Move to Turkey
from the UK
Roughly 34,000 Brits already live here, drawn by living costs 40-55% below the UK, a State Pension that remains index-linked, four-hour flights from Gatwick, and private healthcare which is the stuff of medical tourism legend. Residence permits are no longer as simple as they used to be.
At a Glance
- Capital
- Ankara
- UK Expats
- ~34,000
- Local Time
- Ankara
- Flight Time
- 4h direct
- Temperature
- 18°C now
GBP → TRY · 12 months
↑ +19.4%£1 = ₺61.6
47%
Cheaper than UK
cost of living
40%
English Spoken
4/10
Visa Ease
B
Safety
Medium
Expat Community
Good
Healthcare
Overview
Are you considering moving to Turkey from the UK?
Could it be for the gloriously hot, sunny climate?
The stunning mountain pastures, glittering Mediterranean coastline, sun kissed sandy beaches, or the swathes of scented pine forests, olive groves and crystalline lakes? Is it the wealth of architectural wonders or the atmospheric bazaars? Or maybe it’s the fact that Turkey has some of the most mouthwatering cuisine in the world?
Turkey has all this and much more which makes it one of the top expat destinations in the Med.
It’s cheaper than Spain in plenty of places, warmer in winter than you’d expect, a four-hour flight from Gatwick - and your UK State Pension still goes up every year here.
(Move to Australia or Canada and it gets frozen. Bit of a difference!)
There are, however, some obvious drawbacks. The bureaucracy is enough to have an expat yearning for the smooth-operating dealings of HMRC, the struggling lira doesn’t so much fluctuate as wobble about like a shopping trolley with a knackered wheel, and those residence permits everyone told you were "dead easy"… well, that’s not really the case anymore.
As for the British community, it clusters on the Mediterranean and Aegean coasts.
Fethiye holds the crown with roughly 3,500 registered British residents - enough that locals call it Küçük İngiltere (Little England). The town's shopping streets include Turkish shops named "Tesko," "Azda," and "Marc Spenger" without a trace of irony.
Didim earned the "Little Britain" nickname decades ago with English breakfasts on every corner and darts leagues, seemingly to keep the punters coming back for more and more home comforts.
Istanbul, by contrast, has a scattered community of professionals who'd never dream of living in a resort town.
The pace of life is generally slower - a Turkish "five minutes" means thirty, minimum. You will hear the call to prayer five times daily. The driving is… absolutely terrifying.
But the moment you've decided you can't take any more, your neighbour will leave home-grown aubergines on your doorstep, invite you for dinner, and you'll remember exactly why you moved. The hospitality is just wonderful, the people… warm and friendly.
The food is also quite extraordinary all across Turkey, a real highlight.
Healthcare is another strong suit - the country has forged a reputation as a medical tourism hotspot for good reason!
More on that below…
Who is Turkey for? Budget-conscious retirees with pension income in sterling. Remote workers earning in GBP or USD. People willing to learn Turkish. Couples who visited in January, not just August, before committing. Not for anyone expecting Spain with mosques, people who need everything to work exactly as planned, or those whose social life depends on a British bubble that thins dramatically between October and March.
Watch: Life in Turkey
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The Foreigner Experience In Istanbul, Turkey
Luxury Living In Turkey
Visas & Immigration
Brits can enter Turkey visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
No e-visa needed, no fee, just your passport with at least 150 days' validity. This part is easy.
The complications start when you want to stay longer - and the rules have tightened considerably since 2022 - when Turkey started closing off entire neighbourhoods to new foreign residents and taking a much harder line on who actually gets approved.
Tourist Entry (Visa-Free)
Tourist Entry (Visa-Free)
Show up with a valid passport. No working permitted. British citizens can visit the country visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period for tourism or business. Your passport must be valid for at least 150 days from arrival. If you hold another type of British passport, check requirements with the Turkish Embassy or Consulate before travel.
90 days in 180
Free
Short-Term Residence Permit
Short-Term Residence Permit
The standard route for longer stays. Apply online via e-İkamet, attend appointment at Provincial Migration office, wait up to 90 days. Need health insurance - official guidance allows Turkish or international cover, and the e‑İkamet application also accepts SGK or bilateral-agreement coverage where applicable. Proof of sufficient and regular financial means is required (at least 1.5× minimum wage). At time of writing, Istanbul is effectively closed to new tourist permits in many districts. Cannot leave Turkey for more than 120 days/year.
Up to 2 years (renewable)
~£200-400 total (varies)
Digital Nomad Visa
Digital Nomad Visa
Launched April 2024. Current route starts with a Digital Nomad Identification Certificate. UK nationals aged 21–55 can apply if they have a passport valid for at least 6 months from arrival, a university degree, proof of qualifying remote work for non-Turkish clients/employers, and income of at least USD 3,000 per month or USD 36,000 per year. If you plan to stay longer than 90 days, you must also complete the residence-permit stage with Migration Management.
1 year (renewable once)
~£600+ (including insurance)
Work Permit
Work Permit
Requires Turkish employer sponsorship. In many cases, employer must have at least five Turkish employees per foreign worker. Certain professions - dentistry, pharmacy, law, veterinary - are reserved exclusively for Turkish citizens. Processing 4–8 weeks. A work permit automatically serves as a residence permit.
1 year initially (renewable)
~£200+ (plus consular fees)
Family Reunification
Family Reunification
For spouses and children of Turkish citizens or legal residents. Both spouses must be over 18. A foreign spouse married to a Turkish citizen for at least three years may apply for citizenship. As of June 2024, foreigners normally must hold a Residence ID card before getting married in Turkey (exact requirements varies by municipality). Marriage to a Turkish citizen does not automatically give citizenship. A foreign spouse can apply after at least 3 years of marriage if the marriage is ongoing and the other statutory conditions are met.
Up to 3 years
Varies
Investment / Property Route
Investment / Property Route
Property worth $200,000+ grants a residence permit not subject to district quotas — significant in Istanbul. $400,000+ in real estate qualifies for Turkish citizenship (including spouse and children under 18) with a 3-year hold period. Bank deposits of $500,000+ or creating 50+ jobs also qualify. Turkey allows dual nationality — you keep your British passport.
Varies → citizenship possible
$200,000-500,000+
Permanent residence kicks in after eight years of continuous legal stay. Citizenship by naturalisation comes a bit quicker - five years, plus basic Turkish and meeting the usual conditions.
On paper, both get you most of the way there in terms of rights.
But they’re not identical.
Long-term residents get broad access to things like healthcare and work, but there are still limits - you can’t vote, you can’t hold public office, and some rights are reserved strictly for citizens.
Citizenship, on the other hand, gives you the full package.
Best visa advice: Rent first - ideally for at least six months - before buying property or locking yourself into one area. Turkey looks very different in January than it does in August, and what feels perfect on a two-week holiday can feel very different long-term. Rules change, enforcement changes, and outcomes can vary by location - so what worked for your mate a couple of years ago might not work for you now!
Cost of Living
Turkey is a big country, and costs vary more than most people expect. Istanbul can easily cost a premium of around 50-100% above the national average for rent, while somewhere like Didim might come in 30% below.
So take any “Turkey is cheap” claim with a pinch of salt - where you live matters a lot!
That said, as a rough UK comparison, Numbeo’s national averages give a decent breakdown that we can use to make some comparisons:
| Category | Turkey | UK avg | Saving |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-bed flat, city centre | £418/mo | £1,019/mo | 59% |
| 3-bed flat, city centre | £706/mo | £1,680/mo | 58% |
| Meal out (for 2, mid-range) | £30 | £65 | 54% |
| Beer (pint, restaurant) | £2.50 | £5.00 | 50% |
| Monthly transport pass | £31 | £75 | 59% |
| Utilities (standard flat, monthly) | £49 | £240 | 80% |
| Gym membership (monthly) | £38 | £35 | -8% |
| International school (annual) | £5,000–19,500 | £16,593 | ~40% |
Source: Numbeo, April 2026. Exchange rate: £1 = 60.08 TRY.
Where Turkey saves you serious money
Utilities are usually the biggest win - still far cheaper than the UK, even with recent price rises.
Rent looks much lower on paper, but we have to stress that Istanbul can creep up to the level of cheaper UK cities if you want something modern and central.
Groceries are generally cheaper, especially if you shop local. Fresh produce, meat, and staples cost noticeably less, and the quality is often better - the kind of tomatoes that actually taste like something again!
Eating out is where it really adds up: a solid meal for two might set you back £25-40 in most places, and at a local lokanta you can eat properly for a few quid.
As always, your salary goes further when you eat like the locals!
Where Turkey doesn't save
Imported goods are an easy way to pump up your monthly outgoings.
Alcohol is heavily taxed (don’t move here expecting bargain wine), and anything imported - electronics, cars, even certain branded foods - comes with a hefty markup.
There are also a few hidden costs that catch people out. Foreign phones need to be registered if you want to keep using them long-term, and the fee is eye-watering (tens of thousands of lira as of 2026).
Gyms and some lifestyle extras are not too far apart from UK prices, especially in bigger cities.
Realistic monthly budgets
These estimates are based on the latest Numbeo cost-of-living comparisons.
Your own costs may vary considerably, depending on where you choose to live, schooling choices, etc.
- Single person, comfortable: £800-900/month - one-bed outside city centre £310, groceries £150, utilities £60, eating out £100
- Couple, city-centre flat: £1,200-1,400/month - one-bed £418, groceries £250, eating out/social £200, health insurance £100
- Family of four, international school: £2,400-2,800/month - three-bed £706, school fees ~£800/month, groceries £300, health insurance £200
A retired couple living on two UK State Pensions (roughly £2,000/month combined) can still live comfortably in many coastal towns - especially if you’re not chasing a brand-new apartment in a prime location.
You’re not living like royalty, but you’re not worrying about the weekly shop either.
That said, whatever number you’ve got in your head, add 15–20% on top for the stuff nobody really warns you about. Think admin costs, notary fees, sworn translations, residence permit paperwork, and the general “foreigner tax” of doing anything official, which all adds up rather fats in this part of the world.
The First 3 Months: Your regular monthly budget is only half the story. The first few months in Turkey come with a stack of one-off costs - residence permit fees, notary and translation costs, deposits on rent, setting up utilities, and possibly registering your phone. It adds up quickly. A safe rule? Bring an extra £1,500-3,000 as a buffer for one-off costs.
Climate
Weather data for Ankara, Turkey. 30-year averages from Open-Meteo (1991–2020).
Average Monthly Temperature (°C)
Average Monthly Rainfall (mm)
Right Now in Ankara
Clear sky
Feels Like
16°C
Humidity
36%
Wind
11 km/h
Hottest Month
Aug (32°C)
Coldest Month
Jan (-3°C)
Wettest Month
Nov (69mm)
Driest Month
Aug (6mm)
Annual Rainfall
466mm
Avg Temperature
8–19°C
Where to Live
Turkey’s glorious capital city, Istanbul is the cultural, economic and financial hub of the country, and boasts superb schools, an excellent public transport system, and a large expat community.
Istanbul sits proudly astride two continents, uniting east and west, and features a magical landscape of towering minarets and glittering churches, mosques, and palaces.
The city offers an impressive array of galleries, museums and festivals to enjoy, as well as fabulous restaurants, great nightlife, bustling bazaars, cafés and boutiques.
Beyond Istanbul, things slow down considerably - and that’s exactly why most Brits head for the coast.
Antalya is the closest thing to a “proper city by the sea” - modern infrastructure, big hospitals, shopping malls, and beaches on your doorstep. Fethiye is the classic expat favourite, with a big British community and an easy, settled lifestyle.
Bodrum is a bit more upmarket - marinas, beach clubs, and rising prices to match.
Some flock to İzmir, slightly more low-key and local, often described as Turkey’s most European-feeling city.
And then there’s Didim, which doesn’t pretend to be anything other than what it is: cheap and cheerful, with some distinctly British pockets.
Antalya
Real city infrastructure with beach access - modern hospitals, malls, tram network, and 300+ days of sunshine. More internationally mixed than Fethiye. Summers are brutally hot.
2.7M (province)
£1,000–1,400/mo
Bodrum
Turkey's answer to Saint-Tropez. White-and-blue architecture, yachting culture, and a liberal atmosphere. Now Turkey's most expensive coastal option - rental prices have surged 300–400% in peak season.
~200K (swells to 500K+ in summer)
£1,200–1,700/mo
Didim (Altinkum)
The cheapest option and the most British - full English breakfasts, darts leagues, property from £35,000. You can live here without a word of Turkish. Basic infrastructure, no nearby airport, and very quiet winters. Under a grand a month for budget-conscious retirees.
~100K
£700–1,000/mo
Fethiye
One of the largest British expat communities in Turkey. English spoken almost everywhere, established social infrastructure, stunning natural surroundings including Ölüdeniz. Quiet winters and healthcare means a transfer to Antalya for anything serious.
~150K (district)
£900–1,300/mo
Istanbul
Two continents, world-class restaurants, proper career opportunities, and the best hospitals in the country. Also soul-crushing traffic, grey damp winters, and the highest costs in Turkey. Mostly for working professionals.
15.7M
£1,500–2,000/mo
İzmir
Turkey's most secular, liberal, European-feeling major city. Gorgeous Kordon waterfront, outstanding food scene, and weekend escapes to Çeşme. Small British community - suits self-sufficient types who want Turkish life, not a British bubble.
4.4M (province)
£1,000–1,400/mo
Healthcare
Turkey’s private healthcare is very good - and for most expats, it’s where you’ll end up. It’s modern, widely available in major cities, and far more accessible than UK private care in terms of speed.
The country’s reputation as a hotbed of medical tourism is not by accident.
You can usually get appointments quickly, facilities are solid, and the overall experience certainly feels efficient.
Big hospital groups like Acıbadem, Memorial, and Anadolu Medical Center (which has links with Johns Hopkins Medicine) are some of the names you’ll hear most.
In cities like Istanbul, Ankara, and Antalya, the standard is high. Outside those areas… it can vary.
Choose your location wisely if you have specific medical needs.
What things cost
While it’s true that costs are lower than the UK for many types of surgery (particularly cosmetic!), in many cases, it’s not always as cheap as the media hype suggests - especially at the top-tier hospitals.
- A private GP visit: roughly £30-70
- Specialist consultation: £100-250 depending on hospital and doctor
- Private hospital stay: varies widely, but often £100-300+ per night for standard care
- Medications: inexpensive, especially for common prescriptions
- Dental care: it remains much cheaper than the UK, which is why Turkey remains such a major destination for dental tourism
The public system (SGK)
After one year of legal residence, expats can apply to join Turkey’s public healthcare system (SGK).
The monthly premium is set in lira (so it fluctuates in GBP), and it gives you access to state hospitals, subsidised treatment, and cheaper prescriptions.
It works - yes, but it’s not what most expats rely on day-to-day.
Expect busier hospitals, longer waits, and limited English outside major cities. Most people use SGK as a safety net and go private when they want speed or convenience.
Health insurance
Health insurance is required for residence permit applications, but it doesn’t have to be a Turkish-only policy. Local policies are the cheapest option and will tick the visa box… but they’re usually very basic.
If you want proper cover - especially if you’re older or want access to the best private hospitals - international insurance is what most expats end up opting for.
It’s not cheap, but it removes a lot of stress if something serious happens.
What's worse than the NHS
In teams of weak points…
Mental health services are still developing, particularly outside major cities. Access can be limited, and English-speaking specialists aren’t always easy to find. You’ll probably have more luck finding somebody back home on Zoom.
There’s also a clear urban–rural divide.
In Istanbul, Ankara, and İzmir you’ll find excellent care. In smaller towns, options are more limited and you may need to travel for anything complex.
And a key point a lot of people miss: the UK’s EHIC/GHIC cards don’t work here.
You’re on your own unless you’ve arranged proper cover.
The emergency number is 112.
Common expat approach: Buy a cheap local policy (£15-50/year) to satisfy the residence permit, then invest in comprehensive international insurance (£1,500-3,000/year) for your actual healthcare cover. After year one, enrol in SGK for base coverage and use private insurance to supplement where needed.
Tax
Turkey uses a progressive income tax system, with rates currently ranging from 15% up to 40%.
As a rule of thumb, you become tax resident if you spend more than 183 days in the country in a calendar year.
Once you’re resident, you’re taxed on your worldwide income.
The Article 23/14 sweet spot
So, you will probably hear a lot about a “tax loophole” for remote workers - which is usually referring to an exemption under Article 23/14 of Turkish tax law.
In simple terms, there is an exemption for certain foreign-paid employment income. But it’s narrower than many of your YouTubers and bloggers make out.
It generally applies where you’re employed by a company based outside Turkey, paid from abroad in foreign currency, and your salary isn’t tied to a Turkish entity.
If everything lines up, that income may not be taxed in Turkey. But - and this is important - it’s not a blanket “live in Turkey tax-free” rule, and it doesn’t apply in the same way to freelancers or contractors.
Best advice we can give here is that you seek out professional advice for your specific situation before banking on any net tax gain.
Freelancers and contractors
If you’re self-employed, invoicing clients directly, or running your own setup, you’re typically taxed in Turkey under the standard progressive system.
That means registering properly and paying income tax and social contributions locally.
UK-Turkey Double Taxation Agreement
Turkey and the UK have a long-standing tax treaty which is designed to prevent you being taxed twice on the same income.
How does this work?
- UK State Pension and most private pensions are usually taxed in your country of residence (Turkey, if you’ve moved)
- UK government pensions remain taxable in the UK
- UK rental income is taxed in the UK, with Turkey generally giving credit for tax already paid
UK State Pension status
Good news here…
Turkey is one of the countries where your UK State Pension is fully index-linked. You’ll continue to receive annual increases (the famous “triple lock”), just as if you were living in the UK.
Capital gains on property
Turkey has a useful rule here: if you hold a property for more than five years, any capital gain on sale is generally exempt from tax. Sell earlier, and the gain is treated as income and taxed accordingly.
When you buy, there’s also a title deed transfer tax of 4% of the declared value (typically split between buyer and seller, though in practice this is often negotiated).
Common tax mistake: don’t assume you’re truly “tax-free” without checking properly! A lot of Brits arrive thinking they won’t pay tax anywhere — and that’s where problems start. Becoming non-UK resident doesn’t automatically mean you owe nothing, and Turkey’s rules aren’t as loose as some guides make out. If you’re working remotely or have multiple income sources, get proper advice early.
Families & Schools
Turkish culture is family-oriented and, as we’ve mentioned, the hospitality makes for a wonderful place to raise kids.
Kids are welcomed pretty much everywhere - restaurants, public spaces, neighbours’ homes - and there’s a relaxed, outdoor lifestyle that suits younger children especially well. Safety is generally good in the areas most expats choose.
The trade-off is schooling.
Outside Istanbul, international options drop off really quickly.
Obviously, if education is a priority, this is one of the biggest decisions you’ll make, and it’s hard to look beyond the capital.
International schools
Istanbul is where most of the serious options are:
- British International School Istanbul (BISI): The standout for British families. COBIS, CIS, and Middle States accredited. English National Curriculum through Cambridge IGCSE into IB Diploma. Fees £16,000-35,000/year. Prices rise dramatically for older years. Near 100% IB pass rate.
- MEF International School (Istanbul): Cambridge IGCSE/A-Levels. Slightly more accessible financially but still pricy.
- Robert College (Istanbul): One of Turkey's most prestigious institutions, but it follows the Turkish system. Fees from £17K+.
- Antalya International School: Cambridge International. The main option outside Istanbul.
State schools
State schools are free and open to foreign children, but everything is in Turkish and there’s very little language support.
Unless your child is immersed with the language from an early age, it’s certainly not a recommended path for expat families.
Childcare
Childcare is certainly a bargain compared to the UK.
Hiring help is affordable by UK standards (a full-time live-out nanny costs £300-500/month), and many expat families go down that route.
Nurseries and private childcare options vary widely in quality and price, especially outside major cities.
Practicalities
Transport
Covering 302,535 square miles, Turkey is a truly vast country.
So vast that we can only really talk for specific regions:
Istanbul’s public transport is one of the best things about the city - metro, tram, ferry, funicular, all running off a single Istanbulkart. It’s cheap, reliable (by big-city standards), and if you choose to settle here, you will almost certainly use it a lot.
Antalya has a decent and growing tram network, but once you’re outside the big cities, it’s mostly dolmuş (shared minibuses). They’re a little bit crazy… but cheap to use.
As for driving, your UK driving licence is valid for six months. After that, you’ll need to convert it to a Turkish one. There’s no driving test, but there’s paperwork involved. Once you’re on the roads - watch out: some of the driving is really, really bad.
For taxis, BiTaksi is the go-to app; while Uber does exist, it’s basically just licensed taxis through the app.
Phone and internet
There are three main mobile providers: Turkcell (best coverage), Vodafone Turkey, and Türk Telekom. Prices are low by UK standards, and coverage is solid in populated areas.
Home internet is also affordable, though speeds and reliability can vary depending on where you are.
The catch - and it catches a lot of people - is foreign phones. If you bring your UK phone and want to use it long-term with a Turkish SIM, it needs to be registered. The fee is steep (tens of thousands of lira as of 2026), which is why many expats just buy a local handset instead.
Banking
First step: get a Turkish Tax Identification Number - it’s free and can be done online.
Opening a bank account is straightforward once you’ve got that, though some banks are a lot more foreigner-friendly than others. Garanti BBVA seems to be a popular choice for its English support (and a decent app).
Language
You can get by with English in tourist areas and expat-heavy towns - places like Fethiye or Didim are very forgiving on stubborn Brits abroad.
Step outside that bubble, though, and it changes quickly. In residential parts of Istanbul, government offices, or anything involving tradespeople… Turkish makes a big difference. You’ll likely end up paying much more without it - in both time and money.
You don’t need to be fluent, but learning the basics will massively improve your day-to-day life.
Unfortunately, it’s quite a tough language to master - rated a Category III by FSI, requiring roughly 1,100 class hours to get proficient.
Property
Foreigners can buy property in Turkey without needing a residence permit, and the process is relatively quick compared to the UK.
That said, don’t treat it as completely frictionless.
There are restrictions (including location limits and legal checks), and transaction costs will normally land somewhere in the mid single digits once everything’s included.
Mortgage rates in Turkey are extremely high in lira, so most Brits either buy outright or use funds from the UK.
Our golden rule still applies: rent first - ideally for at least six months - before committing.
Pets
Moving pets post-Brexit takes a bit of planning. You’ll need a microchip, rabies vaccination, blood test (with a waiting period), parasite treatment, and an Export Health Certificate.
Start the process at least four months before you move. If everything’s done properly, there’s no quarantine on arrival - but the paperwork has to be spot on.
For this reason, we recommend planning the move with a specialist pet export/import agency. The extra cost is worth it for the peace of mind alone.
The country changes. The expat questions don't.
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