Moving to Turkey from Belgium

moving to

What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Belgium to Turkey — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Belgium to Turkey, you would find that Turkey is 42.7% cheaper than Belgium overall. A €65,577 salary in Belgium would need to be roughly TRY2,487,616 in Turkey to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Turkish.

Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓

How Far Will Your Money Go?

What to expect for your wallet after moving from Belgium to Turkey.

What does your salary buy?

€65,577 TRY2,487,616

To maintain the same standard of living in Turkey

Calculate with your salary →

Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day

Restaurants

pay 62.9% less

Groceries

pay 49.9% less

Transportation

pay 26.4% less

Housing

pay 62.3% less

Childcare

pay 30.7% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 37.2% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 EUR = 53.92 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.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

How many people actually move from Belgium to Turkey, based on official data.

Moved in 2023
244 ↓ 25% vs 2022

people moved from Belgium 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

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Belgium to Turkey.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

BE
1.1
TR
2.7
Feel safe walking at night United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

of residents who feel safe walking alone at night

BE
62%
TR
61%

Belgium performs better than Turkey across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

BE
$7,489
TR
$1,769
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

BE
63.9
TR
21.7

Belgium generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Turkey leads in healthcare spending per person.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

BE
15.0
TR
39.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

BE
7.3t
TR
5.4t

Belgium generally does better on environment, though Turkey leads in co₂ emissions per capita.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

BE
43.5
TR
22.3
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

BE
51.9%
TR
43.4%

Belgium generally does better on infrastructure, though Turkey leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

BE
5.5%
TR
9.4%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

BE
$63,600
TR
$34,400

Belgium generally does better on employment & economy, though Turkey leads in top income tax rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

BE
81.9 yrs
TR
76.2 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

BE
3.2
TR
19.4

Belgium performs better than Turkey across all family life metrics.

Data: Service Public Fédéral Finances, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Brussels Rain: 32.3 in/yr (820 mm)
57° / 44°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Brussels Ankara
Jan–Mar 45°/34°F (7°/1°C) 45°/28°F (7°/-2°C)
Apr–Jun 63°/47°F (17°/8°C) 72°/48°F (22°/9°C)
Jul–Sep 70°/54°F (21°/13°C) 83°/57°F (29°/14°C)
Oct–Dec 50°/40°F (10°/4°C) 55°/37°F (13°/3°C)
View all months
Month Brussels Ankara
Jan 42°/33°F (5.6°/0.7°C) 39°/26°F (4.1°/-3.5°C)
Feb 44°/33°F (6.4°/0.6°C) 43°/27°F (5.9°/-2.8°C)
Mar 50°/37°F (9.9°/2.9°C) 52°/32°F (11.1°/0.2°C)
Apr 56°/41°F (13.1°/4.8°C) 63°/41°F (17.3°/5.1°C)
May 64°/48°F (17.7°/8.9°C) 72°/49°F (22.2°/9.4°C)
Jun 68°/53°F (20.0°/11.5°C) 80°/55°F (26.4°/12.6°C)
Jul 72°/56°F (22.4°/13.6°C) 86°/60°F (29.9°/15.4°C)
Aug 72°/56°F (22.5°/13.4°C) 86°/60°F (30.0°/15.4°C)
Sep 66°/51°F (18.7°/10.8°C) 78°/52°F (25.8°/11.3°C)
Oct 58°/46°F (14.4°/7.6°C) 68°/44°F (20.0°/6.8°C)
Nov 48°/39°F (9.1°/3.7°C) 55°/36°F (12.9°/2.4°C)
Dec 44°/35°F (6.5°/1.9°C) 43°/30°F (6.3°/-0.9°C)

Data: Institut Royal Météorologique Institut Royal Météorologique, Turkish State Meteorological Service Turkish State Meteorological Service

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Belgium 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.

Belgium passport

Belgium passport holder visiting Turkey

Visa Free
Belgium passport holders can enter Turkey without a visa.
Turkey passport

Turkey passport holder visiting Belgium

Visa Required
Turkey passport holders need a visa to enter Belgium.

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 Belgium?

Yes — Turkey is on average about 30% cheaper than Belgium. City-level variation can be significant.

How much money do I need to move to Turkey?

Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly TRY621,904 in Turkey on a €65,577 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).

Can I work remotely from Turkey?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Turkey has 22.3 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

Is Turkey safe for expats?

Belgium performs better than Turkey across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Turkey is 2.7 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.1 in Belgium. About 61% of people in Turkey feel safe walking alone at night.

How is healthcare in Turkey compared to Belgium?

Belgium generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Turkey leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 21.7 doctors per 10,000 people in Turkey, compared to 63.9 in Belgium. Turkey scores 76 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Belgium: 86).

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

The average high temperature in Ankara is 64°F, compared to 57°F in Brussels. Ankara receives around 15.0 in of rainfall per year, while Brussels gets 32.3 in.

What language do they speak in Turkey?

The official language in Turkey is Turkish. In Belgium, the official languages are Dutch, French and German.

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At a Glance

BE TR
Population 11,847,338 83,047,706
Currency Euro (€) Turkish Lira (TRY)
Languages Dutch, French, German Turkish
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +32 +90
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112 112