Moving to Turkey from France

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from France to Turkey, you would find that Turkey is 38.4% cheaper than France overall. A €65,700 salary in France would need to be roughly TRY2,604,962 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?

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

What does your salary buy?

€65,700 TRY2,604,962

To maintain the same standard of living in Turkey

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 58.2% less

Groceries

pay 54.3% less

Transportation

pay 29.2% less

Housing

pay 53.0% less

Childcare

pay 17.4% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 37.0% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 EUR = 53.64 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 14% less than cities in France.

France

Paris 69%
Antibes 66%
Annecy 61%
Nantes 56%

Turkey

Istanbul 49%

Compare cities head-to-head

Get free moving quotes to Turkey

We've teamed up with a vetted network of international movers to help MyLifeElsewhere readers plan their move with confidence. Tell us about your move and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes in under 2 minutes.

  • ✅ Up to 5 quotes from screened movers
  • ✅ Licensed and insured providers only
  • ✅ 100% free — you choose who contacts you

Who Else Is Making This Move?

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

Moved in 2023
857 ↓ 21% vs 2022

people moved from France 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 France.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2023

per 100,000 people per year

FR
1.6
TR
2.7
Feel safe walking at night United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

of residents who feel safe walking alone at night

FR
82%
TR
61%

France performs better than Turkey across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

FR
$6,868
TR
$1,769
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

FR
33.4
TR
21.7

France 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

FR
10.0
TR
39.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

FR
4.0t
TR
5.4t

France performs better than Turkey across all environment metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

FR
49.4
TR
22.3
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

FR
21.6%
TR
43.4%

France performs better than Turkey across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

FR
7.3%
TR
9.4%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

FR
$55,200
TR
$34,400

France 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

FR
82.6 yrs
TR
76.2 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

FR
3.1
TR
19.4

France performs better than Turkey across all family life metrics.

Data: Direction Générale des Finances Publiques, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Paris Rain: 25.6 in/yr (650 mm)
60° / 47°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Paris Ankara
Jan–Mar 48°/38°F (9°/3°C) 45°/28°F (7°/-2°C)
Apr–Jun 65°/50°F (18°/10°C) 72°/48°F (22°/9°C)
Jul–Sep 74°/58°F (23°/14°C) 83°/57°F (29°/14°C)
Oct–Dec 52°/43°F (11°/6°C) 55°/37°F (13°/3°C)
View all months
Month Paris Ankara
Jan 44°/36°F (6.9°/2.5°C) 39°/26°F (4.1°/-3.5°C)
Feb 47°/37°F (8.2°/2.8°C) 43°/27°F (5.9°/-2.8°C)
Mar 53°/41°F (11.8°/5.1°C) 52°/32°F (11.1°/0.2°C)
Apr 58°/44°F (14.7°/6.8°C) 63°/41°F (17.3°/5.1°C)
May 66°/51°F (19.0°/10.5°C) 72°/49°F (22.2°/9.4°C)
Jun 71°/56°F (21.8°/13.3°C) 80°/55°F (26.4°/12.6°C)
Jul 76°/60°F (24.4°/15.5°C) 86°/60°F (29.9°/15.4°C)
Aug 76°/60°F (24.6°/15.4°C) 86°/60°F (30.0°/15.4°C)
Sep 69°/54°F (20.8°/12.5°C) 78°/52°F (25.8°/11.3°C)
Oct 60°/49°F (15.8°/9.2°C) 68°/44°F (20.0°/6.8°C)
Nov 51°/42°F (10.4°/5.3°C) 55°/36°F (12.9°/2.4°C)
Dec 46°/38°F (7.8°/3.6°C) 43°/30°F (6.3°/-0.9°C)

Data: Météo-France Météo-France, Turkish State Meteorological Service Turkish State Meteorological Service

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between France 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.

France passport

France passport holder visiting Turkey

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

Turkey passport holder visiting France

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

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 France?

On average Turkey is about 26% less expensive than France, with major cities narrowing the gap.

How much money do I need to move to Turkey?

Budget about TRY651,240 for 3 months in Turkey (based on a €65,700 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.

Can I work remotely from Turkey?

Connectivity is usually fine (Turkey: 22.3 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Turkey offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Turkey safe for expats?

France performs better than Turkey across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Turkey is 2.7 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.6 in France. About 61% of people in Turkey feel safe walking alone at night.

How is healthcare in Turkey compared to France?

France 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 33.4 in France. Turkey scores 76 on the WHO universal health coverage index (France: 85).

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

The average high temperature in Ankara is 64°F, compared to 60°F in Paris. Ankara receives around 15.0 in of rainfall per year, while Paris gets 25.6 in.

What language do they speak in Turkey?

The official language in Turkey is Turkish. In France, the official language is French.

Share this

At a Glance

FR TR
Population 68,305,148 83,047,706
Currency Euro (€) Turkish Lira (TRY)
Languages French Turkish
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +33 +90
Time zones 14 1
Emergency number 112 112