Expat guide for living in Izmir

expat guide for living in Izmir

Izmir is the third largest city in Turkey after Istanbul and Antalya. The cosmopolitan atmosphere of Izmir attracts many foreign nationalities and many people buy property for sale in Izmir or live and work in the city. Izmir has the first rank in Turkey in the standard of living index.

According to the Ministry of Development, it is also the first in the social index. In addition, the diversity of business in Izmir has made this city the second most popular place for investment after Istanbul. An Expat guide for living in Izmir can help you see the situation more clearly.

What do you get by migrating to Izmir?

High security and great peace of mind

Izmir can be considered one of the safest cities in Turkey. A city where you can rest assured, according to the expat guide for living in Izmir. Hearing the two words security and peace, you might ask yourself why you should leave a city like Istanbul in Turkey and come to Izmir. 

We must say that Istanbul is a beautiful city and has unique features, but if you are looking for peace and hate crowds, don’t think about Istanbul at all. Besides its busyness, Istanbul today also hosts 4 million Syrian and Iraqi immigrants. It has created problems for the security of Istanbul.

Low cost of living in Izmir

The cost of living in Izmir Turkey makes people move from one city to another or from one country to another. Based on this expat guide for living in Izmir, one of this city’s essential advantages is its low cost.

Whatever your income level, you can enjoy life in Izmir. This advantage of Izmir has made this city a better place to live than Ankara and Istanbul. Modern shopping centers and permanent auctions have provided purchasing power for everyone in Izmir.

Beautiful historical monuments

Izmir has beautiful monuments that are available to the public. Historical works do not mean structures under municipal protection. We mean precisely a historical place that is available to the public. Such beautiful works can be seen everywhere in the city of Izmir and can be easily accessed. For example, Konak Square is one of these beautiful works.

employment opportunities for foreigners in Izmir

 A city or country’s unemployment rate and job opportunities attract people from different parts of the world to that area. Indeed, one of your biggest concerns as a foreigner is to find a suitable job with a reasonable income in Izmir. Since Izmir has a small population compared to its area, job opportunities will be available in any field.

prestigious schools and universities

It doesn’t matter how old your child is. At any stage, children’s education is one of the main concerns of parents. Izmir is known as a scientific and academic city in Turkey.

Regardless of the public schools and universities where your child can study for free, many international schools and universities, including Cambridge, England, have branches in Izmir. Therefore, you don’t have to worry about your children’s academic future.  

The children of expats in Izmir are allowed to attend a Turkish public school. Though the standards in public schools are below the European public educational system, most Izmir expats prefer to send their children to a private international school.
In international schools, lessons are taught in English. The leading international school in Izmir is the MEF International School Izmir.

Education is an integral part of the expat guide for living in Izmir. 

Healthcare in Izmir for Expats


Expatriates could access the public healthcare system in Turkey after one year of residency. After paying the required contributions toward their national health insurance system.
The healthcare system in Turkey and Izmir is competent, and most expatriates prefer using the private healthcare system. The main reason is most doctors in the public healthcare system do not speak English, while most medical staff in private systems can speak English.
If you are an expat ad living in Izmir, here is a list of private hospitals in Izmir, including Özel Deniz Hastanesi, Özel Tınaztepe Hastanesi, and BatıAnadolu Central Hospital.

Transportation in Izmir for Expats


living in Izmir as an expat can use the driving license from their country, as long as it has a notarized Turkish translation or an international driver’s permit.
Because of excellent public transportation and the prices, many expatriates living in Izmir choose to use the public transport system instead of driving. The city has an effective public transportation system with intercity and metro.

Transportation in Izmir for Expats

Financial expat guide for living in Izmir 

If we consider the statistics, we can say that the cost of living for a family of four in Izmir, Turkey is about 12,000 lira on average, and the cost of living for a single person in Izmir, Turkey, is about 3,500 lira per month. Of course, you should remember that the cost of renting a house is not considered in these estimates. 

If someone cannot buy a private property in Izmir, he should add the cost of renting a house to this monthly amount. The noteworthy point is that the cost of living in Izmir is lower than in many cities worldwide. Izmir is generally not known as an expensive city to live in.

What are the best residential areas in Izmir?

  1. Fountain

Cesme is one of the most beautiful residential areas of Izmir. A small seaside town on the Aegean coast is a tourist town. This is a quiet and charming beach town, far from the noise.

This name means spring because of the presence of cold-water sources in the area. Based on the expat guide for living in Izmir, this city has all the needs of housing and living, good schools, good shops, and health centers.

  1. Alacati

Alacati region is one of the most beautiful cities in Turkey on the west coast of the Aegean Sea in Izmir province. Every year, thousands of tourists travel to this region, which is very beautiful. Alacati is a pure beach, and it is 10 minutes away from Chasm. The name of this region is Greek. It is also known as Alaca, meaning “red horse.” 

  1. Kusadasi

Kuşadası is one of the most beautiful and lively cities on the Aegean southern coast, based on the expat guide for living in Izmir. In summer it is a beautiful area for visitors. This city is located on the coast of the Aegean Sea in Turkey and has beautiful beaches and clear blue water. During the day, people enjoy the sun and swim or participate in beach water sports.

  1. Fucha

The city of Foça is 70 km away from the center of Izmir. This area also has a city with its municipality called New Foça. Its history began nearly 2000 years ago. It is famous for its scenic nature, golden beaches, clean water, several historical monuments, devil’s baths, stone houses, a five-door castle, and some gorges. According to the expat guide for living in Izmir, this area has good job opportunities

Final word

You get the necessary information by reading the expat guide for living in Izmir. It is true that Izmir is one of the best cities in Turkey for expats, but not having the necessary information makes this beautiful city a risk. 

Contact City Realty Turkey experts for more information on ways to immigrate to Izmir. Our team will tell you the easiest and fastest way to move to Izmir in the shortest possible time, according to your unique conditions.

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