Move to Turkey
Everything a future Turkey settler needs to know. Residency, money, safety — the stuff the tourism board won't put on a poster.
Turkey at a Glance
1BR rent / mo
Democracy index
Path to PR
Homicides / 100k
English level
How to actually stay
Visas, residency, and the paperwork mountain between you and a lease
Visa routes we know about
8 years
to permanent residency
5 years
to citizenship
⚠️ Requires good command of Turkish.
Can your partner work?
Because 'trailing spouse' shouldn't mean 'trailing income'
Family residence permit does not include work rights. Spouse must obtain a separate work permit.
Source: official guidance
Where to land in Turkey
One city, no paradox of choice
What it costs to exist
Real monthly numbers, not what the expat blog says
$1,070
priciest 1BR / mo
Rent + food + transport + utilities, averaged across 1 cities. No gym membership, no brunch budget.
How rich is everyone, really
GDP, taxes, and other numbers politicians argue about
$45,639
GDP per capita
25%
Corporate tax
8.5%
Unemployment
58.5%
Inflation
High inequality — gated communities exist for a reason.
Will the government leave you alone?
Democracy, press freedom, and whether you should use a VPN
4.26/10
⚠️ Hybrid regime
33
/100Freedom House score
#146 of 163
Global Peace Index
#159
Press freedom rank
Is Turkey safe?
Homicide rates and the stats that matter for sleeping at night
Fine. Know your neighborhoods and don't be an idiot at 3am.
Can you order coffee?
The language situation, no sugarcoating
Turkish
Primary language
Low
English proficiency (#71 globally)
English won't carry you far here. Learning Turkish isn't optional — it's the price of admission.
❓ Moving to Turkey — Common Questions
What is the best city to move to in Turkey?▾
Based on our Livability Score, Istanbul ranks #1 in Turkey with a score of 52/100. City-centre rent starts around $1070/month.
How much does it cost to live in Turkey?▾
City-centre 1-bedroom rent ranges from $1070 to $1070/month across our 1 tracked cities. Average monthly solo expenses are around $1,570.
How do I get permanent residency in Turkey?▾
The path to permanent residency in Turkey typically takes 8 years. Citizenship is possible after 5 years. Note: Requires good command of Turkish.
Is Turkey a democracy?▾
Turkey scores 4.26/10 on the EIU Democracy Index and is classified as a "Hybrid regime." It ranks #146 of 163 on the Global Peace Index.
Is Turkey safe to live in?▾
The average homicide rate across our tracked cities in Turkey is 2.6 per 100,000 people. That's within the normal range for developed countries.