Job Discussion Forums

refazenda · Posted: Thu May 20, 2004 1:45 pm Post subject: Cost of living in Istanbul

I was recently offered a teaching position in Istanbul that pays approximately 1100 USD per month, plus a housing allowance in lira. Is it reasonable for a family of three (small child) to be able to live on this salary? What is a decent housing allowance? My spouse is going to stay at home to care for our child. Thanks for your responses.

FGT · Joined: 14 Sep 2003 Posts: 762 Location: Turkey

For this academic year that would be towards the bottom end of affordable, though it depends on where you are and also how much they pay for accommodation - 250 million plus (for Izmir - more in Istanbul).

Turkish inflation has got much better in recent years but is still running at about 28% per annum (official), so, if it's for next year.....?!!!?

refazenda · Posted: Fri May 21, 2004 1:57 am Post subject: cost of living minus housing

Okay, I am assuming the housing allowance will cover housing (I know, it is possibly a false assumption, but I want to split out that cost from my salary). Assuming that housing is covered, we're talking salary being able to cover all other costs, and maybe save a little. Unrealistic? Do we need to put my spouse to work? Smile

Mike_2003 · Joined: 27 Mar 2003 Posts: 344 Location: Bucharest, Romania

It's very hard to say if it'll be enough or not. Prices, even in Istanbul, vary considerably from district to distrist, shop to shop. The following figures are only based on my experience (3-bedroomed house in middle-class area) but they might give you an idea:

Aidat (building expenses): 50-200mTL (includes heating, top figure for winter)
Water: 25mTL
Electricity: 70mTL
Phone (including international calls and net): 100-150mTL
Week's food shopping (one person, excl. meals out): 50mTL

So for the basics, two people could probably get by living quite simply for $400-600 a month. You need to add to that the expense of your child which I imagine will depend largely on his/her age. Having no kids myself I have no idea of how much the price of child-related goods are, but I expect it will be possible on that sum. Will he/she require schooling?

Mike

JM · Joined: 11 Feb 2003 Posts: 7

Rent is where it will hurt the most: you'll be lucky to find a flat suitable for your needs at less than 800-900million TL per month...unfurnished. At least, that's the experience some of my returnee friends have had and I'm not talking about posh areas! You'll probably be able to live on your salary but you certainly won't be able to save anything and your child's routine health checks and vaccinations will be very expensive.

vre · Joined: 17 Mar 2004 Posts: 371

$1100 is 1.7 billion tl today.

1.7 billion- Istanbul

I have been estimated 650 -800 million on a SMALL furnished flat. All other house expenses were estimated at 400 million.

Food, clothes and transport, health and saving for flights/ hols/ rainy days/ birthdays/ emergencies etc will EASILY eat the rest. If you are very, very careful, (pasta and bread) you may survive as a family of 3 on that. But dont expect to have anything left at the end or to live a luxurious lifestyle on that.

good luck!

lucy k · Joined: 06 May 2003 Posts: 82 Location: istanbul, turkey

Prices in Istanbul seem to just keep going up. Rent is getting higher everywhere. I'll echo what the other posters have said: you can probably live on that salary, I know many Turkish people live on that and much less, but it will be very hard to save anything, and I would guess you'd have to stick to a pretty set budget. Istanbul isn't really the cheap place it used to be! Crying or Very sad

refazenda

Just to reiterate, I will get a separate housing allowance. I have pretty good information that the allowance will cover my housing, so the 1100USD will have to cover everyhing but housing.