Job Discussion Forums

elliot_spencer · Joined: 26 Feb 2007 Posts: 495

I've just done a search on the cost of living in Istanbul and noticed that the City Mayors: cost of living - states that Istanbul is infact more expensive than Paris and Dublin, is this true?

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

These figures are based on what western ex-pat professionals and their families spend. You will not be one of those. International schools, compound style housing, good medical care, nice cars etc. are very expensive here. I find Turkey quite expensive now compared with the Middle East. It is way more expensive than it was in the nineties yet the salary you are quoting is the same.

elliot_spencer · Joined: 26 Feb 2007 Posts: 495

OK, thanks for that - do you know how the price compares to Italy mainly cities in the south such as Naples?

Thanks

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

I have never been to Italy but I imagine you would be better off in Istanbul. The basics tend to be cheap here but gas, petrol, electricity, new cars, electrical equipment, ex-pat type things are expensive. I have worked with refugees from TEFL in Italy and I think anywhere in Western Europe and increasingly Eastern Europe is hopeless for a TEFLer. I have no idea about your situation-perhaps it would be a good idea if you gave us some idea.

dagi · Joined: 01 Jan 2004 Posts: 425

imho, Naples is more expensive than Istanbul. When I was there I was surprised to find out how pricey things were there.
Some things in Istanbul I find outrageously expensive. Gas, water and electricity bills for instance. But other things are still very cheap compared to major cities in Western Europe.
It's all a matter how balanced your needs are. If you tend to need everything that you are used to from back home it is expensive, but the more turkish style things you throw into it the cheaper it gets.

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

Are you sure that the apartment manager/landlord isn't ripping you off with the water bills? Water here is cheap. How much are you paying?

yaramaz · Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2007 6:35 am Post subject:

We pay 5ytl each for water in my flat for the two of us each month, and we have a depo for when the water is cut off.

As for Istanbul being more expensive than Paris or Dublin, it seems a bit implausible- I haven't lived in Paris but I have lived in Dublin (admittedly before the boom, so both costs and wages were lower) and I've had no trouble living well and saving in Istanbul. Dublin wasn't easy, and I rarely had money to spare. I'm a lot more likely to be able to afford the down payment on a flat here than there- I know two teachers (both women, both here at least a decade) who have bought flats in the last year or so on a tefl wage.

It depends on how you live, what you expect or need, what you spend. I have friends who are broke before the end of the month, every month- I put aside 1000ytl each month automatically and still feel fairly free to go out and eat, drink, be merry, and I don't feel restricted in my spending. However, I don't drink a lot, I don't smoke, I have few needs for specifically western products, and my main vices are buying books, bootleg dvds, and funky clothes from the home-made clothes guy in galatasaray and going out for a few drinks or coffee with friends. Last year I travelled a lot using some of the money I had saved up- I was able to stop working for about 5 non consecutive months and go travelling. This is something I really like about my life here.

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

yaramaz · Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2007 7:25 am Post subject:

Just because I don't have kids or a car or a fancy gym membership doesn't mean I'm a backpacker- it just means that I have other priorities. To each their own.

dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397

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

How are any of these cost of living surveys for ex-pat businesspeople relevant to you? Is your employer paying you based on one?

dagi · Joined: 01 Jan 2004 Posts: 425

thrifty, it is mainly the gas bil that shocked me, not so much the water bill.

Those cost-of living surveys are as thrifty says based on expatriates needs. They do include the costs of living based on people wanting an equal life-style than home. It means eating the same food products than at home, doing the same things, having the same style of flat or house, etc.
If you go shopping here and just shop western style products and brands it is insanely expensive. Same for flats, cars, sports gyms etc.

Before I moved here from Amsterdam I was told that Istanbul is way more expensive. Something that I found hard to believe and I still think it is not true. However I stopped eating Kellog's cornflakes and drinking Illy espresso every day, since I am not willing to fork out that much money for stuff like that.
I earn about the same than what I earned in Amsterdam. While I could barely make ends meet there I am able to save a bit money here.

dagi · Joined: 01 Jan 2004 Posts: 425

"I know two teachers (both women, both here at least a decade) who have bought flats in the last year or so on a tefl wage. "

Just curious. Are you sure they bought the flats on their TEFL wage? The ones I know who bought a flats here owned houses in the UK and took an extra mortgage on their UK houses to buy flats here.

dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397

yaramaz · Posted: Mon Apr 09, 2007 5:49 am Post subject:

Dagi, they did buy on tefl wages-- buy they are very experienced and well qualified teachers who have been here for ages, know the language, have the contacts, earn a good salary,etc. I guess they were able to save up a deposit, take out a mortgage, and do it. The monthly payments are about the same as renting. They are single, with no plans for kids, and intend to stay for life (they are both in their 40s).