Best Turkish Cities Where You Could Live
Turkey is a warm and sunny country in the southwest of Asia. A small part of the country is located in the south of Europe. The Black, the Mediterranean, and the Aegean Seas wash the shores of Turkey. This is one of the best-developed eastern countries. People speak Turkish there and practice Islam.
Turkey is a well-known tourist destination and crowds of tourists visit the country every year. They are attracted by beautiful nature, a nice climate, and a rich indigenous culture. Moreover, the country has a citizenship-by-investment program and many foreigners ‘buy’ Turkish passports and relocate to the country. What Turkish city should you choose if you decided to move to Turkey? Below we discuss some possible options.
Antalya: a beautify city on the coast
Antalya is a large city, a seaport, and the capital of the Turkish Riviera. It is located at the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. It is a beautiful city with turquoise sea, sandy golden beaches, and stunning old architecture. The place is ideal for those who love swimming in the sea and those who want to have a successful career. Summers are hot and dry and winters are warm and rainy. The beach season lasts from May to October.
A studio apartment near the city center or by the sea would cost you US$ 200 to US$ 300 per month off-season. In the summertime, the prices are considerably higher. The utility bills would not exceed US$ 40 per month. Apartments in Antalya cost around US$ 1,000 per square meter. Thus, you could buy a small apartment for less than US$ 30,000.
There are plenty of jobs in Antalya. Teachers, doctors, programmers, engineers, drivers, waiters, and salespeople are always required. Finding a job in the high season is especially easy as Antalya sees lots of tourists. The average salary in the city is between US$ 600 and US$ 700.
The infrastructure is very well developed in Antalya. There you will find a huge number of different stores, shopping centers, restaurants, cafes, entertainment facilities, water parks, cinemas, swimming pools, children’s cafes, and so on.
Ankara: the heart of the Turkish Republic
Ankara is the capital of Turkey and it is a huge administrative center. The metropolis is located on the Anatolian plateau, about 900 meters above sea level. The climate is continental: summers can be very hot (+35°С and more) and winters are cold (-15°С) and snowy. The temperature is much cooler at night even in summer.
All sorts of infrastructural objects are readily available in Ankara. Farmers’ markets, shopping malls, cafes, and restaurants: you can find everything in the city.
Finding a job in Ankara is not a problem, especially if you hold a university diploma. The average salary is about US$ 1,000 per month.
The rent is relatively cheap even though it’s a capital city. Renting a studio apartment would cost you around US$ 300 per month in the outskirts and around US$ 1,000 in the downtown area. A square meter of residential accommodations costs around US$ 1,000 in Ankara even though much depends on the property location. There is an interesting option to consider if you would like to invest into real property in Ankara: simply follow the link to find out about it.
Istanbul: a European city in Turkey
Istanbul is located in the northwest of Turkey on the shores of the Bosporus Strait that connects the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara. Part of Istanbul is located in Europe. Today, it’s a huge financial center attracting many entrepreneurs. The climate is subtropical in Istanbul: it’s rarely too hot and the temperature is comfortable in the summer. In winter, it rarely goes below 0°С. It often rains between October and March.
The metropolis has a large number of stores, shopping centers, and oriental bazaars. Up to 400,000 people visit the Grand Bazaar every day. Most of the shopping centers are located in the New City (Beyoglu), western suburbs of Istanbul. Good shoes and clothes can be found in the Nişantaşı district. The infrastructure is well developed: there are a lot of restaurants and cafes in the city for every taste and purse.
Rental prices depend on the property location, the view from the window, the availability of a parking lot, and many other factors. A small apartment in a bedroom district can cost less than US$ 300 per month while an apartment in the city center is much more expensive.
Istanbul is a large economic and financial center and this fact makes it easy to find a job there. The average salary is well below US$ 1,000 per month but there are many jobs that pay much better.
Izmir: a metropolis with a dynamic life
Izmir is located in the west of the country, at the coast of the Aegean Sea. This is the third largest city in Turkey and the second most important seaport. Izmir has been growing at a fast rate: a large number of young people from other parts of Turkey like to move there. The climate is Mediterranean in the city with hot and dry summers and mild rainy winters. It seldom snows in Izmir.
The city is famous for its beaches on the Aegean coast that are not far away from the city center. There are shopping centers, various stores, and bazaars in Izmir. The residents are never bored because there is always a festival or a concert in the city and multiple restaurants and entertainment facilities are available. The transportation network is superb in Izmir: in addition to highways, there is an airport in the city and a subway.
There are many vacancies in the tourist and the service sectors. Besides, the seaport is a large employer. Finding a job in Izmir is rather simple. The average salary is just below US$ 1,000 per month.
Renting an apartment in the city center would cost you around US$ 350 per month and the prices are considerably lower in the outskirts. If you would like to buy residential accommodations in Izmir, you would have to pay US$ around 1,000 per square meter.
Alanya: a resort city
Located in the southwestern part of Turkey, Alanya is a seaport and a popular resort city. It is an ancient city with lots of historical monuments. It’s full of tourists in the summertime as the beaches are wonderful and the sea is warm. The climate is Mediterranean in Alania with hot summers and warm rainy winters. It rains often between November and February.
Many beaches in Alanya are granted Blue Flags and the coastline starches for 100 kilometers.
Alania is also a paradise for shopaholics: you will find lots of stores and malls there. The same goes for bars, restaurants, and cafes.
Even though it’s a resort city, the rent is rather inexpensive in Alania. You can find a small apartment for US$ 300 per month outside the city center.
Without doubt, there are other cities in Turkey that are worth considering if your intention is to relocate to the country. We have pointed out those of them that look most attractive in our opinion.
