Moving to Turkey from South Carolina
What to Expect
Considering a move from South Carolina to Turkey? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from South Carolina to Turkey, you would find that Turkey is 54.6% cheaper than South Carolina. A $75,000 salary in South Carolina would need to be roughly TRY1,690,000 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 ↓Is Turkey cheaper than South Carolina?
How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 51.6% less
Groceries
pay 66.5% less
Transportation
pay 0.4% more
Housing
pay 70.8% less
Childcare
pay 42.2% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 36.4% 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.
What salary do you need in Turkey?
What does your salary buy?
$75,000 → TRY1,690,000
To maintain the same standard of living in Turkey
Calculate with your salary →Get free moving quotes to Turkey
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
What the data shows about people moving from South Carolina 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 South Carolina.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
Turkey performs significantly better than South Carolina across all health & wellbeing metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
Turkey performs significantly better than South Carolina 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
South Carolina performs better than Turkey across all employment & economy metrics.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
Turkey performs significantly better than South Carolina across all family life metrics.
Sources: World Bank (2024–2025), US Census Bureau (American Community Survey) (2023), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES) (2022), World Health Organization (2024), Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025), Bureau of Economic Analysis (2024), OECD Regional Demography (2020). How we calculate this
Weather in Turkey vs South Carolina
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Charleston | Istanbul |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 61°/47°F (16°/8°C) | 49°/38°F (10°/3°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 79°/67°F (26°/19°C) | 71°/54°F (21°/12°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 85°/75°F (30°/24°C) | 81°/64°F (27°/18°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 67°/54°F (20°/12°C) | 60°/48°F (16°/9°C) |
View all months
| Month | Charleston | Istanbul |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 57°/43°F (13.7°/6.0°C) | 48°/37°F (8.7°/2.9°C) |
| Feb | 60°/46°F (15.3°/7.5°C) | 48°/37°F (9.1°/2.8°C) |
| Mar | 65°/52°F (18.3°/10.9°C) | 52°/39°F (11.2°/3.9°C) |
| Apr | 72°/59°F (22.2°/14.9°C) | 62°/46°F (16.5°/7.7°C) |
| May | 79°/67°F (25.9°/19.5°C) | 71°/54°F (21.4°/12.0°C) |
| Jun | 85°/74°F (29.2°/23.3°C) | 79°/61°F (26.0°/16.0°C) |
| Jul | 88°/77°F (30.9°/24.9°C) | 83°/65°F (28.4°/18.5°C) |
| Aug | 86°/76°F (30.2°/24.5°C) | 83°/66°F (28.5°/18.7°C) |
| Sep | 82°/72°F (27.8°/22.1°C) | 77°/60°F (25.0°/15.5°C) |
| Oct | 75°/62°F (23.7°/16.9°C) | 68°/54°F (20.1°/12.0°C) |
| Nov | 67°/54°F (19.6°/12.0°C) | 60°/47°F (15.3°/8.5°C) |
| Dec | 60°/46°F (15.3°/7.6°C) | 52°/42°F (11.1°/5.3°C) |
Data:
National Weather Service,
Turkish State Meteorological Service
Can you move from South Carolina to Turkey?
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 South Carolina?
On average Turkey is about 55% less expensive than South Carolina, with major cities narrowing the gap.
How much money do I need to move to Turkey?
Budget about TRY422,500 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 South Carolina and Turkey are what actually decide it long-term.
How is healthcare in Turkey compared to South Carolina?
Turkey performs significantly better than South Carolina across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What's the weather like in Turkey compared to South Carolina?
The average high temperature in Istanbul is 65°F, compared to 73°F in Charleston. Istanbul receives around 26.7 in of rainfall per year, while Charleston gets 44.4 in.
What language do they speak in Turkey?
The official language in Turkey is Turkish. In South Carolina, the official language is English.
