There are plenty of videos about retiring in Turkey, now formally known as Türkiye. But how easy is it to uproot and move overseas to a country like Türkiye? What are the real challenges that face expats wishing to live here? Let’s take a look at the requirements necessary for a comfortable life in Türkiye for someone retiring 10 years earlier than usual. In the UK, the retirement age is now 66 or 67, so how much money do you need to set aside if you want to maintain a reasonably good standard of living in Türkiye?
This video mainly focuses on people from the UK, but similar circumstances may apply to your own country. The average house price in the UK is now around £300,000 ( $366,000 or 357,000 Euros ) as of 2025. If you have no mortgage left on your UK home, you are in a fortunate position and one step closer to realising your dream of moving abroad.
If you are on track for a full UK state pension, it is possible to live in Türkiye comfortably, but you will need to own your own home. If you don’t have a full UK state pension, you can catch up on the missing years by paying Class 2 or Class 3 voluntary contributions.
Türkiye is no longer as cheap as it once was. Not by any stretch of the imagination. Hyper inflation and wage increases have driven up the cost of supermarket shopping and the average weekly shop is now comparable to the UK. Meat and dairy products are particularly expensive, while fruit and vegetables tend to be cheaper. It’s also important to note that the cost of living in Istanbul or one of the large cities is considerably higher than in the countryside or a small town.
How much will I need?
For a couple living modestly in Türkiye, your UK pension will be more than enough for a good lifestyle. A reasonable two-bedroom apartment in a Turkish town or city will set you back around £75,000. You can easily spend £100,000 for something in a nice area of town. Anything with a sea view by the beach will cost you more.
So, let’s say you’ve sold your home in the UK and bought a place in Türkiye for £100,000. Your new, modern apartment will need to be furnished and decorated. The costs for good-quality furniture and white goods are on par with those in Europe. Personally, and from experience, I would set aside £10,000 for that. You’ve now spent £110,000. Cars are very expensive in Turkey, and for a small, basic new car, you should be prepared to spend around £25,000. You are now £135,000 out of pocket.
Residency Permits
The next step is to obtain a residence permit, or ‘ikamet’, as it is known here. This is becoming more challenging to obtain now, but owning property makes it much easier. From 2025, applicants are required to show bank certification confirming that you have an income of at least 1.5 times the net monthly minimum wage in Türkiye. This income must cover the duration of your stay and will need to be sufficient each time you apply. This amount is also required per person and currently equates to £769 ($939 or 912 Euros) at the time of writing. You will also need to show that you have money in deposits; this amount is currently £8,172 ($10,000 or 9,718 Euros). I would suggest keeping a £50,000 reserve in your bank in Türkiye for emergencies and as proof of capital for your residence permit applications.
Why Are Residence Permits Becoming Harder to Get?
Recently, Türkiye has experienced an uncontrolled influx of migrants, including large numbers of Russians, Azerbaijanis, Turkmens, Iranians, and others. This has made certain towns and cities too expensive for locals. Additionally, Türkiye already hosts 3.9 million migrants and refugees, 90% of whom are Syrian. In light of recent events, some may now return to Syria.
Restrictive measures have been put in place, and several areas have stopped providing residence permits. It is now very hard to obtain a residence permit in Istanbul, and even tourist resorts such as Antalya have become more difficult. The new rules still allow foreigners to relocate to Türkiy=nitially, only a short-term residence permit will be issued, for a maximum of one year. After that, it can be extended with the possibility of long-term residency in the future. Sounds complicated? Not really.
There are many agents who can help you prepare the right documentation. Overall, it will cost you around £200 ( $244 or 238 Euros ) in fees. Once you’ve chosen where you want to live in Turkey, your first point of contact should be to find a local lawyer or agency that specialises in this. They will be able to advise you on how easy or difficult it is to obtain residency in their area. Another route to settling in Türkiye is through investment, which requires $400,000 ( around £328,000 ) in property to apply for citizenship. I’m not covering this here, but there is a wealth of information available online on how to pursue citizenship through investment.
Health Insurance
You will also need to arrange health insurance. This will cost at least £50 per month per person, but it’s advisable to shop around for the best coverage. The cheapest is not always the best.
How Much Money Do You Need to Live Comfortably?
At this stage, you’ve committed to £135,000 plus £50,000 in the bank in Türkiye. What comes next is a matter of lifestyle. How much money do you need to live comfortably here? A single person can live well on a UK state pension, provided they own their own home. A couple can live exceptionally well since they will each have their own pension income. Alcohol is expensive, and depending on where you live, eating out is no longer as cheap as it used to be. It’s essential to shop around for the best bargains.
Let’s return to the house you sold in the UK for £300,000. If you want to retire 10 years earlier, the monthly drawdown from your savings, including the £50,000 reserve, will give you an annual income of £16,500 before your retirement income kicks in. Common sense dictates that if you can manage on £12,000 per annum, you will still have some savings left.
We own our home, don’t skimp, or want for anything. Utility bills are much cheaper here than in Europe or the UK. We have two vehicles and a motorbike. We eat out occasionally and go on holiday twice a year. We manage all of this on £12,000 per annum. To put this into perspective, the average Turkish wage in 2025 is under £5,000 a year!
There are numerous videos of people claiming to live on under £700 a month and others stating you need at least £1,500 a month. It really depends on where you live and how you choose to live. Absolutely, it is possible to live on £12,000 ( thats $14,649 or 14,302 Euros ) a year in Türkiye, especially if you own your own property.
Conclusion
Whilst the number of British citizens living in Türkiye is declining and new registrations are now very low, there is still a large number of Germans present. Life here is stress-free and very comfortable. The weather and the easy-going attitude of the majority of Turks make the experience even more enjoyable. However, being able to speak Turkish will make your experience far more enriching and fulfilling.
If you’re considering Türkiye as a place to retire or live, take a moment to stop and think. Don’t just decide to pack up and leave your country hoping that life will be better on the other side of the fence. Spend a few months here. Travel around, and get a feel for the country. Discover which town or city suits you best. One word of caution: if you sell your home and move to Türkiye, your options for returning to the UK may be limited and difficult since you have sold your home there. You must be sure it’s the right choice for you.
I have not mentioned taxation but the UK has a double taxation agreement with Türkiye. Effectively this means that if you live on a permanent basis in Türkiye your pension is not liable to taxation in the UK and since Türkiye does not tax pensions your pension income is tax free.
I am not a tax adviser and neither do I claim to know about Turkish law. The details provided are offered as a guideline and the information provided may of course change. Always seek professional advice. I hope this video has provided some useful insights into what you would need to do for an early retirement in Türkiye.
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