Turkey vs Greece
Two retirement contenders on one comparable scale. Same published formula, same source-cited data; every fact below keeps its citation.
Axis by axis
- HealthcareTied
- Retiree visaGreece +28
- AffordabilityTurkey +17
- SafetyGreece +48
- ClimateTied
- Expat communityTied
The facts, side by side
Each value links to the exact source it was verified against.
Financially Independent Person (FIP) national long-stay visa and residence permit
A single applicant must show about 42,112.50 TRY per month (1.5 times the 2026 net minimum wage of 28,075 TRY), roughly 1,200 USD; pensioners can rely on foreign or local pension statements.
Minimum passive income of about EUR 3,500 per month for a single applicant, plus roughly 20% (EUR 700) for a spouse and 15% (EUR 525) per dependent child. Over USD 3,000 per month, so a high band.
Most expats take private or international insurance for faster access, English-speaking care and international-standard facilities; health coverage is mandatory for residence permits for those under 65.
Non-EU expats typically need private health insurance; public insurance (EFKA/IKA) does not cover private hospitals, and proof of health insurance is required for residence permits. Private facilities offer newer equipment and shorter waits.
Roughly 1,000 to 1,500 USD per month for a single person: about 582 EUR in living costs excluding rent plus a city-centre one-bedroom rent around 26,758 TRY.
Cost of living (excluding rent) is about 23% lower than the US; including rent about 36% lower. A single person's estimated monthly costs are around EUR 784 excluding rent, and a family of four around EUR 2,767 excluding rent.
A one-bedroom apartment in a city centre averages about 26,758 TRY per month; rent in New York is about 346.7 percent higher than in Istanbul.
Rent is roughly 66% lower than in the US. A one-bedroom city-centre apartment averages about EUR 484 per month and a three-bedroom about EUR 821.
Mediterranean on the southern and western coasts, continental in the interior, with humid subtropical and oceanic zones along the Black Sea.
Under the US-Turkey tax treaty pensions are generally taxable in the recipient's country of residence, with relief from double taxation provided through foreign tax credits.
Greece offers a flat 7% tax on foreign-sourced income, including foreign pensions, for qualifying new tax residents, exhausting the tax liability on that income; it applies for up to 15 years and is paid in one instalment by the last working day of July. Application by 31 March of the tax year.
Turkish lira (TRY). Persistent high inflation, so budgets in TRY change quickly.
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