Being an expat is a fun job, but it can bring specific changes to one’s life for sure. You may encounter some unique challenges in the geography you landed in. A different language, people, culture, and social life may seem overwhelming at first, but you should look at them as a ball of experience life throws at you. 

Considering all the things that an expat leaves behind to start a new life, a country with the characteristics of Turkey might be the focal point for these people, and rightly so, since the search for a better life is inherent in the human being regardless of nationality or culture. 

Turkey meets all of these conditions, in fact, in a survey published by HSBC Group, Turkey was found to be the seventh-best country in the world to live and work in. The sample frame of this survey was 18,000 foreigners in 163 countries. 

The majority of those who lived in Turkey indicated that it was a very nice destination and that it represented an improvement over their previous country in all aspects, from social to economic levels because of its relatively low cost of living about the average salary earned. 

Here we give an insight into how life is for expats who live in Turkey or prepare to live. An expat will probably be looking for a pleasant, peaceful place to live, with enough possibilities for a new start in life and those things that are key to basic human needs, such as a good healthcare system.

Health and Wellbeing

As for the health care system, there are 2 types of health insurance in Turkey as in most countries, a public one which is run by the state and a private one which is on the citizen or investor to decide what company to use for this purpose. 

To opt for public insurance, it is necessary to have legal documentation in the country, such as a work visa or residence permit, as these documents allow the person to settle in Turkey to live, work, buy a property, and so on. 

However, if you haven’t lived in the country for over a year as a resident, you won’t be able to access the public healthcare system. That’s why you should start with a private medical program that comes with many benefits such as accessing high-standard medical care in private hospitals with shorter waiting times and fewer uncovered expenses.

The cost of private health insurance per person is usually between $30 to $100. There are many insurance companies to choose from, but it’s better to research to decide on the package and fees that fit your expectations the best. 

The person simply pays the amount set by the company to cover their medical expenses every year, and the amount of medical expenses is left to them individually. With public insurance, the person and his/her relatives can have access to it in more than 200,000 hospitals throughout Turkey.

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Renting Expenses

In several previous articles, we have mentioned the value of the real estate in Turkey, as well as some of the more ambitious projects in cities such as Istanbul, however, it is time to mention the cost of renting a flat, where the person finds a level of sustainability over time. 

Finding a rental in Turkey is way easier than in most other countries, and they come in affordable price ranges. Especially in cities like Istanbul, Izmir, and Ankara, there is a convenient property for everyone. You can find yourself an apartment with a view for $400 that is great for enjoying the city in the best way possible. 

On several occasions, we have also mentioned the difference between Turkey and the rest of the European countries regarding the value/price of real estate, which also applies to rents. The price of rent in a city like Istanbul is much more affordable than in a city like London. 

Cost of Living

Given the economic circumstances in Turkey, its international rise as an emerging economy and its growing projects in various areas, the cost of living in Turkey is quite affordable for anyone with an average salary with a family and everything included. 

Among the most important things to be included in the cost of living are education, rent or housing costs, and basic services. These are the main concerns an expat has when arriving in another country.