Living in Ankara
What it really costs to live in Ankara, what you can earn, the visas that get you in, and the taxes you'll pay — for Turkey, updated 2026. As Turkey's capital, Ankara commands the country's highest rents — but also its deepest job market. Ankara lies in Western Asia. The main language is Turkish. The currency is the lira. Turkey borders Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Greece.
Cost of Living in Ankara
Full Monthly Breakdown for Ankara
How Ankara Compares to Other Turkey Cities
Ankara is not the only option in Turkey. Here is how its single-person monthly cost (€700) stacks up against the other cities we track — Antalya is the cheapest, Istanbul the priciest.
| City | Single / month | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| Antalya | €680/mo | -3% vs Ankara |
| Izmir | €750/mo | +7% vs Ankara |
| Istanbul | €950/mo | +36% vs Ankara |
What You Can Earn in Turkey
Typical gross annual salaries in Turkey by sector (entry · median · senior). Ankara pay usually sits around the national median.
| Sector | Entry | Median | Senior |
|---|---|---|---|
| it | €8 000 | €15 000 | €25 000 |
| retail | €7 500 | €11 000 | €15 500 |
| finance | €22 500 | €32 000 | €45 000 |
| education | €11 000 | €16 000 | €22 500 |
| healthcare | €5 000 | €10 000 | €18 000 |
| engineering | €19 500 | €28 000 | €39 000 |
| hospitality | €8 500 | €12 000 | €17 000 |
| construction | €13 500 | €19 000 | €26 500 |
Living in Ankara: Safety, Health & Climate
Ankara shares Turkey's wider quality-of-life profile. Ankara has a mediterranean climate. Here is what daily life looks like on the things that matter most when you relocate.
Visa Routes to Turkey
Affording Ankara is only half the question — you also need a visa that lets you stay in Turkey. The main routes:
- A job offer is normally required for the main work route.
- Permanent residence after about 5 years.
- Citizenship after ~8 years — dual nationality allowed.
- Investment route from about €360 000 (USD).
Taxes in Turkey
Top marginal rate 35%, VAT 18%. Special regime — Requires legal source verification
Settling into Ankara
- Foreigners can open a local bank account in Turkey.
- Budget around €1 800 for first-month setup in Ankara.
- Regulated professions needing credential recognition: Medicine, Law, Engineering, Pharmacy, Psychology, Architecture.
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How much does it cost to live in Ankara?
A single person in central Ankara should budget about €700/month, roughly €595 outside the centre. A family of four needs around €1 300/month.
Can I get a visa to live in Turkey?
Yes — the main route usually needs a job offer, with permanent residence reachable in about 5 years. See the full Turkey visa comparison for the route that fits you.
Sources: salaries, taxes, safety, healthcare and visa data from World Bank, OECD, the Global Peace Index and official government portals. Cost-of-living figures are community-sourced benchmarks — a guide, not a quote. Last reviewed 2026-05.
Related: Turkey Guide · Visa Comparison · All Countries