Job Discussion Forums

pjrowland · Joined: 15 Feb 2006 Posts: 4

Dear All and Sundry,

The perennial question rears its ugly head, demanding to be answered. It would very much like to know...

Is 2000 NTL, rent-paid, enough to survive on? Can I enjoy my life while it lasts?

What's the average wage for teachers in Istanbul? Do they like it?

Any elucidation would be much appreciated.

Paul.

justme · Joined: 18 May 2004 Posts: 1944 Location: Istanbul

By NTL do you mean YTL? If so, then yes, it's enough. Average. Not bad if your rent is paid. You might even save some money.

Whether not you can enjoy life is entirely up to you. How long your life lasts depends on a number of factors.

yaramaz · Posted: Wed May 17, 2006 7:02 am Post subject:

If you take into consideration the free rent aspect, you are pretty much pulling in what I make (with no free rent) and I live well, go out, eat, drink, be merry, travel, etc, and regularly (read: monthly) stash 1000 ytl. Istanbul is a lot more expensive than it used to be, but as my friends who visit from western Europe and north america point out, it's still pretty reasonable (aside from the price of alcohol these days).

pjrowland · Joined: 15 Feb 2006 Posts: 4

Thank you justme and yaramaz - both for your gnomic wisdom and your encouraging practical comments. It ain't so bad after all!

Of course, I mean YTL not NTL - excuse me for my ignorance. I heard someone say "New Turkish Lire" and it stuck.

thrifty · Joined: 25 Apr 2006 Posts: 1665 Location: chip van

yaramaz · Posted: Wed May 17, 2006 9:10 am Post subject:

Actually, no, I don't- I flew to Portugal in February, to Cappadocia in November, and I'm flying to Damascus and Vancouver in a few months. Don't be presumptuous. You are getting boring.

dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397

That's you been telt, thrifty.
Anyway, book in advance and atlasjet is probably just as cheap as the bus. Or do you only fly THY?

thrifty · Joined: 25 Apr 2006 Posts: 1665 Location: chip van

yaramaz · Posted: Wed May 17, 2006 4:29 pm Post subject:

Yes, i was there- my cousin popped over from the UK and we made a last minute trip to kelebek vadisi and flights to that part of Turkey were booked up for Spring break so we bussed. To be honest, it cost almost as much to bus as it does to fly these days. I heard the airlines are getting fuel subsidies.

The eriks were lovely. And the bus ride was just fine- tea and cakes and losts of rest stops and cologne. I like Turkish bus trips.

ghost · Joined: 30 Jan 2003 Posts: 1693 Location: Saudi Arabia

Istanbul can be expensive, especially if you are a foreigner and wish to live in places near Sultanhamet or other areas where tourists go.

The trick in Istanbul is to live somewhere where rents are much more reasonable, and that generally means on the Asian side. This involves travel (if you work in Central Istanbul) - often with ferry, trains and dolmus. It can be a long day.

Another strategy is to simply ignore the `name schools`in Central Istanbul where most foreigners work, and select a district well away from the centre, where you will find some language schools and much cheaper living costs. Your Turkish language skills will also improve in those `non touristy`areas.

Remember most of your neighbors will be earning much, much less than you, and they still get by, and have reasonable lives. The one advantage many folks have is that they still live at home. Rent will be your main expense, with transport. Food is still very reasonable, especially if you select modest `working class`restaurants at lunchtime, picking a set lunch, the kind office workers eat.

Ghost usually stays in Cevizli area, about one hour from the centre. Rents are much cheaper, and different teaching opportunities there. People also much more friendly as foreigners are a rarity there.

Ghost

saloma · Joined: 07 Jul 2005 Posts: 211

Ghost!

You posted on the Taiwan board last week that you were about to leave Taiwan. Where did you escape to?

thrifty · Joined: 25 Apr 2006 Posts: 1665 Location: chip van

It is far too simplistic to say that the Asian side is cheaper than the European side. Both sides have their expensive parts and cheap parts.

On the European side places like Beylikduzu, Buyukcekmec, MimarSinan etc. are really cheap.

On the Asian side places like Moda, Suadiye and Cengelkoy are expensive.

Sheikh Inal Ovar · Joined: 04 Dec 2005 Posts: 1208 Location: Melo Drama School

Is that calculated on the basis of only one city per country .... and what are the factors that go into the calculation ?

This CNN survey below (2004), which places Istanbul 18th, was simply based on 144 cities in which many multi national companies have offices ... based on typical ex-pat living costs

The factors 'include the monthly rent for a two-bedroom luxury apartment unfurnished, the cost of a hamburger, the price of transportation and entertainment.'

http://money.cnn.com/2004/06/11/pf/costofliving/

Obviously these expenses resemble those of the English teaching ex-pat who eats Kokorec for tea after catching the mini bus home to a shared concrete box ... Smile

thrifty · Joined: 25 Apr 2006 Posts: 1665 Location: chip van

TEFLer as ex-pat-only in the gulf.

Sheikh Inal Ovar · Joined: 04 Dec 2005 Posts: 1208 Location: Melo Drama School

And even there not for much longer it would seem ... the 5 star hotel poolside existence once afforded to the Gulf TEFLer has gone up in smoke as hotels have hoisted their (resident promotional) prices up over 100% ... spectacular deals of a night at the Hilton, Dubai Creek for $50 have long gone ... now you can't even share a hotel with a group of Eastern European tourists for less than $90 ...

The 4 WD will be next .. changed up for a more traditional form of teacher transport ... that battered 3 wheeler, the Reliant Robin ...

Being a Sunday, I'm sure all reading this would like to join me in shedding a tear for those who can no longer afford the life they had become accustomed to ...