Cost of Living in Turkey in Autumn 2026: Rent, Groceries, Utilities and Budget

"How much money do you need to live in Turkey?" is one of the first questions people ask before moving. The answer has changed a lot in recent years: prices in lira rose very fast, and in dollar terms Turkey is no longer as cheap as it used to be.

We have gathered the latest data for autumn 2026: what is happening with inflation, what rent, groceries and utilities cost, and what monthly budget you need.

Inflation: slowing, but still high

According to TÜİK, annual inflation in September 2026 was 29.73%. That is the lowest figure in almost five years, but prices are still rising by nearly a third a year. By main category:

• food: +27.6% year on year;

• housing and utilities: +40.0%;

• transport: +35.1%.

What matters most to people relocating is getting more expensive fastest: housing and everything that comes with it.

The lira, the dollar and your expenses

In early October 2026 a dollar cost about 49 lira. The key point is that the lira is weakening more slowly than prices are rising. For anyone earning in dollars or euros, this means life in Turkey has become more expensive in currency terms over the past few years. So budgets from blog posts two or three years old no longer work.

Rent is the biggest expense

According to Endeksa, average monthly rent in August 2026 was:

• Istanbul: 45,510 lira;

• Muğla (Bodrum, Fethiye, Marmaris): 40,940 lira;

• Ankara: 34,440 lira;

• İzmir: 33,369 lira;

• Antalya: 29,306 lira;

• Bursa: 24,207 lira;

• Turkey average: 28,040 lira.

These are averages for the whole market. Furnished apartments in seaside complexes, which foreigners usually look for, cost more. More on prices and neighborhoods in our articles on renting in Istanbul and on renting in Antalya and Alanya.

Groceries

Every month the Türk-İş trade union calculates how much a family of four needs for a minimally healthy diet. In September 2026 this "hunger line" was 37,801 lira a month, and the "poverty line", which includes housing, clothing, transport and other costs, was 123,130 lira. For comparison, the 2026 net minimum wage is 28,075.50 lira.

How to save on groceries:

• Street markets (pazar). Every neighborhood has a weekly market. Vegetables, fruit, cheese, olives and herbs there are fresher and usually cheaper than in supermarkets.

• Discount chains. Chains such as BİM, A101 and ŞOK are cheaper than big supermarkets for basics.

• Seasonality. Local seasonal produce costs a fraction of imported produce.

• Imports and alcohol are expensive because of taxes. Familiar foreign products can cost noticeably more than at home.

Utilities

• Electricity. In 2026 a kilowatt-hour for homes cost about 3.4 lira at low consumption and about 5 lira above the limit. On the coast the main load is air conditioning in summer and winter.

• Gas. In Istanbul, Ankara and Bursa apartments are usually heated with gas, and winter bills are noticeably higher than summer ones.

• Water, internet and mobile: steady monthly costs to include in your budget.

• Aidat: the building or complex maintenance fee. In complexes with a pool and security it can be substantial.

We covered all the regular payments for owners and tenants in detail in our article on the costs of running an apartment in Turkey.

Transport, health and schools

• Public transport in big cities is relatively cheap, especially with a transport card. A car, by contrast, is expensive: high purchase taxes and fuel.

• Health insurance is required for a residence permit, and its cost depends heavily on age and coverage.

• Private schools are a major expense for families. We listed fees for the 2026/27 school year in our article on moving to Turkey with children.

An approximate monthly budget

Below is our rough estimate for a couple without children who rent a furnished apartment and live without luxury but also without strict saving. It is not official statistics, just a guide for planning.

Antalya

• rent for a furnished 1+1 or 2+1: 30,000–40,000 lira;

• utilities, internet and mobile: 5,000–8,000 lira;

• groceries: 20,000–28,000 lira;

• transport: 3,000–6,000 lira;

• cafés, household items, the unexpected: 10,000–15,000 lira.

Total: roughly 70,000–95,000 lira a month, about $1,400–1,950.

Istanbul

• rent in a central district: 45,000–65,000 lira;

• utilities with winter heating, internet and mobile: 6,000–10,000 lira;

• groceries: 22,000–30,000 lira;

• transport: 4,000–7,000 lira;

• cafés, household items, the unexpected: 12,000–18,000 lira.

Total: roughly 90,000–130,000 lira a month, about $1,850–2,650.

The main way to save is not on groceries but on rent. An area a bit further from the sea or the center but close to transport can save you more than any supermarket discount.

FAQ

Is Turkey expensive to live in in 2026?

In lira, prices are rising 25–40% a year depending on the category. In dollar terms Turkey has become more expensive, but it remains cheaper than many Western European countries, especially outside Istanbul.

Which city is the cheapest to live in?

Among those popular with foreigners, Mersin and smaller coastal towns. More in our Mersin real estate guide.

Is $1,000 a month enough for one person?

In Antalya or Mersin, modestly yes, if you rent an inexpensive apartment. In central Istanbul, hardly.

What is getting more expensive fastest?

Housing and utilities: as of September 2026 they were up 40% year on year.

If you are still choosing a city, compare the options in our overview of the best cities to live in Turkey.

Find a home within your budget on Homeviona

In the Long-term rent and Buy sections you can filter properties by price and see right away what your money can get you in different Turkish cities.

Renting out or selling a home? Post a listing on Homeviona and state what is included in the price: aidat, utilities, internet. People planning a relocation budget count every item and choose clear offers.

In short

• Inflation in September 2026 was 29.73%, the lowest in almost five years.

• Housing and utilities are rising fastest, up 40% in a year.

• Average rent: Istanbul 45,500 lira, Antalya 29,300, Turkey 28,000.

• A couple in Antalya needs roughly 70,000–95,000 lira a month, in Istanbul 90,000–130,000.

• Save on rent and market produce, not on safety and paperwork.