Moving to Turkey from Ireland

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from Ireland to Turkey, you would find that Turkey is 40.6% cheaper than Ireland overall. A €65,577 salary in Ireland would need to be roughly TRY2,182,934 in Turkey to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Turkish. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right.

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 Ireland and Turkey.

What does your salary buy?

€65,577 TRY2,182,934

To maintain the same standard of living in Turkey

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 55.7% less

Groceries

pay 49.2% less

Transportation

pay 41.8% less

Housing

pay 71.8% less

Childcare

pay 3.8% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 50.2% 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.

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 30% less than cities in Ireland.

Ireland

Athlone 66%
Sligo 63%

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 Ireland to Turkey.

Moved in 2023
122 ↓ 54% vs 2022

people moved from Ireland 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 Ireland.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

IE
0.9
TR
2.7
Feel safe walking at night United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

of residents who feel safe walking alone at night

IE
75%
TR
61%

Ireland 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

IE
$8,772
TR
$1,769
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

IE
40.6
TR
21.7

Ireland 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

IE
13.0
TR
39.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

IE
6.0t
TR
5.4t

Ireland 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

IE
32.1
TR
22.3
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

IE
22.2%
TR
43.4%

Ireland 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

IE
4.3%
TR
9.4%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

IE
$115,600
TR
$34,400

Ireland 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

IE
81.7 yrs
TR
76.2 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

IE
3.5
TR
19.4

Ireland generally does better on family life, though Turkey leads in education spending.

Data: The Office of the Revenue Commissioners, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Dublin Rain: 29.8 in/yr (758 mm)
56° / 44°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Dublin Ankara
Jan–Mar 49°/37°F (10°/3°C) 45°/28°F (7°/-2°C)
Apr–Jun 59°/44°F (15°/7°C) 72°/48°F (22°/9°C)
Jul–Sep 66°/52°F (19°/11°C) 83°/57°F (29°/14°C)
Oct–Dec 51°/41°F (11°/5°C) 55°/37°F (13°/3°C)
View all months
Month Dublin Ankara
Jan 47°/36°F (8.1°/2.4°C) 39°/26°F (4.1°/-3.5°C)
Feb 47°/36°F (8.3°/2.3°C) 43°/27°F (5.9°/-2.8°C)
Mar 54°/38°F (12.1°/3.4°C) 52°/32°F (11.1°/0.2°C)
Apr 54°/40°F (12.1°/4.6°C) 63°/41°F (17.3°/5.1°C)
May 59°/44°F (14.8°/6.9°C) 72°/49°F (22.2°/9.4°C)
Jun 64°/49°F (17.6°/9.6°C) 80°/55°F (26.4°/12.6°C)
Jul 67°/53°F (19.5°/11.7°C) 86°/60°F (29.9°/15.4°C)
Aug 67°/53°F (19.2°/11.5°C) 86°/60°F (30.0°/15.4°C)
Sep 63°/50°F (17.0°/9.8°C) 78°/52°F (25.8°/11.3°C)
Oct 56°/45°F (13.6°/7.3°C) 68°/44°F (20.0°/6.8°C)
Nov 51°/40°F (10.3°/4.5°C) 55°/36°F (12.9°/2.4°C)
Dec 47°/37°F (8.3°/2.8°C) 43°/30°F (6.3°/-0.9°C)

Data: Met Éireann, The Irish Meteorological Service Met Éireann, The Irish Meteorological Service, Turkish State Meteorological Service Turkish State Meteorological Service

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Ireland 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.

Ireland passport

Ireland passport holder visiting Turkey

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

Turkey passport holder visiting Ireland

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

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 Ireland?

On average Turkey is about 38% less expensive than Ireland, with major cities narrowing the gap.

How much money do I need to move to Turkey?

Budget about TRY545,734 for 3 months in Turkey (based on a €65,577 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?

Ireland performs better than Turkey across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Turkey is 2.7 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.9 in Ireland. About 61% of people in Turkey feel safe walking alone at night.

How is healthcare in Turkey compared to Ireland?

Ireland 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 40.6 in Ireland. Turkey scores 76 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Ireland: 83).

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

The average high temperature in Ankara is 64°F, compared to 56°F in Dublin. Ankara receives around 15.0 in of rainfall per year, while Dublin gets 29.8 in.

What language do they speak in Turkey?

The official language in Turkey is Turkish. In Ireland, the official languages are English and Irish.

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At a Glance

IE TR
Population 5,275,004 83,047,706
Currency Euro (€) Turkish Lira (TRY)
Languages English, Irish Turkish
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +353 +90
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112 112