Moving to Turkey from Iowa
What to Expect
Considering a move from Iowa to Turkey? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Iowa to Turkey, you would find that Turkey is 35.4% cheaper than Iowa. A $75,000 salary in Iowa would need to be roughly TRY3,015,089 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 Iowa and Turkey.
What does your salary buy?
$75,000 → TRY3,015,089
To maintain the same standard of living in Turkey
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 52.3% less
Groceries
pay 45.3% less
Transportation
pay 11.9% more
Housing
pay 63.7% less
Childcare
pay 50.5% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 46.0% less
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 Iowa.
Compare cities head-to-head
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
What the data shows about people moving from Iowa to Turkey.
people moved from United States to Turkey · OECD (latest data available)
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Turkey compared to Iowa.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
Turkey performs significantly better than Iowa across all health & wellbeing metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
Iowa performs better than Turkey across all infrastructure metrics.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
share of people below the poverty line
Iowa performs better than Turkey across all employment & economy metrics.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
Iowa 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.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Des Moines | Ankara |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 39°/21°F (4°/-6°C) | 45°/28°F (7°/-2°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 72°/52°F (22°/11°C) | 72°/48°F (22°/9°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 82°/62°F (28°/17°C) | 83°/57°F (29°/14°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 48°/31°F (9°/-1°C) | 55°/37°F (13°/3°C) |
View all months
| Month | Des Moines | Ankara |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 31°/14°F (-0.6°/-9.8°C) | 39°/26°F (4.1°/-3.5°C) |
| Feb | 36°/19°F (2.3°/-7.3°C) | 43°/27°F (5.9°/-2.8°C) |
| Mar | 49°/30°F (9.4°/-1.3°C) | 52°/32°F (11.1°/0.2°C) |
| Apr | 62°/41°F (16.8°/5.1°C) | 63°/41°F (17.3°/5.1°C) |
| May | 72°/52°F (22.4°/11.2°C) | 72°/49°F (22.2°/9.4°C) |
| Jun | 82°/62°F (27.6°/16.7°C) | 80°/55°F (26.4°/12.6°C) |
| Jul | 86°/67°F (29.8°/19.3°C) | 86°/60°F (29.9°/15.4°C) |
| Aug | 84°/65°F (28.8°/18.2°C) | 86°/60°F (30.0°/15.4°C) |
| Sep | 76°/55°F (24.5°/12.9°C) | 78°/52°F (25.8°/11.3°C) |
| Oct | 63°/43°F (17.3°/6.1°C) | 68°/44°F (20.0°/6.8°C) |
| Nov | 48°/31°F (8.8°/-0.8°C) | 55°/36°F (12.9°/2.4°C) |
| Dec | 34°/18°F (1.1°/-7.8°C) | 43°/30°F (6.3°/-0.9°C) |
Data:
National Weather 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 holder visiting Turkey
Visa Free
Turkey passport holder visiting United States
Visa RequiredData: 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 Iowa?
On average Turkey is about 14% less expensive than Iowa, with major cities narrowing the gap.
How much money do I need to move to Turkey?
Budget about TRY753,772 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 Iowa and Turkey are what actually decide it long-term.
How is healthcare in Turkey compared to Iowa?
Turkey performs significantly better than Iowa across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What's the weather like in Turkey compared to Iowa?
The average high temperature in Ankara is 64°F, compared to 60°F in Des Moines. Ankara receives around 15.0 in of rainfall per year, while Des Moines gets 36.0 in.
What language do they speak in Turkey?
The official language in Turkey is Turkish. In Iowa, the official language is English.
