Job Discussion Forums

[thailandreb]

I'm wondering if anyone can add some friendly information on how to get a real cheap (don't care how slummy it is) flat in Istanbul? Each of the dozens of websites I have visited is geared towards bourgeois Western tourists and the flats are preposterously overpriced. I am sure you can find them for more reasonable prices if you know where to look. Thanks for any info!

[lucia79]

Look in Kurtulus and Ferikoy areas. They are not far from Taksim, Sisli Mecidiyekoy and Nisantasi. You can find some apts. on sahibinden.com or hurriyetemlak.com for 750 lira and up. For example:

http://www.hurriyetemlak.com/konut-kiralik/istanbul-sisli-bozkurt-emlakcidan-apartman_dairesi/detay?sParam=KX%2DjiWaZn9k=&list=1&new=1

They are basic apts, and come unfurnished. I had a decent apt. and was paying 700 TL a month, 10 min. away from the metro and 25 min. or so walk to Taksim Sq.

[thailandreb]

Thanks for the reply, Lucia. I appreciate the feedback. I found one fairly decent site with people advertising rooms in their houses/apartments for rent.

http://www.airbnb.com/search?location=K%C3%BC%C3%A7%C3%BCk%20Sk,%20Istanbul,%20Istanbul%2034453,%20Turkey&sort_by=2&number_of_guests=1#modified=true

Some of them are under 500 a month, pretty good deal!

[lucia79]

Thailandreb---I hope it all works out for you. I had a friend who rented a room in Istanbul, but the people turned out to be a little weird and they invaded her privacy and then one day the lady of the house attacked my friend. Needless to say, she left and then she stayed with me until she found her own place. I don't mean to sound like a Debbie-downer, but just make sure the people you rent a room from are good people. Take care.

[_smaug]

Just wanted to say: don't automatically pass over the erasmus flat share situations as I first did. (Thought I was too old to share a place with college kids, but no.)

I'm in a pretty sweet deal with two German students. They've helped me quite a lot -- took me to their university; got me all set up with a pool/gym membership there (cheap) -- total clean freaks, too. = )

So these erasmus deals can be pretty good.

edit to add: find them on craigslist

[thailandreb]

Thx again for the help! I would much prefer my own place, but not sure how long i'll remain in Istanbul (hopefully I can land a job after my upcoming CELTA course, but I may look in Izmir or Ankara, we'll see). And I don't want to pay a lot of money considering I won't be employed for at least the first few months. I have enough saved up to not worry about that, but want to spend as little as possible. The place where my CELTA course will be (hopefully- if I pass my telephone interview), is in Besiktas (sp?)... I think that's the financial district area as I see very few residential advertisements there. So hopefully the transportation system will be efficient enough to get to the school on time each day even if I have to live 10 miles or so away. If not, i'll get a bike. I'm very excited to move to Istanbul!