A vibrant history fused with cutting edge modernity, a warm climate and even more warming welcome, a fabulous food culture…no wonder expat interest in Turkey is increasing.
As Daily Sabbah explains “Turkey, being a bridge between the East and West and blessed with incredible natural and historical beauty, is a hot spot for expats who want to experience living in a new country as well as starting a new life”.
That said, finding a job that matches your unique skill set with the demands of the Turkish economy can be tough. And that’s before we consider language; though English is spoken widely in the main commercial and urban centres, to truly settle in, learning Turkish here is a must; without it, you miss out on so much.
As such, when choosing a city to live in, it’s important you consider the job opportunities available, the housing options, and your level of language acquisition in order to find the perfect match. We’re here to help with that; from Istanbul to Trabzon, here are 7 of the best cities in Turkey to settle in as an expat.
Istanbul
Of course, we had to start here.
Istanbul is a city rich in diverse culture and history. Straddling Europe and Asia, and enjoying a unique vibe all of its own, it’s also one of the biggest cities in the world, and certainly one of its most influential, with must-see attractions, thought-provoking museums and historical monuments all over the city to enjoy.
Located on the shores of the Bosphorus Strait, the climate is characterised by consistently warm weather without stifling heat between April and October. During the period from October to March, there is a rainy season to be aware of, mind, with temperatures dropping to single figures.
The city is particularly well suited to those who dream of building a career in finance, as Istanbul is considered to be one of the world’s major economic centres. Having work experience, it will not be difficult for specialists to find a well-paid job here. Qualified professionals earn from $1,000 per month.
What’s more, the accommodation here is both some of the most traditional and modern in the country, with turkeyhomes.com telling us that the average property price in Istanbul is around 2’500’000 TRY, which is equivalent to just over £100’000.
It should also be noted that the public transport network here runs efficiently and is affordable to use.
Read: 9 places to explore the culture and heritage of Istanbul, Turkey.
Antalya
Antalya, Turkey’s fastest growing city and the gateway to the country’s glorious Turquoise Coast (sometimes referred to as the Turkish Riviera), boasts a cosmopolitan vibe, temperate climate, and a fantastic mix of beach life and urban charm. With the Taurus Mountains as a backdrop, there’s so much for nature lovers to enjoy on their doorstep.
What’s more, the food scene in the city is superb, with a healthy focus on seasonal fresh fruit and vegetables, and grilled seafood taking centre stage. That Mediterranean diet you’ve heard so much about? It’s here, but with flavours turned up several notches via dry spices, chilli and a little local flair!
Of course, kebabs and other freshly cooked flatbread dishes – like gozleme and lahmacun – are also found here in abundance, and are reliably spectacular. Put simply; you’ll eat extremely well in Antalya.
Fuelled by this delicious cuisine, tourism and hospitality is the main sector here, with services in general dominating the Antaylan economy. The average salary in the city is $847.
Izmir
Known as the most ‘Western’ facing city in Turkey, both geographically and culturally, like the rest of the country, the climate in this city is dry with hot summers and mild winters, during which there are no severe frosts and snow rarely falls.
The tourist sector in Izmir, the country’s third biggest city, is actively developing. For residents and visitors to Turkey, the city has a well-developed infrastructure, and Izmir is home to the second most important port in the country. As such, various elements of the maritime business represent the largest employer here. People work in the port, are engaged in logistics operations, and also are involved in shipping. In addition to the maritime business, the city has a wealth of job opportunities in textiles and agriculture.
Ankara
Ankara is the capital of Turkey, and the city is steeped in history. With the country’s largest museum found here, as well as Atatürk’s mausoleum and the ancient citadel district, you’ll find many chances to dig deep into Turkey’s past in Ankara.
The city is located at an altitude of 3000ft above sea level, so the climate here is quite arid. On hot summer days, the temperature can top 36°С. However, due to the dry climate, heat is tolerated much more easily than in cities with humid climates. In winter, the temperature can drop to below freezing and snow isn’t uncommon.
Since Ankara is the most popular stop-off for tourists visiting world famous Cappadocia, the hospitality sector is the city’s key industry. Ankara is also the home of all of Turkey’s foreign embassies, meaning for those with experience, working in the field of diplomacy can be lucrative here.
Alanya
Alanya is a city famous for its luxury resorts and seaport. Summers are hot and dry, while winters are warm but humid, with temperatures very rarely dropping into single figures. Most rainfall occurs between November and February.
Owing to its prime position on the Turquoise Coast, its historic castles and fortresses, and with a whopping 300 sunny days a year on average, tourism occurs all year round, and jobs within the services and hospitality sectors are plentiful.
Life here is cosmopolitan yet laid back, with the fashion industry and fruit and vegetable farming the other major economic focuses of Alanya. Interestingly, in 2019, a plantation growing mango, passion fruit, lychee and other tropical fruits not native to Turkey opened. If you love to recline on the beach eating exotic fruit, Alanya could be for you!
Bursa
Bursa, some 2 hour’s drive south from Istanbul and sitting at the foot of Mount Uludag, is the centre of the automotive industry in Turkey. As the 14th largest producer of vehicles globally (exporting over $20 billion of vehicles and components yearly) and with TEMSA, Otokar and BMC all major players in van and bus production, if your specialism lies in mechanics, engineering or manufacturing, you could well find Bursa to be a lucrative place to move.
Owing to its position on the western end of the Silk Road, textiles have been big business here for centuries, too, with the Bursa Textile show held each October attracting the great and the good of the fashion world.
Read: Living in Turkey as an expat
Because of this forward looking production, the infrastructure in Bursa – there is a subway and advanced public transport system – is at a high level and amenities are cutting edge, with healthcare some of the best in Turkey.
Concerning the wellness side of things, the city has a huge number of hot springs and thermal baths. Finally, Bursa is well known for its abundance of urban parks; so much so, in fact, that the city is fondly nicknamed Green Bursa. In short, if you’re keen to take care of both body and mind, Bursa is a wonderful place to settle.
Trabzon
Trabzon, on the Black Sea coast of north eastern Turkey, is famous for its abundance of ancient sites. A major trade centre for centuries, and a significant site in the history of Marco Polo, its position as the most important and busy Black Sea port and with an international airport has helped maintain Trabzon’s status as an economic powerhouse in the region.
Having been identified by both the government and international investors as having the potential for development, significant funding has recently flowed into Trabzon. Agriculture remains its largest industry, and if you have specialist knowledge in farming and food production, you could find the city to be very lucrative, indeed.