Living and working in Turkey
Turkey is located on the crosslines of Europe and Asia. The country itself, and especially Istanbul, is a mix of both cultures and lifestyles. From the historical highlights in Istanbul to the ruins of Troy, you can see it all in Turkey. What else can you do while living and working in Turkey? And what is life like? We will take you through the most important things about starting to live and getting a job in Turkey.
Latest available jobs in Turkey
Dutch remote freelancer – B2B credit card sales
Work remotely as a Dutch Account Executive from Athens or Barcelona. Manage the full B2B sales cycle and grow with a global tech-focused sales organisation.
German B2B Sales, fully remote
We are currently looking for a German employee in sales for a fully remote position. Full-time and part-time positions available.
German Key Account Manager, fully remote
We are currently looking for a German Key Account Manager for a fully remote position. You will be responsible for conducting company meetings and presentations, guiding sales processes from start to finish.
Currency
The Turkish Lira (₺) is the official currency. Turkey is not part of the EU
Famous people
Meltem Cumbul, Cem Yilmaz and Tarkan are some famous Turkish residents
Population
Turkey has ~85 million residents, with most of them living in Istanbul (~15 million)
Typical food
Kebab, Köfte, Lahmacun, Pide & Menemen
Avg. working week
The average Turkish working week is 40 hours a week, 8 hours daily, 5 days a week
Location
Turkey is located on the crossroads of Europe and Asia, but 97% of the landmass is located in Asia
Languages
The official language is Turkish, they use their own alphabet and the Latin script
Healthcare
Public healthcare covers most residents, including expats. Private healthcare for private hospitals and clinics
What you need to know about working in Turkey
In the Turkish workplaces, there is a mix of traditional values and modern business practices. As with everything in Turkey, the Middle Eastern and European cultures both have an influence on the work culture. Workplaces are often quite hierarchical. The decisions are mostly made by the top workers within a company. Seniority matters, so you have to respect people and address them formally.
Istanbul is the biggest city in Turkey, with a lot of job opportunities, especially for expats. The tourism industry is part of 12% of the GDP, but you can also find job offers in education, IT, customer service and marketing. There is a need in Istanbul for people who speak English but also manage other languages like Danish, Norwegian, Finnish, German, Dutch, and more.
Why should you get a job in Turkey?
Turkey is the perfect place to experience a mix of Middle Eastern and European cultures. The country itself offers ancient history, magical coastlines and lots of wild nature to explore. With a job in Turkey, you can also live an affordable life. Living costs in Turkey are relatively cheap, especially compared to western European countries.
Taxes in Turkey
Only tax residents have to pay taxes in Turkey. You become one if you live in the country for 183 or more in a calendar year. Individual income tax is between 15 and 40%, depending on your income. You must pay the highest tax if your income exceeds 880,000 Turkish Lira per year. Most likely, you will pay around 20-27% taxes of your income in Turkey.
What you need to fix when you start working in Turkey
- Residence permit; required if you stay longer than your visa allows
- Work permit; usually arranged by your employer
- Tax number; required for banking, contracts, utilities
- Health insurance; mandatory for residence permit
- Open up a Turkish bank account; needed for salary payments
- Get a local SIM card
Popular cities in Turkey
Speak to one of our recruiters
Life in Turkey
Living in Turkey means living in a country full of contrasts. From the bustling cities to calm coastal towns. You can find both conservative and liberal values within the country. Food is really important within the culture, with fresh and affordable food buyable everywhere on the streets in the big cities. The Islam is widely practiced.
Turkey also has multiple national holidays, like Republic Day on October 29th. Enjoy the fireworks, parades and concerts on this special day, where the Turkish people celebrate the proclamation of the Republic of Turkey in 1923.
A crosscroad of cultures
If you want to step out of your comfort zone and experience new cultures, Turkey is the perfect place. Experience Europe and Asia in one place. This mix of two entirely different cultures makes Turkey an interesting place to live in. You will experience mosques standing next to modern skyscrapers, be able to eat all kinds of different cultural inspired foods, and hear a lot of different languages everyday.
Turkey is a country with strong local traditions, mostly focussed around faith. Religious holidays like Ramadan are really important for the inhabitants and it’s expected that expats respect this as well. Family is also very important in Turkey. Families stay in contact and even live close together a lot of the time. There are many family gatherings as well.
Explore Turkish cuisine
The mix of cultures is also visible in Turkish cuisine. There are differences in specialities within different regions. Along the Aegean coast you can find light dishes, most of them olive oil-based. The Southeast brings more spicy and meat-heavy foods, while you can eat delicious corn and anchovies along the Black Sea coast.
In the Turkish cities, you can also experience the big street food culture. Almost every street offers the most delicious regional products, like lahmacun or simit. You can start trying out the different street food courts and find out which one is your favorite.
Finding accommodation in Turkey
To start your housing search, go online and visit rental sites like sahibinden.com or emlakjet.com. It could also be that your employer abroad has apartments available or knows some good places to apply. In any case, it is smart to start the search well in advance so that you do not stand without a roof over your head the first time. These are the average monthly rental costs in Turkey:
- 1-bedroom apartment in the city center: €500-€1,150
- 1-bedroom apartment outside the city center: €350-€750
- Room in a shared apartment: €250-€700
Cost of living in Turkey
Turkey is relatively cheap, compared to most European countries. We list the most important costs of life in Turkey:
- Groceries: €150-€300 a month
- Meal at an inexpensive restaurant: €7-€15
- Coffee in a café: €2,50-€5
- 0.5L Beer in a bar: €4,50-€8
- Gym membership: €25-€60
- Cinema ticket: €7-€12
Still not convinced about Turkey?
Think about the endless possibilities life in Turkey has to offer. The big city life in Istanbul, with its countless sightseeing highlights:
- Visit the Golden Horn neighborhood for example. This is an area with colorful streets and art galleries.
- If you live in Istanbul for a longer time, also visit the Prince Islands, where cars are not allowed. You will find peace strolling along the pine-scented trails there.
If you like history and culture, Turkey also offers a lot of possibilities:
- Stay in a cave hotel in the Cappadocia region and take one of the famous hot-air balloon rides at sunrise.
- Or visit Safranbolu, a town that is UNESCO-listed, because of the Ottoman-era architecture and cobbled streets.
In Antalya you can visit one of the world’s oldest churches, which was built in the 4th or 5th century. Today, the Church of Saint Peter has become a museum you can visit.
FAQ
Yes, if you want to live and work in Turkey you need to get a work permit. If you have this work permit, you are officially a legal resident of Turkey.
In Turkey, most people in the popular tourist destinations speak English very well. Especially in Istanbul, most locals speak both Turkish and English. Younger generations tend to have a better grasp of English compared to the older people. But it is very recommendable to learn some Turkish phrases as a sign of respect, and it will make things easier if you plan to stick around for a while.
This depends on the location you are going to. Turkey is a big country, with different weather expectations everywhere. Along the western and southern coasts you will live in a Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and mild winters with rain. Central Turkey has more extreme weather, with high temperatures in the summer. Istanbul offers a more transitional climate, with nice hot summers and cold winters with sometimes a bit of snow.
Turkey has a great public transport system. Istanbul is developing their public transport, but it’s a really good way to travel through the city. Right now, the city is developing a metro system, to add to the existing trains and buses. You can also use the trains to travel from city to city. Tickets can be purchased at the stations or online.
There are always benefits when learning another language: you have the possibility to blend in a new culture, and Turks are famous for being really friendly and helping you, even more, when they realise you’re trying to speak their language. You can check HERE for Turkish courses with immersive experiences for you to learn the actual culture behind the language.
