Moving to Turkey from United Kingdom
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from United Kingdom to Turkey — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from United Kingdom to Turkey, you would find that Turkey is 45.0% cheaper than United Kingdom overall. A £55,958 salary in United Kingdom would need to be roughly TRY2,378,731 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?
What to expect for your wallet after moving from United Kingdom to Turkey.
What does your salary buy?
£55,958 → TRY2,378,731
To maintain the same standard of living in Turkey
Calculate with your salary →Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 52.4% less
Groceries
pay 41.7% less
Transportation
pay 35.1% less
Housing
pay 68.6% less
Childcare
pay 56.8% 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 22% less than cities in United Kingdom.
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?
How many people actually move from United Kingdom to Turkey, based on official data.
people moved from United Kingdom to Turkey · OECD (latest data available)
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from United Kingdom to Turkey.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
United Kingdom performs better than Turkey across all safety metrics.
How's the healthcare?
annual government + private spending per person
affects wait times and access to care
WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access
share of adults with obesity
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
United Kingdom generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Turkey leads in healthcare spending per person.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
United Kingdom performs better than Turkey across all environment metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
share of households with internet
United Kingdom 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
the highest marginal rate on personal income
share of people below the poverty line
United Kingdom generally does better on employment & economy, though Turkey leads in top income tax rate.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
government spending on education as % of GDP
United Kingdom performs better than Turkey across all family life metrics.
Data: HM Revenue & Customs, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | London | Ankara |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 49°/38°F (9°/3°C) | 45°/28°F (7°/-2°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 64°/48°F (18°/9°C) | 72°/48°F (22°/9°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 72°/56°F (22°/13°C) | 83°/57°F (29°/14°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 53°/43°F (12°/6°C) | 55°/37°F (13°/3°C) |
View all months
| Month | London | Ankara |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 47°/38°F (8.1°/3.1°C) | 39°/26°F (4.1°/-3.5°C) |
| Feb | 47°/37°F (8.6°/2.7°C) | 43°/27°F (5.9°/-2.8°C) |
| Mar | 53°/40°F (11.6°/4.6°C) | 52°/32°F (11.1°/0.2°C) |
| Apr | 58°/43°F (14.6°/5.9°C) | 63°/41°F (17.3°/5.1°C) |
| May | 65°/48°F (18.1°/8.9°C) | 72°/49°F (22.2°/9.4°C) |
| Jun | 70°/53°F (21.0°/11.8°C) | 80°/55°F (26.4°/12.6°C) |
| Jul | 74°/57°F (23.4°/13.7°C) | 86°/60°F (29.9°/15.4°C) |
| Aug | 74°/57°F (23.1°/13.8°C) | 86°/60°F (30.0°/15.4°C) |
| Sep | 68°/53°F (20.0°/11.4°C) | 78°/52°F (25.8°/11.3°C) |
| Oct | 60°/48°F (15.5°/8.8°C) | 68°/44°F (20.0°/6.8°C) |
| Nov | 52°/42°F (11.3°/5.8°C) | 55°/36°F (12.9°/2.4°C) |
| Dec | 47°/38°F (8.4°/3.4°C) | 43°/30°F (6.3°/-0.9°C) |
Met Office
Turkish State Meteorological ServiceVisitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between United Kingdom 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 Kingdom passport holder visiting Turkey
Visa Free
Turkey passport holder visiting United Kingdom
Visa Online (e-Visa)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 United Kingdom?
Yes — Turkey is on average about 32% cheaper than United Kingdom. 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 TRY594,683 in Turkey on a £55,958 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?
United Kingdom performs better than Turkey across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Turkey is 2.7 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.0 in United Kingdom.
How is healthcare in Turkey compared to United Kingdom?
United Kingdom 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 31.7 in United Kingdom. Turkey scores 76 on the WHO universal health coverage index (United Kingdom: 88).
What's the weather like in Turkey compared to United Kingdom?
The average high temperature in Ankara is 64°F, compared to 60°F in London. Ankara receives around 15.0 in of rainfall per year, while London gets 22.0 in.
What language do they speak in Turkey?
The official language in Turkey is Turkish. In United Kingdom, the official language is English.
