Türkiye remains a budget-friendly destination for European travelers
Türkiye continues to rank among Europe's most affordable destinations for foreign visitors, offering lower prices for accommodation, food, shopping and daily expenses even as living costs increase for residents.
According to Eurostat's 2025 price level data, which uses the European Union average of 100 as a benchmark, Türkiye recorded a gross domestic product price level index of 56.8, making it the third-cheapest country in Europe after North Macedonia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The figures show that international visitors continue to benefit from Türkiye's relatively low costs, particularly in tourism-related sectors.
Hotels, restaurants and food remain major advantages
Restaurants and hotels remain among the strongest attractions for foreign tourists. Türkiye ranked as Europe's fourth-cheapest market in this category, with a price level index of 69.7.
Restaurant services recorded an index of 67.0, while accommodation services stood at 81.2, both remaining significantly below the EU average.
Food prices also continue to provide a competitive advantage. Türkiye ranked as Europe's second-cheapest country for food and non-alcoholic beverages, with an index of 77.0.
Meat prices, with an index of 65.0, and vegetables, at 51.7, were among the lowest in Europe. Türkiye also ranked third-cheapest for bread and cereals, with an index of 71.4.
Housing and shopping remain relatively inexpensive
Housing-related expenses, including water, electricity, gas and other fuels, remain among the lowest in Europe. Türkiye ranked third in this category with a price level index of 38.7, behind Bosnia and Herzegovina and North Macedonia.
The country also recorded Europe's lowest prices for clothing and footwear, with an index of 63.7. Clothing alone ranked as the cheapest category on the continent, with an index of 62.0.
Healthcare costs also remained comparatively low, with an overall health price level index of 32.8 and inpatient care services at 21.4.
Some imported products remain expensive
Despite its overall affordability, Türkiye remains one of Europe's more expensive markets for certain imported goods.
Vehicle prices recorded an index of 156.2, while transport equipment, information and communication technology products such as smartphones and computers, and household appliances remained above the EU average.
Alcoholic beverages were among the most expensive categories, with a price level index of 210.2, placing Türkiye third in Europe behind Iceland and Norway. Officials attribute the high prices largely to taxation. Tobacco products, however, remained the cheapest in Europe with an index of 25.4.
Affordable for visitors, challenging for residents
Türkiye's competitive prices continue to support tourism spending, although the advantage has weakened as the country has become more expensive in foreign currency terms.
According to Interbank Card Center (BKM) data, foreign-issued card spending in Türkiye reached 48.4 billion Turkish lira in May 2026, an 18% increase compared with the same period a year earlier. Total spending during the first five months of 2026 reached 174.5 billion lira, up 8.8% annually.
However, the economic situation for many Turkish residents remains significantly different, as household incomes struggle to keep pace with rising prices.
The Confederation of Turkish Trade Unions (Türk-İş) reported that the monthly hunger threshold for a family of four reached 30,143 lira in December 2025, while the poverty threshold covering essential expenses such as housing, transport, education and healthcare stood at 98,188 lira.
By June 2026, the hunger threshold had increased to 34,888 lira, while the poverty threshold reached 113,587 lira. The estimated monthly living cost for a single worker rose to 45,686 lira.
Inflation and currency pressures reshape price advantage
Annual inflation in Türkiye slowed to 32.1% in June 2026 but remained significantly above the central bank's target, continuing to put pressure on household budgets.
Meanwhile, the Turkish lira depreciated by 9.1% against the US dollar and 6.7% against the euro over the past year. The slower currency decline compared with inflation contributed to a 7.7% increase in the real effective exchange rate, making Türkiye somewhat less affordable for foreign visitors than in previous years.
Despite these pressures, Türkiye remains one of Europe's most attractive destinations for travelers seeking lower-cost holidays, particularly compared with many EU countries facing higher prices.
Source:turkiyetoday
