Cost of Living: Turkey vs United Kingdom

Detailed comparison of living costs and expenses between Turkey and United Kingdom.

Data updated: September 2026

Quick Comparison Summary

In simple terms, living in Turkey is 56.7% cheaper than United Kingdom. The biggest difference is in Other Expenses, where costs are 89.3% lower. This means that for every $100 you spend in United Kingdom, you would spend about $43 in Turkey for the same standard of living.

Key Differences

Other Expenses 89.3%

Turkey is 89.3% cheaper

Household Utilities 78.1%

Turkey is 78.1% cheaper

Salaries And Financing 73.7%

Turkey is 73.7% cheaper

Cost of Living Index

Overall Difference 56.7%

Turkey is 56.7% cheaper than United Kingdom

Most Expensive Categories

  • Transportation +8.8%

Is Turkey cheaper than United Kingdom?

Yes, Turkey is cheaper than United Kingdom

Overall, living costs in Turkey are 56.7% lower than in United Kingdom.

Where Turkey is cheaper:

  • Other Expenses 89.3% cheaper
  • Household Utilities 78.1% cheaper
  • Salaries And Financing 73.7% cheaper

Where Turkey is more expensive:

  • Transportation 8.8% more expensive

Practical Examples

Basic restaurant meal

Turkey: 8.98 $ United Kingdom: 20.35 $
55.9% cheaper in Turkey

1-bedroom apartment in city center

Turkey: 653.86 $ United Kingdom: 1,411.39 $
53.7% cheaper in Turkey

Monthly public transport pass

Turkey: 46.20 $ United Kingdom: 94.95 $
51.3% cheaper in Turkey

1 liter of milk

Turkey: 1.02 $ United Kingdom: 1.69 $
39.6% cheaper in Turkey

Summary

Based on comprehensive cost of living data, Turkey is indeed cheaper than United Kingdom. You would save approximately 56.7% on living expenses by choosing Turkey over United Kingdom. This includes all major expense categories such as housing, food, transportation, and utilities.

Overall Cost of Living Comparison

56.7%

Turkey is 56.7% cheaper than United Kingdom

Restaurants

50.8%

Turkey is 50.8% cheaper than United Kingdom in this category

Markets

38.3%

Turkey is 38.3% cheaper than United Kingdom in this category

Other Expenses

89.3%

Turkey is 89.3% cheaper than United Kingdom in this category

Transportation

8.8%

Turkey is 8.8% more expensive than United Kingdom in this category

Household Utilities

78.1%

Turkey is 78.1% cheaper than United Kingdom in this category

Mobile and Internet

58.7%

Turkey is 58.7% cheaper than United Kingdom in this category

Sports And Leisure

1.6%

Turkey is 1.6% cheaper than United Kingdom in this category

Childcare

39.4%

Turkey is 39.4% cheaper than United Kingdom in this category

Clothing And Shoes

10.9%

Turkey is 10.9% cheaper than United Kingdom in this category

Rent Per Month

55.0%

Turkey is 55.0% cheaper than United Kingdom in this category

Property Prices

71.4%

Turkey is 71.4% cheaper than United Kingdom in this category

Salaries And Financing

73.7%

Turkey is 73.7% cheaper than United Kingdom in this category

Detailed Cost Comparison

Item Turkey United Kingdom Difference
Basic Restaurant Meal 8.98 $ 20.35 $ 55.9%
Turkey is 55.9% cheaper
Three-Course Dinner for Two in Mid Range Restaurant 38.50 $ 88.17 $ 56.3%
Turkey is 56.3% cheaper
McDonald's Fast Food Combo Meal 7.83 $ 10.17 $ 23.0%
Turkey is 23.0% cheaper
Regular Cappuccino 3.26 $ 4.62 $ 29.4%
Turkey is 29.4% cheaper
Soft Drink (330ml) 1.29 $ 2.41 $ 46.5%
Turkey is 46.5% cheaper
Bottled Water (330ml) 0.46 $ 1.72 $ 73.3%
Turkey is 73.3% cheaper
Bottled Water (1.5L) 0.50 $ 1.53 $ 67.3%
Turkey is 67.3% cheaper
Imported Beer (330ml) 3.24 $ 1.17 $ 176.9%
Turkey is 176.9% more expensive
Milk (1L) 1.02 $ 1.69 $ 39.6%
Turkey is 39.6% cheaper
Fresh Bread (500g) 0.79 $ 1.67 $ 52.7%
Turkey is 52.7% cheaper
White Rice (1kg) 2.22 $ 2.21 $ 0.5%
Turkey is 0.5% more expensive
Eggs (12 pack) 2.29 $ 4.03 $ 43.2%
Turkey is 43.2% cheaper
Local Cheese (1kg) 10.03 $ 9.73 $ 3.1%
Turkey is 3.1% more expensive
Chicken Breast (1kg) 5.83 $ 8.96 $ 34.9%
Turkey is 34.9% cheaper
Beef (1kg) 18.54 $ 16.31 $ 13.7%
Turkey is 13.7% more expensive
Apples (1kg) 1.37 $ 2.97 $ 53.9%
Turkey is 53.9% cheaper
Bananas (1kg) 2.24 $ 1.64 $ 36.6%
Turkey is 36.6% more expensive
Oranges (1kg) 1.20 $ 2.88 $ 58.3%
Turkey is 58.3% cheaper
Tomatoes (1kg) 1.52 $ 3.54 $ 57.1%
Turkey is 57.1% cheaper
Potatoes (1kg) 0.75 $ 1.65 $ 54.5%
Turkey is 54.5% cheaper
Onions (1kg) 0.61 $ 1.55 $ 60.6%
Turkey is 60.6% cheaper
Lettuce (1 head) 1.02 $ 1.14 $ 10.5%
Turkey is 10.5% cheaper
Monthly Transit Pass 46.20 $ 94.95 $ 51.3%
Turkey is 51.3% cheaper
Cigarettes (20 pack) 2.18 $ 20.33 $ 89.3%
Turkey is 89.3% cheaper
Single Bus/Train Ticket 0.69 $ 3.26 $ 78.8%
Turkey is 78.8% cheaper
Taxi Base Fare 1.08 $ 5.43 $ 80.1%
Turkey is 80.1% cheaper
Taxi per Kilometer 0.72 $ 2.41 $ 70.1%
Turkey is 70.1% cheaper
Taxi Waiting Hourly Rate 7.70 $ 27.13 $ 71.6%
Turkey is 71.6% cheaper
Gasoline (1L) 1.21 $ 1.95 $ 37.9%
Turkey is 37.9% cheaper
New Economy Car 42,132.74 $ 38,367.32 $ 9.8%
Turkey is 9.8% more expensive
New Mid-Range Car 43,681.59 $ 40,488.21 $ 7.9%
Turkey is 7.9% more expensive
Monthly Utilities (80m² size) 70.58 $ 322.47 $ 78.1%
Turkey is 78.1% cheaper
10 GB Mobile Plan with Data 10.88 $ 17.46 $ 37.7%
Turkey is 37.7% cheaper
High-Speed Internet (> 60 Mbps) 13.83 $ 42.38 $ 67.4%
Turkey is 67.4% cheaper
Gym Membership 50.58 $ 46.25 $ 9.4%
Turkey is 9.4% more expensive
Tennis Court (Weekend) 17.40 $ 15.82 $ 10.0%
Turkey is 10.0% more expensive
Movie Ticket 6.42 $ 13.56 $ 52.7%
Turkey is 52.7% cheaper
Private Preschool (Full Day) 670.28 $ 1,710.49 $ 60.8%
Turkey is 60.8% cheaper
International School (Yearly) 12,865.24 $ 20,621.65 $ 37.6%
Turkey is 37.6% cheaper
1 Pair of Jeans 54.85 $ 90.04 $ 39.1%
Turkey is 39.1% cheaper
1 Summer Dress 43.54 $ 44.62 $ 2.4%
Turkey is 2.4% cheaper
1 Pair of Running Shoes 107.63 $ 101.31 $ 6.2%
Turkey is 6.2% more expensive
1 Pair of Business Shoes 96.32 $ 103.43 $ 6.9%
Turkey is 6.9% cheaper
1-Bedroom Apartment (City Center) 653.86 $ 1,411.39 $ 53.7%
Turkey is 53.7% cheaper
1-Bedroom Apartment (Suburbs) 461.36 $ 1,145.39 $ 59.7%
Turkey is 59.7% cheaper
3-Bedroom Apartment (City Center) 1,181.41 $ 2,337.19 $ 49.5%
Turkey is 49.5% cheaper
3-Bedroom Apartment (Suburbs) 738.00 $ 1,852.21 $ 60.2%
Turkey is 60.2% cheaper
Apartment Price (City Center) per m² 2,087.61 $ 6,334.38 $ 67.0%
Turkey is 67.0% cheaper
Apartment Price (Suburbs) per m² 1,176.26 $ 5,062.78 $ 76.8%
Turkey is 76.8% cheaper
Average Monthly Salary (after tax) 809.47 $ 3,229.12 $ 74.9%
Turkey is 74.9% cheaper
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Rate 42.04 5.75 631.1%
Turkey is 631.1% more expensive

Cost of Living Calculator

Calculate how your current expenses would change if you moved to United Kingdom. Enter your monthly expenses in Turkey to see the equivalent costs.

Housing

Food & Dining

Transportation

Other Expenses

Our Methodology

Our cost of living comparisons are based on a robust methodology that combines multiple data sources and regular updates to ensure accuracy:

Data Collection

  • Regular price surveys conducted in major cities
  • Official government statistics and economic indicators
  • User-contributed data from expatriates and local residents
  • Real estate market reports and rental price indices
  • Consumer price indices and inflation data

Calculation Methods

  • Prices are normalized to USD for consistent comparison
  • Exchange rates are updated monthly
  • Regional price variations are weighted by population
  • Seasonal fluctuations are accounted for in the averages
  • Quality of life factors are considered in the overall assessment

Quality Assurance

  • Data is verified by local experts
  • Regular cross-checking with multiple sources
  • User feedback is incorporated into updates
  • Statistical outliers are identified and reviewed
  • Methodology is reviewed quarterly

Note: While we strive for accuracy, cost of living data can vary significantly within countries and cities. These comparisons should be used as a general guide, and we recommend conducting additional research for specific locations.

Lifestyle Impact

Understanding the cost of living differences between Turkey and United Kingdom goes beyond just numbers. Here's how these differences might affect your daily life:

Daily Living

  • Grocery shopping habits and meal planning
  • Public transportation usage vs. car ownership
  • Frequency of dining out and entertainment
  • Healthcare access and insurance coverage
  • Housing choices and neighborhood selection

Long-term Planning

  • Savings and investment strategies
  • Retirement planning considerations
  • Education costs for children
  • Property ownership opportunities
  • Business and career development

Quality of Life Considerations

While cost of living is important, it's just one aspect of quality of life. Consider also:

  • Healthcare system quality and accessibility
  • Education system standards
  • Public safety and security
  • Environmental quality
  • Cultural and recreational opportunities
  • Work-life balance norms

Making the Most of Your Budget

Tips for adapting to cost of living differences:

  • Research local shopping habits and markets
  • Learn about public transportation options
  • Understand local tax systems and benefits
  • Explore community resources and discounts
  • Network with locals for insider tips

Local Insights for Turkey vs United Kingdom

While both countries have similar overall costs, there are nuanced differences in how money is spent on daily necessities.

Cultural Cost Differences

Turkey

United Kingdom

  • Lower grocery costs suggest different shopping and consumption patterns.
  • Lower fuel costs indicate different transportation infrastructure.

Seasonal Cost Variations

Both countries experience moderate seasonal variations in living costs, with prices typically higher during peak tourist seasons and major holidays.