Turkey
A solid all-round choice. Ranked 33 of 40, strongest on affordability, softest on retiree visa.
Key facts
Visa & residency
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.
Turkey has no dedicated retirement visa; retirees typically use the renewable short-term residence permit based on sufficient means, or gain residence by buying property (minimum 200,000 USD since January 2025). Applications are filed online at e-ikamet.goc.gov.tr.
Healthcare
Universal public coverage runs through the SGK social security institution, open to foreigners after one year of residency; public hospitals can have longer waits and mostly Turkish-speaking staff, while private hospitals offer modern facilities and English-speaking doctors.
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.
Cost of living
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.
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.
Safety & climate
Turkey ranks 139th on the 2024 Global Peace Index with a score of 2.780, one of the lower-ranked countries; everyday coastal life is generally calm but the national score reflects regional tensions and militarisation.
Mediterranean on the southern and western coasts, continental in the interior, with humid subtropical and oceanic zones along the Black Sea.
Coastal Mediterranean areas such as Antalya and Izmir have hot dry summers and mild rainy winters, while the interior plateau has hot summers and cold snowy winters.
Community & language
Large established foreign and retiree communities cluster in Istanbul, Antalya, Izmir and the Aegean and Mediterranean towns of Bodrum, Marmaris, Fethiye and Kusadasi, where English-speaking services, clubs and social groups are common.
Turkish is the sole official language; English is common in tourist and expat coastal areas but limited elsewhere.
Taxes
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.
The United States and Turkey have an income tax treaty signed in 1996 to reduce double taxation of income earned across the two countries.
Turkish lira (TRY). Persistent high inflation, so budgets in TRY change quickly.
Compare Turkey with its closest rivals
The three countries whose RetireScore sits nearest.
