Job Discussion Forums

[tarte tatin]

You have asked how cost of living compares with the EU and east Asia.

I would say that it is lower than the EU, although doing a shop in a supermarket comes out much the same, stuff like tea, coffee, butter etc is the same as at home. Fresh produce tends to be cheaper because on the whole they don't import this. Eating out in local restaurants tends to be cheaper too, although if you want a dining experience of western standard you will pay about the same in some neighbourhoods.

Public transport is cheaper as another poster said, although petrol is very expensive in Turkey so if you ever use a car you will pay a lot.

Accommodation tends to be cheaper although in Istanbul it is rising fast so if you get a job with accommodation provided, this is a big plus. Utilities partciulary gas are expensive (I pay more here for gas than I did back home in the winter). Consumer goods are also more expensive than in the west.

You also asked for a comparison with South Korea. Myself and some of my colleagues have lived in Korea and we agree the cost of living is very similar to Seoul, with the exception of more affordable fresh fruit and veg in Istanbul. We all agree that you can save much more in Korea but I think Turkey is a much more interesting country to travel round.

[sanpedro72]

At least the school covers those...I remember paying about $400-500/month during the winter in Korea for gas/electric/water/building maintance. Even though my monthly salary in Turkey is $400 less than in Korea, I am still trying to wonder how possible it is to save if carrying on as sociable spend-thrift. I made $1,750 per month in Latvia after rent and had a tough time saving anything. Groceries were cheap but clothing and electronics prices were relative to UK and Sweden. Eastern Europe has super high inflation. How does Turkey compare?

Do you know anything about the suburbs in the Istanbul province? That's where I'll be, about 40 min south of the city.

Is there a network of expats in Turkey...by which one can couchsurf on the weekends and such and see around the country? It would surely cut travel costs. I heard Marmaris is wonderful but spendy.

[tarte tatin]

Unless you intend to fly everywhere, the amount you can cover in a weekend is limited (think 10 hour bus journeys).

There are nice places not too far from Istanbul that you could get to in a weekend but I don't think Marmaris is one of them. To be honest I think the adjective 'wonderful' is rather an exaggeration, 'pleasant enough but full of tourists eating greasy food' would be my assessment. There are nicer places in the south than Marmaris.

Of course there are a lot of ex-pats living in Istanbul, it is easy to make friends here.