Job Discussion Forums

[sohniye]

Hello everyone,

If a person lives modestly---cooking vegetarian food for themselves, taking public transportation and has their rent/utilities covered by their employer is it possible to live on 755 Turkish Lira or 500.00 American dollars a month?

Could you please tell me how much the following costs on average per month:

1.) food (vegetables, milk, eggs) for one person per month
2.) Bus/train pass per month
3.) Decent internet connection
4.) cable or Satellite television (international channels?)
5.) "pay as you go" phone

Thank you

[coffeespoonman]

Possible yes... Why you'd want to, I can't imagine. That's a lower wage than public servants are on. Maybe if you're on some kind of research grant...

1) I guess you could eat on 5 TL a day - so 150 a month.

2) It doesn't quite work like that. You'll pay 1.5 one way for most kinds of public transport, so assuming you're lucky enough to only take one, that'll be 3 a day, so about 100 TL a month. There are discount cards available if you're working/studying legally, but they won't make that much difference unless you're transferring between buses, etc.

3) Can be had for 30 TL a month, though with limited downloading. About 50-60 for unlimited.

4) Don't know - but I think you'd be better off streaming from your internet connection.

5) Well, if you don't use it much... 20 TL a month?

So, that makes 300. But this is SUPER FRUGAL. I just have to ask - you're not thinking of accepting a job with that salary are you?

[billy orr]

The minimum legal wage is 630TL per month, and people earning that are below the official poverty line, I believe.

[sohniye]

Thanks for your responses thus far everyone

Nah, Coffeespoonman the job offer I am considering pays considerably more than 755 Turkish Lira a month. However, I am actually thinking of putting 1k on my student loans per month as I want to kill them sooner than later and save on the interest. I also making saving money a huge priority

Thank you for the estimate of costs everyone. I could live on say 700 USD a month for sure then. I can see why living on that amount or less might seem too frugal I just don't know what really I would want to spend more on.... The week is going to be all about work, weekend maybe going out on a modest 'date' (I am Muslim but looking to meet people) or venturing around Istanbul... I am not into buying new clothes all the time and have no expensive hobbies/habits.

Transport to and from work is provided by the employer, apparently so is lunch (not sure about that LOL...I am about 90% vegetarian-halal, otherwise pescaterian )

Cheers,

Sohniye

[bulgogiboy]

[sohniye]

Hi everyone,

At this point I am just trying to figure out what my monthly savings vs. cost of living might be.

I am actually thinking of trying to make a go on living on 700.00 dollars or 1,050 TL per month---with the understanding my rent/utilities are taken care of already.

The suggestion of going to Saudi isn't bad but just because I am Muslim doesn't mean I am going to put up with that. Seriously, I am a western woman and any place that wants me to get a 'permission letter' from my brother/father probably isn't for me. I am very independent and the structure of that society doesn't seem to foster that for any woman.

A lot of my Saudi friends think I should still give it a go, but the reality too is that I am a first year teacher and many of those schools want two years.

I've been to Turkey before and loved it...I blend in pretty well too being 1/2 German and 1/2 Native American

Cheers,

Sohniye

PS. I'll start a Turkish dating thread later...in short do the girl/guy split the bill or?

[wardaw]

Being a woman is definitely an important variable in your equation. It might offend your Western Feminist sensibility (which I'm all for, btw), but it definitely makes going out once or twice a week doable when you have lines of horny guys waiting to pay for you(r drinks).

If that's not your thing, then working like a dog helps. If in addition to your job at a school, you can work weekends and evenings for whomever will pay the most (or the most often). Working all the time has the added bonus of occupying all the time you could be spending money.

But, of course, paying off student loans isn't all you're after, obviously, or if you are a certified teacher, you would just stay home.

[bulgogiboy]

[sohniye]

Thanks for the responses everyone

I'll update this thread or start a new one in August and tell you how it's working out. Until then I am going to try living on 1, 050 TL a month....scarrrrry

[Teacher Journey]

I see that you have received a good amount of feedback. I would just like to add that 755TL being a vegetarian is very possible because meat is very expensive in Turkey and you have cut out a major expense by default. I lived in Turkey last year, in Adapazari. Now granted it was very, very cheap compared to Istanbul, but I still did not find Istanbul to be that expensive being from America. Compared to Adapazari, yes, Istanbul is a rip off, but still very cheap if you know where to shop. I barely spent 1000 TL every month because I bought stuff I didn�t really need like clothes and shoes and I eat a lot, a lot of expensive meat . I eat like 5 times a day. And I was traveling to Istanbul to hang out. If go back I know I could spend at least 200TL less than that living in Istanbul on the Asian side where things are cheaper out of the main areas. Given your lifestyle and inexpensive diet you should do fine. And even if you are on the European side you can still find everything you need at a cheaper price. And lots of fruits and veggies are cheap in Turkey.
Being that you blend in, learn the language quick and get the Turkish price. I am not that lucky but I learned the language and that got me the Turkish, non � foreigner prices and a lot of free stuff.

[sohniye]

[coffeespoonman]

Bargaining doesn't seem to be as prevalent here as it used to be... Or maybe I just tend to shop in proper stores with marked prices these days - not sure which. Of course you can bargain with people on the street, but not being a tourist, you're not likely to shop on the street very often.

There are some 1 Lira stores, but they're not as common as in Europe. The kind of shops you probably want are usually called "hediyelik". The word for sale is "indirim", and you'll often see things like "2 al 1 �de" which basically means "buy one get one free".

The cheap supermarket chains are Dia, Bim and Şok. Carrefour is usually a good option because they have Carrefour brand stuff, which is often, but not always, cheaper than the other brands. Tchibo is a good place to get cheap coffee beans, if that's important to you. It obviously is to me.

If price is really important, stay away from the little corner shops (bakkal). They're really convenient and will even deliver to your door, but usually charge more than supermarkets or bazaars. In fact, bazaars are your best bet for almost anything, but with limited Turkish skills, I'd be careful.