Moving to Turkey from Arizona

moving to

What to Expect

Considering a move from Arizona to Turkey? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Arizona to Turkey, you would find that Turkey is 38.1% cheaper than Arizona. A $75,000 salary in Arizona would need to be roughly TRY2,591,659 in Turkey to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Turkish. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Ankara averages 64°F vs 87°F in Phoenix, making it significantly cooler.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Arizona and Turkey.

What does your salary buy?

$75,000 TRY2,591,659

To maintain the same standard of living in Turkey

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 57.3% less

Groceries

pay 49.1% less

Transportation

pay 5.0% less

Housing

pay 75.3% less

Childcare

pay 42.0% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 38.8% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 USD = 47.14 TRY (July 2026)

Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.

Cost of living by city

Cost of living varies a lot by city. Each figure is a city's overall cost of living as a percentage of New York City (the priciest, = 100%).

On average, cities in Turkey cost about 28% less than cities in Arizona.

Arizona

Tempe 68%
Mesa 66%

Turkey

Istanbul 49%

Compare cities head-to-head

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

What the data shows about people moving from Arizona to Turkey.

Moved in 2023
1,728 ↓ 44% vs 2022

people moved from United States to Turkey · OECD (latest data available)

Who's moving to Turkey?

Top countries of origin for Turkey's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Turkey compared to Arizona.

How's the healthcare?

Adult obesity rate Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), 2022

share of adults with obesity

AZ
33.6%
TR
32.1%

Turkey performs significantly better than Arizona across all health & wellbeing metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Internet access US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), 2023

share of households with internet

AZ
90.5%
TR
81.0%

Arizona performs better than Turkey across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

AZ
4.0%
TR
9.4%
GDP per capita Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024

a broad measure of economic output per person

AZ
$58,628
TR
$34,400

Arizona performs better than Turkey across all employment & economy metrics.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy OECD Regional Demography, 2022

average years of life at birth

AZ
76.3 yrs
TR
76.2 yrs

Arizona performs better than Turkey across all family life metrics.

Data: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), OECD Regional Demography, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey)

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Phoenix Rain: 8.2 in/yr (208 mm)
87° / 63°F

Avg. annual high / low

Ankara Rain: 15.0 in/yr (382 mm)
64° / 43°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Phoenix Ankara
Jan–Mar 73°/49°F (23°/10°C) 45°/28°F (7°/-2°C)
Apr–Jun 95°/69°F (35°/20°C) 72°/48°F (22°/9°C)
Jul–Sep 103°/80°F (40°/27°C) 83°/57°F (29°/14°C)
Oct–Dec 77°/54°F (25°/12°C) 55°/37°F (13°/3°C)
View all months
Month Phoenix Ankara
Jan 69°/46°F (20.3°/7.6°C) 39°/26°F (4.1°/-3.5°C)
Feb 72°/49°F (22.1°/9.3°C) 43°/27°F (5.9°/-2.8°C)
Mar 78°/53°F (25.7°/11.9°C) 52°/32°F (11.1°/0.2°C)
Apr 86°/60°F (29.9°/15.7°C) 63°/41°F (17.3°/5.1°C)
May 95°/69°F (34.8°/20.6°C) 72°/49°F (22.2°/9.4°C)
Jun 104°/77°F (39.9°/25.1°C) 80°/55°F (26.4°/12.6°C)
Jul 106°/83°F (41.0°/28.1°C) 86°/60°F (29.9°/15.4°C)
Aug 104°/82°F (40.1°/27.8°C) 86°/60°F (30.0°/15.4°C)
Sep 100°/75°F (37.8°/24.1°C) 78°/52°F (25.8°/11.3°C)
Oct 89°/64°F (31.8°/18.0°C) 68°/44°F (20.0°/6.8°C)
Nov 76°/52°F (24.7°/11.1°C) 55°/36°F (12.9°/2.4°C)
Dec 67°/45°F (19.6°/7.1°C) 43°/30°F (6.3°/-0.9°C)

Data: National Weather Service National Weather Service, Turkish State Meteorological Service Turkish State Meteorological Service

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between United States and Turkey. To live, work, or study long-term in Turkey, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Turkey's immigration authority.

United States passport

United States passport holder visiting Turkey

Visa Free
United States passport holders can enter Turkey without a visa.
Turkey passport

Turkey passport holder visiting United States

Visa Required
Turkey passport holders need a visa to enter United States.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it cheaper to live in Turkey than Arizona?

On average Turkey is about 27% less expensive than Arizona, with major cities narrowing the gap.

How much money do I need to move to Turkey?

Budget about TRY647,915 for 3 months in Turkey (based on a $75,000 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.

Can I work remotely from Turkey?

From major Turkey cities the network usually holds up. Visa rules, your employer's stance on overseas employees, and tax residency in Arizona and Turkey are what actually decide it long-term.

How is healthcare in Turkey compared to Arizona?

Turkey performs significantly better than Arizona across all health & wellbeing metrics.

What's the weather like in Turkey compared to Arizona?

The average high temperature in Ankara is 64°F, compared to 87°F in Phoenix. Ankara receives around 15.0 in of rainfall per year, while Phoenix gets 8.2 in.

What language do they speak in Turkey?

The official language in Turkey is Turkish. In Arizona, the official language is English.

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At a Glance

TR
Population 6,392,017 83,047,706
Currency United States Dollar ($) Turkish Lira (TRY)
Languages English Turkish
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +1 +90
Time zones 11 1
Emergency number 911 112