Living Costs in Turkey 2027 for Türkiye Bursları Scholars
What life costs on a Türkiye Scholarships stipend: the lira's slide, a budget calculator, Istanbul vs Ankara vs smaller cities, and money-saving tips from scholars.
ScholarshipUnion Editorial
2 min read
Updated Oct 5, 2026
Living Costs in Turkey
Turkey's cost of living has soared after years of very high inflation, which peaked at 85.5% in October 2022, according to TÜİK. The lira went from 1.8 to the US dollar in 2013 to about 49 in September 2026. Here's what that means for your daily life as a scholar.
The Lira's Slide: A Visual History
If you receive money from family in USD, EUR or GBP, it goes much further than the TL stipend. Many scholars supplement their income through international transfers.
Budget Calculator
Adjust the sliders to estimate your monthly budget against your stipend.
You can cover basic expenses on the stipend alone.
Istanbul vs Ankara vs Smaller Cities
| Expense | Istanbul | Ankara | Small city |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shared room | 8–15K TL | 5–10K TL | 2.5–5K TL |
| Monthly food | 3–5K TL | 2.5–4K TL | 1.8–3K TL |
| Transport | 1.5–2.5K TL | 800–1.5K TL | 400–800 TL |
| Total (no rent) | 4.5–7.5K | 3.3–5.5K | 2.2–3.8K |
In smaller cities, the 9,500 TL master's stipend covers basic needs comfortably if you stay in KYK. In Istanbul, food and transport alone can take most of a 6,500 TL bachelor's stipend, and renting is out of reach without help. From their second year, master's and PhD students get a housing allowance (6,000 TL in Istanbul and Ankara, 5,000 TL elsewhere) instead of a dorm place.
Money-Saving Tips from Scholars
Eating out costs 3–5x more than cooking. Learn Turkish staples like lentil soup (mercimek çorbası) and bulgur pilav. Buy from local pazars (open markets) for 40–60% cheaper produce.
Your student ID gets discounts on museums, transport and some restaurants. The Istanbulkart student rate is 50% cheaper. Ask everywhere for an "öğrenci indirimi".
These discount grocery chains are dramatically cheaper than Migros or Carrefour. Shop at A101, BİM and Şok for basics; save Migros for specialty items.
Letgo (now part of Sahibinden), Dolap and Facebook Marketplace have great deals on furniture, electronics and clothes. Departing students often sell everything cheaply at semester end.
Understand the Full Scholarship Package
Beyond living costs, see what the scholarship actually covers and what it doesn't on the scholarship amount page.