
Antayla, Turkey
A retiree in Turkey shares his experiences living in Kemer, Antayla and Istanbul.
Antalya
I first came to Turkey back in 1988 to work as a Quality Advisor on a 5 star hotel complex outside what is now the popular resort town of Kemer. After my late wife joined me one month later, five weeks later she surprised me by suggesting that on completion of my contract we buy a piece of land and have a house built. This is what we did with my being here ever since. My wife unfortunately died of cancer in 2007
All year
We had been planing on moving to live in Spain. However, my late wife said Turkey was much better than Spain.
Yes. In fourteen countries spread through the Middle East, Asia and North Africa.
12 years
Get FREE quotes from up to 6 international movers from The Relocator. Save up to 50% on your move to Turkey! The Relocator offers an easy and free service to receive quotes from renowned and certified movers worldwide. They only work with qualified moving companies. Over 500 movers worldwide have already joined their service to help you get the best price and service for your international move. Get your moving quotes.
GET QUOTES
Only Turkey
Trying to learn Turkish, which I find very difficult.
a far more relaxing lifestyle than in the UK. Being able to live in shorts and tops for most of the year
I would not try and bring any goods into Turkey that I could not manage as excess luggage. I say this as on two separate occasions, I have had massive problems in getting goods out of the Turkish customs.
Very relaxing. From Kemer where I used to live, there were very few expats living there, except during the summer months when a lot come to spend time in their holiday homes. In Antalya there are quite a number of expats living there from various countries. In Istanbul where I now live is a large number of expats, spread out in different areas. There is an active group called Internations, who hold a variety of events during the year. In the area where my Turkish wife and I live, there does not seem many expats living here. Turkey is full of ancient ruins, which are well worth seeing. Istanbul has itself a great wealth of cultural activities as well as many sights to visit. Here there are a variety of recreational activities to pursue, with a wide diversity of nightlife suitable for all ages.
To live in Turkey it is best to obtain a residence permit. These are quite easy to obtain from an Emniyet office that are in all main towns and cities. You did have to obtain your first residence permit from the Turkish Embassy outside of Turkey, this however, may have now changed. The cost of a residence permit varies depending on which countries passport you hold. It is best to go online to check on the latest information. Before you can obtain a residence permit you need to have either a rental agreement, or a Tapu (house deed title). Your first residence permit will be for three months, with your next for either six months or one year. The longest you can obtain is for five years. Under a new proposed law, if you have had a residence permit for eight unbroken years, you will be given a permanent visa. At present a discussion is going on about compulsory health insurance. this is very important as if you are over 65 yrs old, it is virtually impossible to obtain your own health insurance policy. The government has what is called SGK, which an expat could join. However, at present this situation is unclear. The British government is now in talks with the Turkish government to sort this situation out.
I had a house built after buying a plot of land with a Turkish friend. It is not difficult to buy property here, but despite what UK and Turkish real estate agencies that you do not need to use a Avukat (lawyer) i recommend you use one. It is best to ask other expats which lawyer they used, as like anywhere, some are better than others. Renting is quite straightforward, although in some cases you are required to pay upfront a payment for anything from one month to one year in advance.
Yes. Costs of electric, gas and water are far cheaper than in the UK. Also taxes are also less. The cost of cars here are more than in the UK, with 2nd hand car prices here very expensive compared to the UK. Petrol and disel prices are if not one of the most expensive in the world, even more than in the UK.
If renting, please note the rent charged is increased every year. As mentioned above, health Insurance must be taken into account, if over 65yrs old.
The cost will depend on which part of the country you are living in. Rent in Antalya being far cheaper than in Istanbul. A 2 bedroom apartment in Antalya can cost around 700TL per month, which at present is under 200 pound sterling. Rental costs in Istanbul are or can be extremely expensive and in some areas on par with those in London.
Yes, there are many excellent hospitals in Turkey, with there being no waiting to see a doctor, or to have an operation. An ever growing amount of people come to Turkey for operations as the costs here are very reasonable compared to those in the UK. I personally have had two operations here with no problems at all. As I am covered by private health insurance I do not know what costs are. But have been informed by friends costs here are very reasonable. These do however, vary, especially here in Istanbul. I have found the Baskent Hospital to be excellent for both service and costs.
Get a free international health insurance quote from our partner, Allianz Care, whose plans ensure that you have access to quality healthcare whenever you need it. Allianz's flexible solutions allow you to tailor your cover to meet your needs and budget.
Get a Quote
No. In the Kemer area of Antalya, the biggest crime was usually housebreaking. I did however get cheated out of both my money and car by what I thought to be my best Turkish friend. He unfortunately, turned out to be nothing more than a conman. In view of this, never lend money to anyone, unless you can afford to loose it.
here in Istanbul you do not really need a car. There are plenty of public transport facilities, with costs very reasonable. This includes, buses, taxis, metro and ferries. Long distance coach journeys are also very cheap with the coaches very comfortable. On all my years of using public transport I have never had any safety concerns.
Yes
It is better to rent before buying. That way if you don't like where you are living you can move elsewhere. The Antalya region can get extremely hot during July and agust with temperatures being sometimes in the 50c. So unless you like it this hot, be careful about buying property there.
Get a quote for health insurance from our partner, Allianz Care.
Get a Quote
Get a quote for health insurance from our partner, Allianz Care.
Get a Quote
Get a quote for health insurance from our partner, Allianz Care.
Get a Quote
Get a quote for health insurance from our partner, Allianz Care.
Get a Quote
Guide to Living in Antalya, Turkey
Antalya, Turkey: Cost of Living, Healthcare and What to Know About Living in Antalya
Turkey Forum
Join our Turkey forum to meet other people living in Antalya, Turkey.
Contribute
Help other expats and newcomers by answering questions about the challenges and adventures of living in Antalya.
An overview of healthcare in Turkey. Topics include: health insurance requirement for residence permit, hospitals in Turkey, quality of medical care and more.
Expats talk about what it's like living in Antalya, Turkey: Cost of Living, Healthcare and What Newcomers to Antalya Should Know
A retiree in Turkey shares his experiences living in Kemer, Antayla and Istanbul.
Get a quote for health insurance from our partner, Allianz Care.
Get a Quote
Get a quote for health insurance from our partner, Allianz Care.
Get a Quote
What is it like to move to Turkey in 2022? Members offer advice for newcomers.
Get a quote for health insurance from our partner, Allianz Care.
Get a Quote
Get a quote for health insurance from our partner, Allianz Care.
Get a Quote
Antalya, Turkey: Cost of Living, Healthcare and What to Know About Living in Antalya
Turkey Forum
Meet other people living in Antalya.
An overview of healthcare in Turkey. Topics include: health insurance requirement for residence permit, hospitals in Turkey, quality of medical care and more.
Expats talk about what it's like living in Antalya, Turkey: Cost of Living, Healthcare and What Newcomers to Antalya Should Know
Contribute
Help other expats and newcomers by answering questions about the challenges and adventures of living in Antalya.
A retiree in Turkey shares his experiences living in Kemer, Antayla and Istanbul.
Copyright 1997-2022 Burlingame Interactive, Inc.