Cost Of Living In Türkiye For International Students

International students shopping for groceries at a vibrant Turkish market near a university campus.

Planning to study in Türkiye in 2025? You’re in for a treat, Türkiye offers top-tier education and a wallet-friendly lifestyle that’s hard to beat! From Istanbul’s bustling streets to Izmir’s coastal charm, living costs are low compared to Europe or the US, letting you focus on your studies and adventures. At EduTurkiye, we’ve helped 500–800 students annually, like Sarah from Cameroon and Ali from Turkmenistan, budget smartly for their Turkish journey. Let’s break down the cost of living in Türkiye for international students in 2025 and show you how EduTurkiye can make it even easier. Ready? Let’s dive in!

Housing: Affordable Options Galore

Housing is your biggest expense, but Türkiye keeps it reasonable. University dorms, managed by the KYK Foundation, cost 3000–7000 TRY ($90–$150) per month, offering 368,000+ beds across 400 residences. Private shared apartments in cities like Istanbul run 10,000–25,000 TRY ($250–$600) monthly, while cheaper cities like Eskişehir or Konya dip to 4,500–7,000 TRY ($115–$170). Edu Turkiye helped its students find an affordable Istanbul dorm, and we’ll guide you to housing that fits your budget.

Food: Delicious and Budget-Friendly

Turkish cuisine is a student’s dream, tasty and cheap! University cafeterias serve meals for 10–40 TRY ($0.30–$1.20), while a street food pide or dürüm costs 200–350 TRY ($5–$10). Groceries for a month, including staples like bread, eggs, and veggies, run 3,000–5,000 TRY ($90–$150) at local markets. Aisha from Kenya, who joined a cultural club with EduTurkiye’s help, saves by shopping at bazaars in Istanbul, our budgeting tips will keep your food costs low, too.

Transportation: Get Around on a Dime

Türkiye’s public transport is a steal with student discounts. A monthly pass in Istanbul, Ankara, or Izmir costs 300–600 TRY ($9–$18), covering buses, metros, and ferries. One-way tickets with a student card are as low as 3–15 TRY ($0.10–$0.45). EduTurkiye’s advisors, with offices in Tajikistan and Cameroon, share hacks to maximize these discounts, helping students like Sarah explore Türkiye’s cultural sites on a budget.

Health Insurance: Mandatory but Affordable

Health insurance is required for your student visa and residence permit, costing 1,000–2,000 TRY ($30–$60) annually for private plans or 1,500 TRY ($45) for General Health Insurance, covering state hospitals. Many scholarships, like Türkiye Scholarships, include insurance, saving you cash. Edu Turkiye guided a Turkmenistani student to a plan that fit her budget, ensuring worry-free healthcare.

Tuition Fees: Quality Education, Low Cost

Public universities charge 300–4,000 TRY ($9–$120) per year, while private ones range from 6,000–90,000 TRY ($180–$2,700). Top private universities like Koç or Sabancı offer scholarships covering up to 100% of tuition. EduTurkiye helped Sarah secure a full scholarship at Koç University, slashing her costs. Our team, soon expanding to Libya, will match you with affordable programs and funding options.

Expenses: Visas, Books, and More

Beyond the basics, plan for a few extras. A student visa costs 1,600–3,200 TRY ($50–$100), and a residence permit fee is 2,500–5,000 TRY ($80–$150) annually. Textbooks and supplies run 500–1,000 TRY ($15–$30) per year, but second-hand options save more. EduTurkiye’s visa support and budgeting guides helped Ali from Turkmenistan keep these costs in check, and we’ll do the same for you.

Student Discounts: Stretch Your Budget

Türkiye loves students! With a student ID, you’ll score discounts on museums (50–150 TRY, $1.50–$4.50), cinemas (80–100 TRY, $2.50–$3), and Turkish Airlines flights. Local markets and eateries offer deals, too, especially in student-friendly cities like Bursa or Kayseri. EduTurkiye’s cultural guides helped Aisha save on Istanbul’s museum tickets, and we’ll share tips to maximize your savings.

Total Monthly Costs: What to Expect

Let’s crunch the numbers for 2025:

Housing: 300–7,000 TRY ($9–$210)
Food: 3,000–5,000 TRY ($90–$150)
Transport: 300–600 TRY ($9–$18)
Health Insurance: 80–170 TRY ($2.50–$5, monthly equivalent)
Miscellaneous (entertainment, supplies): 1,000–2,000 TRY ($30–$60)
Total: 4,680–14,770 TRY ($140–$443) per month

Smaller cities like Konya or Eskişehir lean toward the lower end, while Istanbul hits the higher end. EduTurkiye’s budgeting tools keep costs manageable wherever you study.

Start Your Affordable Adventure in 2025

Türkiye offers a vibrant student life at a fraction of Western costs, think $140–$443 monthly for living expenses and tuition as low as $9/year at public universities. With generous scholarships and student perks, your dream education is within reach. Edu Turkiye’s here to guide you, just like we’ve done for thousands of students.

Ready to start your journey? Visit our website to explore universities, study programs, tuition fees, available scholarships, application process and visa requirements.

Contact our team for a free consultation at info@eduturkiye.com or through our website’s contact form.