Need Information - Those who have Lived in Turkey as locals and expats | ExpatWoman.com
 

Need Information - Those who have Lived in Turkey as locals and expats

56
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 01 October 2014 - 23:45

Hi Ladies,

As always I run back to you lovelies when it comes to being completely clueless coz here i find gems which you can not find anywhere.

We are soon to be moved to turkey Jan-Feb next year as expats (we are a family of 3, planning to expand if God's willing), my husband is being moved by his organization... SO need to know first of all the cost of living in turkey as we have been told its v low as compare to Dubai, whats the best about living in Istanbul and the worse? howz the scooling system? can you hire house help like maids in dubai? are they expensive? where wud u live a villa or an apt? roughly living a decent more towards a comfortable luxurious life in istanbul would it be possible n how much roughly wud it cost a family of 3. (I knw no one can asnwer this question exactly) but any examples wud be welcome on costs etc. and your experiences. what wud the best areas be to live in for apts/villas?

cant wait for your input and we get this conversation rolling and as always I would just feel so much more comfortable to know what we are getting into and to get an idea on how life is going to be like :)

4
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 13 June 2017 - 15:46
Hi Njj, I've just moved to Dubai from Istanbul and I can answer what ever you are wondering about Turkey. Sorry for my late reply, I've been a bit busy with move in operations here:) Cost of living: Depends on what you are looking for ofcourse. For the prices that you're giving as an annually rent here you can buy an appartment in Turkey:) We're also LL in Istanbul, we kept our life sytle here similiar to Istanbul, the rent we're paying here is triple more for our appartment in Istanbul. Rents:You are paying the rents monthly. Petrol: Petrol is 3 times expensive in Turkey comparing to Dubai. Schools: Depends on where you wanna live. We have good international schools in Turkey too but very few. General shopping: %10 cheaper than Dubai Cars: 2-3 times expensive than Dubai. Housemaids: My friends started to get ladies from Phlipines as well, it is possible and more or less the same price here in Dubai. I would recommend you to proceed like this other wise it will be hard for you to communicate with your helper as they are really local people. Living location suggestion: Depends on where you work, it is really really important! We used to live in Gokturk, and we loved it! Security: Not as secure as Dubai, but again depends on where you live. Actually we can set everything up together if we can meet. I'm a regular of EW Emirates Golf Club meetings, even I'll be there this evening and tomorrow morning. Ask me to Helga as xN:) she knows me:) Istanbul is a really unique city, now I thought about my past life and felt how much I missed it. I do really enjoy living here in Dubai, but Istanbul, is another thing. Hope you'll have that much great time there and understand what I mean.. edited by xN on 15/10/2014 Hi xN! I've read here that you lived in Gokturk, in Istanbul. I am moving to Istanbul in a couple of months and I would appreciate any piece of advice about Gokturk, best communities in Gokturk, real estate agents, etc.
56
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 13 November 2014 - 22:51
Hey XN .. Sorry its been a while i logged back on this forum... we have been in Australia and when we got back we all got the cold... still recovering... anyway thanks for the summary.. however i would love to knw more.. It would be great if we could meet up.. let me know which next get together wud u b at and i will def b there .. or we cud may be meet up otherwise if thats ok with u.. i will be eagerly waiting for ur reply :) am so happy i have someone who could help me a lil before we move as am a lil worried abt moving to a new place n setlling in n all ..
122
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 15 October 2014 - 16:10
Hi Njj, I've just moved to Dubai from Istanbul and I can answer what ever you are wondering about Turkey. Sorry for my late reply, I've been a bit busy with move in operations here:) Cost of living: Depends on what you are looking for ofcourse. For the prices that you're giving as an annually rent here you can buy an appartment in Turkey:) We're also LL in Istanbul, we kept our life sytle here similiar to Istanbul, the rent we're paying here is triple more for our appartment in Istanbul. Rents:You are paying the rents monthly. Petrol: Petrol is 3 times expensive in Turkey comparing to Dubai. Schools: Depends on where you wanna live. We have good international schools in Turkey too but very few. General shopping: %10 cheaper than Dubai Cars: 2-3 times expensive than Dubai. Housemaids: My friends started to get ladies from Phlipines as well, it is possible and more or less the same price here in Dubai. I would recommend you to proceed like this other wise it will be hard for you to communicate with your helper as they are really local people. Living location suggestion: Depends on where you work, it is really really important! We used to live in Gokturk, and we loved it! Security: Not as secure as Dubai, but again depends on where you live. Actually we can set everything up together if we can meet. I'm a regular of EW Emirates Golf Club meetings, even I'll be there this evening and tomorrow morning. Ask me to Helga as xN:) she knows me:) Istanbul is a really unique city, now I thought about my past life and felt how much I missed it. I do really enjoy living here in Dubai, but Istanbul, is another thing. Hope you'll have that much great time there and understand what I mean.. <em>edited by xN on 15/10/2014</em>
56
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 04 October 2014 - 17:28
Thanks ladies.. Any idea what wud a 3-4 bed villa rent be per month? Any other ladies with experience with schooling plz provide ur feedback? Maids i wud still want to knw more on live in maids if anyone knws abt it. Also roughly obviously am not askignfor the the cost of living but ad compared to dubai is it higher or lower? As we have been told its lower thats why ppl are paid less in terms of salary? Is this really true? Howz the security in istanbul and how abt medical care?
83
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 02 October 2014 - 10:42
Hi, Good luck with the move! It is a beautiful place, but it is hard to live there if you are travelling too far daily.. So you have to choose your house based on the location. The rents are not crazy like here. But petrol is! So again, you have to choose your house carefully. I can't comment on schools (no kids) or cost of living(too many variables). We used part time maids, some friends used live-ins from other countries, but I have no idea about the visa process and costs. google expats in turkey, there are several forums you will find a lot more info. Change is always good, good luck ;-)
56
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 02 October 2014 - 00:24
Hi, I have a very good friend who lives in Istambul so can respond to few questions. Worst thing about Istambul is the traffic. If you don't know Turkish, it is difficult to communicate with locals. With regards to schools, I've heard that you do not have much choice. If you are French, I've heard good things about the Lycee of Galatasaray. Last time I went to Istambul, i was told it was burnt: not sure if it's true and if yes, don't know if it was fixed. You can find easily part-time housemaids who come and clean your house on a part time basis. Good luck. been there once on a business trip so pretty much knw how horrible the traffic is... can i not have a live in maid hired there or can i take along my kenyan maid frm dubai?
228
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 02 October 2014 - 00:16
Hi, I have a very good friend who lives in Istambul so can respond to few questions. Worst thing about Istambul is the traffic. If you don't know Turkish, it is difficult to communicate with locals. With regards to schools, I've heard that you do not have much choice. If you are French, I've heard good things about the Lycee of Galatasaray. Last time I went to Istambul, i was told it was burnt: not sure if it's true and if yes, don't know if it was fixed. You can find easily part-time housemaids who come and clean your house on a part time basis. Good luck.