Table of Contents
Living in Turkey: The Costs, Advantages, and Disadvantages
Are you interested in moving to Turkey? Learn about the benefits, drawbacks, and prices of living in Turkey in this article from OutlookTurkey and MGC Legal. Everything for 2021 has been revised.
Due to its academic, financial, and social advancement, Turkey has become a destination for many to reside in and live in its cities and neighbourhoods. It has the foundations that underlie the European Transformation and advanced countries. In addition, residents have found the safety they seek in Turkey, as there are many common connections between Arab society and the Turkish community, especially in telecommunications and information technology.
Also, a major portion of Turkish society respects and preserves surrounding norms. They believe in freedom and diversity of opinions that give residents and investors a sense of security, which is the first question a person considering moving to the country asks about.
Turkey has undergone a significant qualitative transformation at all levels in the last two decades, making it a desirable place to live for people of all ethnicities and countries seeking a decent life or adding to it a kind of financial investment through projects they create an advantage from to maintain their current standard of living.
Related Article: Where is The Best Place to Live in Turkey?
Living in Turkey: Pros and Cons For Foreigners
Foreigners weighing the benefits and drawbacks of residing in Turkey often worry about whether it is the right decision. Take solace in the fact that the nation already has thousands of expatriates.
Any member of the vast expatriate community will tell you that living in Turkey is nothing like visiting on a tourist visa. Nonetheless, leaving their home nation, obtaining residence, and relocating to Turkey was the most acceptable option for living abroad for them.
Nevertheless, an immigrant living in this new nation has attracted admirers from all over the globe, who now refer to it as a home away from home. So, let’s look at these and where expatriates reside in Turkey and our advice to integrating into.
Related Article: Living in Turkey as a Foreigner.
How to Move to and Live in Turkey, as well as The Prerequisites
Numerous people question how they may travel to Turkey and reside there, and we will explain how they can do so in depth.
The very first step in securing your relocation to Turkey to live is to apply for a visa at one of the Turkish embassies, and after you have one, you may choose from a variety of resident permit types. If you wish to remain on Turkish soil, your residency permit allows you to go on with your everyday life.
Purchasing a property in Turkey is still the most popular choice. There are also short-term residence permits, also known as tourist stays, and long-term residence permits, also known as permanent residency permits in Turkey, which are issued to individuals who live in Turkey constantly without interruption for eight years under certain circumstances and work residence permits, which are provided to foreigners who work in Firms in turkey. A family residence permit may also be acquired for the family members of workers with work residence permits.
A residence permit may also be obtained by purchasing a property, which is renewed every year and is provided to the wife/husband and children under the age of eighteen.
Related Article: Types of Residence Permits in Turkey.
Advantages of Living in Turkey
There is no complexity in Turkey may be one of the most considerable advantages of living there. Turkish people are known for their straightforwardness in their lives and the essence of their living system. This has been substantially mirrored in their authoritative government agencies and health, instructional, and service facilities. Even in the way they drink and eat, there are no significant elements of social classes.
Moreover, on a technological level, all inhabitants can issue their government papers through available applications. Additionally, Turkey is one of the leading countries in the field of digital commerce; therefore, everything you need can be found in these applications and will arrive at your home quickly.
Furthermore, whether continuing or starting education for children, Turkey has attracted many students worldwide through the fellowship framework, which has contributed to forming a positive Arab awareness that students have lived. They have become ambassadors in their countries, attracting more students because Turkey has many universities with advanced degrees.
Related Article: Important Things You Need to Know Before Living in Turkey.
Disadvantages of Living in Turkey
One of the most significant disadvantages of living in Turkey is the language barrier. Because Turks tend to favour interacting in their language and admire those who do, residents in Turkey have difficulty communicating.
However, the Turkish language is one of those languages that can be quickly learned, and you will soon be able to speak the first communication sentences. You will gradually start practising and dive into it. There are several instances of inhabitants mastering this language, which has a considerable amount of Arabic terms.
Furthermore, because the central provinces comprise a diverse mix of races and people, there is a need to be extra cautious and vigilant to avoid being robbed; however, this is a rare occurrence in comparison to other societies, and there is a strict security system in place to maintain social security, so residents are advised to avoid carrying large sums of money and instead use bank cards, which are easily accessible.
Related Article: Where is The Best Place to Retire in Turkey?
Pros and Cons of Living in Turkey
The Advantages
Citizenship by investment: Obtaining a residence permit is required to live in Turkey; some foreigners and their spouses want to become full-fledged Turkish citizens. This is where a real estate investing program might come in handy. You may apply for living and working privileges like residents if you spend $250,000 or more in property and agree to retain it for three years or more.
Expatriate Society: Relocating to one of the established ex-pat towns allows you to tap into a network of foreigners who have previously been there and done it. They may provide guidance, suggestions, and recommendations on effectively adjusting to your relocation to Turkey after having walked the path.
Living Costs: Because of the present currency rate, ex-pats who get a pension or other foreign income in USD or another currency earn more Turkish lira than ever before. Additionally, home expenditures, including gas, water, internet, telephone, and council tax, are unexpectedly low when shifting to the Republic of Turkey. While some goods, such as; smoking, renting, drinking, and driving a vehicle, are costly, Turkey has a far lower total cost of living than other nations.
The Housing Price Index (HPI) measures how much a home costs. Living and working abroad is mostly determined by your financial situation. Many individuals considering retiring abroad pick Turkey because the cost of housing is affordable, particularly when compared to other foreign nations. Some expatriates prefer flats, while others choose large homes with their pools and gardens.
International Schools: Some expatriate families choose to move to the suburbs. This includes foreign employees doing worldwide business who are only planning to stay in Turkey for a short time. They want schools to teach various languages, including their own, and to follow an international curriculum with internationally recognized credentials. This is where foreign schools, particularly those in Istanbul, rise to the occasion regarding qualifications and educational standards. When working expatriates come home, they may be certain that their children’s lives will continue as normal.
Medical Coverage: While pensioners above the age of 65 are exempt from having medical insurance, everyone under 65 must have it. Either commercial foreign health insurance or the government-run SGK system are options. Regardless of the option you choose, Turkey’s superb health system will guarantee that you get good treatment if you ever need to utilize your insurance.
Banks’ interest Rates: Because of Turkey’s high-interest savings accounts, internet banking has never been more attractive. Anyone considering retiring abroad should look at the interest rates, which are now reaching 10%. Many expatriates deposit huge sums of money and take the interest monthly after paying taxes; as a result, they never have to touch their net worth, and the income typically supplements their pension.
Seasons are warmer: Many expatriates prefer to live here permanently since the winters are milder than in their native country. Almost every stranger, after all, seeks out the sun where ever they can. While other cities, such as; Istanbul, experience snow, Antalya on the Mediterranean coast is the finest area to reside for around 300 days of sunlight every year.
The Negatives
Language Obstacles: One of the challenges of living in a multi-cultural environment is overcoming language barriers. Even though we suggest that learning Turkish is a positive experience, some individuals find it difficult to be multilingual. The inability to communicate in Turkish is the most common problem we receive from expatriate groups. However, since most expatriates reside in tourist areas with English-speaking natives, foreign life becomes simple.
Cultural Trauma: Regrettably, culture shock throws some ex-pats- off track. This is most common when people retire and anticipate their everyday lives to be like vacations. Of course, this lifestyle is unsustainable because people do things differently in any foreign place; you will miss your home cooking, and certain rituals, such as; Ramadan, may seem strange. Culture shock may be avoided by keeping an open mind and a willingness to learn.
Work Visas: While some individuals dream of working in Turkey, the majority of expatriates are retirees. The rationale is straightforward. Working on a tourist visa is unlawful since you don’t pay income tax and, if caught, you’ll face penalties and deportation. Second, obtaining a work permit for foreign people working in Turkey is difficult due to rigorous restrictions and regulations. The majority of them end up teaching English or working as a travel agent.
Friends and Family Back Home: When we move overseas, we take solace in knowing that we can hop on a plane whenever we choose. On the other hand, moving to Turkey may cause some individuals to miss their friends and family more than they anticipated. The good news is that this is just a phase, and you can stay in contact every day using programs like What’s App, Messenger Video Call, and Skype.
Related Article: What is the Easiest Way to Move to Turkey?
