Cost of Living in Fethiye

Fethiye is one of Turkey’s most famous resort cities, located on the Mediterranean Sea, and has recently become a popular destination among foreigners moving to Turkey. Fethiye attracts expats who are looking for a location without the hustle and bustle of tourist areas but with good facilities and infrastructure. 

Read on to learn more about the average cost of living in Fethiye.

• Housing
• Utilities
• Food
• Healthcare
• Transport
• Education
• Entertainment

Housing

Renting

Real estate prices in Fethiye, as in other cities, depend on the type of property, its size and location. It is important to explore the city before you purchase a flat or a villa to see if the location suits you. It is a good idea to live in a rented accommodation for some time and then consider buying your own property.

However, rent in Fethiye is quite high. For example, a one-bedroom flat in the city centre cost about $730 a month (as of September 2023). The cheapest options start at $540, but there are also flats for $1000 or more. Three-bedroom flats with more space cost between $790 and $2000 a month, but the average price is around $1500.

Renting a flat on the outskirts of Fethiye is much cheaper. It is possible to find small one-bedroom flats outside the city centre for no more than $500 or $550 a month. In fact, you may even be lucky enough to rent accommodation for about $430, but there are always more expensive options available. They cost about $650 to $750 a month. As for two- or three-bedroom flats, the average rent is between $780 and $850. Outside the city centre, the prices range from $650 to $900 a month.

Monthly rent is prone to change as housing prices in Turkey depend on the season. They are higher in summer than in winter, especially in resort towns and other locations popular with tourists. The tourist season in Fethiye lasts from May to October, and prices go down once the season is over. 

As a rule, property owners in Turkey are paid rent in liras, which is good if your income is in dollars or euros. This means you will spend less for rent each month as inflation in Turkey is skyrocketing. According to Turkish law, property owners cannot increase rent more than once a year if you pay in Turkish liras. If you pay rent in other currency, the rate is not subject to change for five years.

Purchasing

One square metre in the centre of Fethiye ranges from $30,000 to $47,000. Properties in other areas are cheaper and prices vary from $20,000 to $33,000 per square metre. A flat with one or two bedrooms costs around $100,000 or $120,000 in Fethiye.

You can also buy spacious seashore villas from 150 to 200 square metres with a swimming pool and a terrace. Prices start at $350,000.

Utilities

It is usually the tenant's responsibility to pay the utility bills, which include water, electricity, gas, aidat (a monthly fee for house maintenance), and a fee for rubbish collection. Water and electricity are billed by usage, and prices depend on how much your household consumes. 

The utility bill for a flat of 85 square metres is usually between 1200 TRY and 2000 TRY ($43 to $72).

An unlimited Internet plan costs about 300 TRY a month ($11). Mobile communication is usually sold in the form of package deals for between 160 and 200 TRY ($5.80 to $7).

Food

Food expenses in Fethiye depend on the person's eating habits. A lunch for two at an average restaurant would cost about 850 TRY ($31), while a meal at McDonald's costs approximately 160 TRY ($5.80). A cappuccino is around 60 TRY ($2).

Let's look at the average prices for some food items in Fethiye.

1 litre of milk is 22 TRY ($0.80).

1 kg of rice is 41 TRY ($1.50).

 a dozen eggs is 39 TRY ($1.40).

1 kg of cheese is 191 TRY ($7).

1 kg of chicken fillet is 160 TRY ($5.80).

1 kg of beef is 390 TRY ($14).

1 kg of potatoes is 18 TRY ($0.60).

1 kg of apples is 28 TRY ($1).

1 kg of tomatoes is 20 TRY ($0.70).

1 kg of bananas is 40 TRY ($1.50).

500 g of bread is 23 TRY ($0.80).

A bottle of water (1.5 l) is 8 TRY ($0.30).

A bottle of wine is 275 TRY ($10).

A bottle of Turkish beer (0.5 l) is 45 TRY ($1.60).

Healthcare

People in Turkey have the right to choose public or private healthcare insurance. First-year expats can only get private insurance. It costs at least 2000 or 3000 TRY a year ($72 to $108). The public insurance called SGK is 600 TRY a month ($21.70). It provides you with free services in public hospitals, partially covers the cost of services in private clinics, and allows you to buy treatment at a discount. The advantage of public insurance is that it covers all family members.

Transport

A single pass for Fethiye's public transport costs around 20 TRY ($0.70). Calling a taxi is at least 15 TRY ($0.50). Prices for petrol start at 35 TRY per litre ($1.30).

Education

Fethiye has both public and private nurseries. Public kindergartens only accept children of Turkish citizens or permanent residents. The monthly fee is about 100 TRY ($3.60). A private kindergarten is more expensive and costs at least 2000 TRY a month ($72). Public schools in Fethiye are free of charge if you have a residence permit. Tuition in private colleges ranges from 50,000 TRY to 100,000 TRY a year ($1807 to $3614).

Entertainment

A ticket to the cinema costs 160 TRY ($5.80). If you want membership at a local gym, you will have to pay 900 TRY a month ($32.50), on average. Renting a tennis court costs about 160 TRY an hour ($5.80).

In a Nutshell

Monthly living expenses in Fethiye largely depend on the size and lifestyle of your family. Renting a flat here may seem more expensive than in Istanbul but the cost of living here is much lower compared to other popular tourist locations in Turkey.

Cover photo: Ölüdeniz, Fethiye/Muğla, Türkiye. ihsan ulusoy (Unsplash)