World-class food
Simit for breakfast, kebabs for lunch, baklava whenever. Eating out is cheap and unforgettable.
Student life
Life in Türkiye
Affordable, vibrant and welcoming. Here's what your day-to-day will actually look like — the budget, the food, the culture and the little things nobody tells you before you arrive.
Real monthly budget
Live well on $400–700 a month
$150–350
Rent (shared) / month
$120–200
Food / month
$20–40
Transport / month
$15–25
Phone + internet / month
Ranges compiled from cost reports by SIT-placed students across Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir and Antalya. They are indicative, not a published statistical series, and vary by city and lifestyle.
The good stuff
Why students fall for it
History everywhere
Byzantine walls, Ottoman mosques and Roman ruins — your weekend trips write themselves.
Famous hospitality
Turkish warmth is real. Locals go out of their way to help, and student communities are tight.
Safe & student-friendly
Bustling, well-lit cities with strong public transport and a huge international student population.
Housing sorted
A safe place to land — booked before you fly
State dorms, private student residences or shared flats near campus — SIT vets your options and reserves your room before arrival, then meets you at the airport. No scrambling on day one.
See housing support$80–150/mo
State dorms
$250–500/mo
Private residence
$150–350/mo
Shared flat
$350–700/mo
Studio
Cost of living questions
How much does it cost to live in Türkiye as a student?
Most students budget $400–700 a month, covering shared rent, food, transport and phone or internet. Istanbul sits at the higher end of that range; smaller cities like Konya or Eskişehir sit well below it.
Is a state dorm cheaper than a shared flat?
Yes. State dorms run about $80–150 a month, against $150–350 for a room in a shared flat. Dorm places are limited and allocated separately from your university admission, so apply early rather than assuming a place.
How much should I budget for food each month?
About $120–200 a month if you cook most meals and eat out occasionally. Campus canteens are heavily subsidised, and student discounts on groceries and transport are widely available.
What does student transport cost?
Roughly $20–40 a month with a student travel card, which discounts metro, tram and bus fares in every major city. Most students live close enough to campus to walk for part of the week.
Do I need to prove I can cover these costs for a student visa?
Yes. Turkish student visa applications ask for evidence that you can support yourself for the year, so budget on the higher end when you prepare bank statements. Your SIT counsellor walks you through the exact documents at no cost.