycles run red lights. Pedestrian crossings are frequently ignored. Tailgating and lane-switching without signalling are the norm. Expats from Northern Europe or North America frequently find Turkish driving culture stressful. Most adapt within 3–6 months, but the adjustment is real.

Fethiye, Marmaris, Bodrum, and Kas are wonderful in summer. In winter — November through April — many restaurants close, expat social circles shrink, and the towns can feel isolated. Expats in their first year in small coastal towns frequently underestimate winter quiet. Istanbul, Antalya, and Izmir are year-round cities and don't have this problem.

Fibre internet is good in city centres and newer apartment buildings. Older buildings and rural areas may have slower, less reliable connections. Summer power outages occur in coastal areas during peak demand. For remote workers, verifying connection speed in a specific apartment matters more than city-level averages.