Cost to Retire in Fethiye Turkey

In this report, I will share the Cost to Retire in Fethiye Turkey including rents, utilities, groceries, restaurants, transportation, and other expenses for low to middle-range living costs.

Google Map

Fethiye Turkey is a beautiful seaside town on the Mediterranean Sea. We came to Fethiye by bus from Bodrum, Turkey. We were immediately much happier in Fethiye. Fethiye felt more like we were visiting an actual town where locals lived.

Yes, both Fethiye and Bodrum have tourists. But in Bodrum, it felt like the whole purpose of the town was for tourism. In Fethiye, it felt like we were visiting a town full of locals living their daily lives.

Bodrum felt like it was half tourists and half locals. Fethiye felt like it was 25% tourists and 75% locals. That made a big difference for us. We felt like we were seeing Turkish people in their element in Fethiye.

So in Fethiye, we were able to watch the Turkish culture, the Turkish people, live their lives in real time. One of the reasons we travel is to see locals in their own element. So Fethiye felt more real to us.

Bodrum felt like an amusement park where the locals were employees and the tourists were customers. We prefer to see locals in their natural habitat so Fethiye was much more enjoyable.

If this is the first you have heard of us, you can browse hundreds of retire cheap in paradise reports all over the world which are organized by country at my Vagabond Awake YouTube Playlist.

In this report, I will share my retirement desirability factors such as Visa, Medical, Walkability, Internet, Food, Weather, Things to Do, Social considerations, Expat Community, Real Estate, and My Overall Retirement Desirability Score.

But first, I want to share my estimated costs of living converted into US dollars if the two of us retired in Turkey year-round on a tight budget. We will also include more typical expenses that other ex-pats would spend so you have another higher-cost data point.

Estimated Cost Retire in Fethiye Turkey

 

Rents: I found this unfurnished 2-bedroom 1-bath Apartment advertised for rent for 20k Turkish Lira ($584 USD) per month for a long-term lease agreement. If you rent for a shorter period on Airbnb it would be much more expensive.

If you rent a larger home or townhouse long term the rent would be higher, starting around $1000 USD per month on up depending upon area and size.

Here is the process we use to find great apartments. So, we will show you a table of all expenses in a moment. We will use $584 per month for our lower rent estimate and $1000 per month for the middle cost of living estimate for expats who want more space.

Utilities: We estimate that the year-round average for our utilities would be about $86 USD per month. The utilities would cost more for the larger space, starting at around $127 USD per month.

Groceries: When possible, we would purchase fruits and vegetables from the Farmer’s Market, small shops, and street vendors to save money. But we would also shop in grocery stores for nonperishable foods and other things like shampoo and detergents. We estimate about $320 per month for groceries. Other expats are likely to shop more often in expensive grocery stores often spending more than $440 per month on groceries.

Restaurants: We would eat out twice per week mostly in more local-style restaurants a few blocks back from the beach averaging about $7 to $10 USD per meal per person and one or two splurges per month of $12 to $16 USD per meal per person. If you add all that up, we would spend around $245 per month for the two of us in restaurants We may have a beer here and there, but that is covered below in alcohol.

Other expats are likely to eat more Western-style foods in expensive expat-style restaurants and less in local-style restaurants, so they would likely spend more like $340 per month for 2 people in restaurants. It is lifestyle-dependent.

Cell Phone Data: The cost to get a prepaid SIM card for your unlocked smartphone is about $24 USD per month for 20GB of data.

Other expat couples are likely to buy two prepaid SIM cards so they would send $48 USD per month.

Laundry: Our apartment in Fethiye had a washing machine and our grocery prices include the cost of laundry soap so no extra cost for laundry.

Drinking Water: We didn’t see reverse osmosis delivery in 20-liter jugs here so we would probably get a Brita water filter for the refrigerator. The filter refills would be about $5 USD per month.

Internet: 60 MBPS up and down is about $18 USD for in-home wifi.

Transportation: Fethiye has the Dolmus Bus system which are minibuses. Simply wave your hand to stop them, and the cost is less than 50 cents USD. The central part was all walkable so we didn’t ride the buses or taxis while here. We did take a taxi from the Fethiye Bus Station when we arrived here from Bodrum. We used a private minivan transfer (Fethyie Airport Transfer contact using WhatsApp number +90 535 569 17 72) to go from Fethiye City to Dalaman Airport for 1700 TL ($50 USD).

We estimate about $30 per month for taxis per month. Other expats might spend more riding taxis so I estimate $80 per month for them.

Alcohol (Optional): Domestic beer in grocery stores in Fethiye are about 72 TL ($2.10 USD). In bars and restaurants, the domestic beer ranges from a happy hour low of 80 TL ($2.34) to a high of about 180 TL ($5.26 USD) once the happy hour is over. So, we estimate about $160 per month on alcohol for the two of us.

Many other expats would spend a higher amount for imported foreign or craft beers in expat bars, so about $220 USD per month for 2 people assuming they are not into imported whiskey or wine.

Entertainment (Optional): We would budget about $200 per month for entertainment for the two of us. We generally enjoy doing more do-it-yourself kinds of entertainment so expats would spend a little more, maybe $300 per month, for 2 of them?

Estimated Costs Retire in Fethiye Turkey

Fethiye

Turkey

Lower

(USD)

Middle

(USD)

Rent

584

1000

Utilities

86

127

Groceries

320

440

Restaurants

245

340

Cell Data

24

48

Laundry

0

0

Drinking Water

5

5

Internet

18

18

Transportation

30

80

Total

$1312

$2058

 

 

 

Alcohol

160

220

Optional Total

$1472

$2278

 

 

 

Entertainment

200

300

Optional Total

$1672

$2578

We gathered this data with our feet on the ground here in September of 2024. The above lower estimated cost of living would be if the two of us lived in Fethiye Turkey on a tight budget. The middle estimate is just an example of what other expats might spend if they moved here.

To understand what it would cost you to live here, you must put your feet on the ground, see how you would choose to live, eat, and entertain yourself, and add it all up. It doesn’t matter what anyone else spends because we are all different.

Fethiye Turkey Livability Factors

Before you move anywhere outside your home country, make sure to create a list of things that you must have for your happy retirement. Here are my livability factors and I will rank each as high, medium, or low before assigning an overall retirement desirability score to Bodrum.

Walkability: High. Unless it is raining, we would walk everywhere in Fethiye. The area we enjoy most is in central Fethiye. Everything we needed was in the central area so we would have no reason to have a car and would not even need a taxi very often. Everything we needed was within 15 minutes walk.

Internet: High. The in-home wifi in our apartment was 52 MBPS down and 23 MBPS up. Good enough for us to do Zoom calls, upload YouTube videos, and watch Netflix. We were also able to use our cell phones as hot spots when we were out of the house together.

Food: High. You will find small family-owned restaurants in neighborhoods a few blocks back from the water with dishes for $5 to $10 USD, but not on the water. In the restaurants below, I list some of those restaurants where we loved the local Turkish food. There are also international food restaurants that cost more, like $10 to $16 USD per meal. There is no shortage of delicious restaurants at various price points. We would also cook many meals at home using the fresh food we bought in the Farmers’s Market Google Map link below. I recommend staying away from the Fethiye Fish Market – Balık Pazarı. To understand why, read its lowest reviews on Google.

Weather: High. Daily highs average from 61F (16C) in January up to 96F (36C) in July. Nightly lows average from 45F (7C) in January to 78F (26C) in July. The best time to visit is June through September unless you like cooler weather, then visit in the spring and fall. The rainy season is November through March.

Things to Do: Medium. Fethiye has island hopping, swimming, scuba, fishing, and water sports, there is live music, people watching, nightlife, beach life, cultural tours, coffee shops, shopping, and a bit of ancient history.

To learn more about the annual festivals in Fethiye, such as the Fethiye International Culture and Arts Festival, the Ölüdeniz Spring Meeting Festival, the Dastar and Morel Mushroom Festival, Caretta Caretta Turtle Festival and the Ölüdeniz Air Games Festival at these two links (1, 2)

Social Considerations: English is widely spoken in Fethiye, especially in tourist-facing businesses. The people are very friendly and helpful here. I don’t believe you will face any additional challenges because you are a foreigner.

Safety Considerations: Crime is fairly rare in Fethiye, and is mostly limited to petty crime. Like almost anywhere in the world, don’t leave valuables out in the open. Here are my thoughts on how to remain safe all over the world. Also, the US State Department issues travel advisories for each part of the world which you should be aware of. Turkey is level 2 right now, “Excercise Increase Caution.” We often travel to level 2 locations, so this was not a concern for us, but you should be aware nevertheless.

Expat Community: Here are a few Facebook pages that cater explicitly to English-speaking expats living in Fethiye: 1, 2, 3, 4. These online expat communities are great for learning things that expats want to learn when they first move overseas. You will often find that someone has answered your questions recently so don’t waste their time by asking it again before searching for and reading answered questions.

Medical: Medium. This healthcare international comparison index ranks Turkey 63rd in the world, 6 spots better than the United States which ranks 69th. There are different ways healthcare is rated, but this one seems to be considering quality of care in relation to what patients are charged.

If you decide to move here, make sure to ask around for referrals and establish relationships with doctors for your special needs based on the feedback you have gotten from others who have used their services. The above Expats Facebook pages may be a good source for that information.

Of course, the best hospitals are often in the larger or capital cities so you may need to go to Istanbul for problems occasionally.

Tourist Visa: The Turkish Government now has an eVisa webpage that both Qiang and I used to determine that we did not need an eVisa before flying to Turkey. But you should check before you fly because rules change all the time. Many countries including Americans and Malaysians can stay in Turkey 90 days upon entry. We had an exit flight and accommodations ready to show officials upon entry but they did not ask to see either. They stamped both of our passports allowing 90 days upon entry.

Retirement Visa: There is no retirement visa for Turkey. On paper, there are several visas available, but the one that seems to be still working efficiently is called the property purchase visa. But you have to be very careful to make sure that you pick a property that fulfills the minimum purchase price and is in an area that qualifies. According to this source, the minimum purchase price is now $200k USD. If you decide to use the source link shown, please complete your due diligence because I do not know this source personally. Turkey also has marriage visas, family visas, student visas, work visas, language course visas, and business visas, but they are delayed and refused often so do not seem as dependable. However, the right immigration lawyer may be able to thread that needle for you.

Rather than promoting any particular immigration lawyer I read about online, I would request a referral to a lawyer on one of the Expat Facebook pages I shared above. I would ask the expats for an immigration lawyer who they have already successfully used to get their residence permits for Turkey. I would not pay someone to help get me residency until I have confirmation from an expat who used their services to successfully gain residency.

Real Estate: Apparently, foreigners can own real estate in Turkey if they follow the appropriate procedures. According to the web page for the 2-bedroom rental I shared above, the average price for homes in that area is around $156k USD.

That webpage also has property for sale if you would like to see what is available at your price point. Just right-click on the webpage in Google Chrome and click the “translate” into English button.

I would not buy real estate in a foreign country until I have lived there for an extended period of time making sure I loved it after the honeymoon period. I would also hire a lawyer who has no conflict of interest with me. Do not use a lawyer recommended by your real estate broker or your local lover. I would seek a referral from an expat who has used that lawyer’s services to successfully buy real estate in Turkey.

Fethiye Turkey Overall Desirability Score: Medium. The natural beauty in this part of Turkey is amazing. Fethiye felt like a nice community with people of all ages living an playing together. This is definitely a tourist location, but just a few blacks back, it feels much more local to me.

However, I am only giving Fethiye a medium retirement desirability score for the following reasons. Turkey has experienced significant inflation over the last 5 years: 2020 12%, 2021 19%, 2022 72%, and 54% in 2023. This extreme inflation made it difficult for both locals and expats living here. So keep an eye on inflation before making any long-term plans here. If the government gets this under control then I will rank Fethiye as highly desirable. 

Fethiye is not going to end up in my annual top 15 places in the world to retire, but it is a charming place to visit. In a moment, I will share a video with my top 15 places in the entire world to retire cheaply in paradise.

What would it cost you to live in Fethiye Turkey?

To get a better understanding of things you should add to our estimated cost of living watch this video: 9 Reasons You Can’t Retire on $1000 Month Overseas.

Most people will likely be unable to retire for the lower range estimate above. I give example reasons why in this report. Plus, this other report explains how to avoid coming home early with your tail between your legs.

Also, if you are going to try to retire cheap offshore, make sure to read my report, the Two Biggest Risks of Retiring Early for Cheap Offshore, which explains why you should have emergency funds available for unexpectedly large expenses.

You should also add anything to the above table that you spend money on in your home country that is not listed in the above table. Presumably, you find those things necessary in life. To do that, visit the Numbeo Fethiye and add anything not mentioned in the above table.

Never move anywhere until you have visited first personally to verify the living costs for your lifestyle and needs. I am not guaranteeing these prices. These are just my notes and estimates from the time of my visit and this post. Your costs will likely be drastically different depending on your lifestyle and the time since this post.

Many of the expats we meet living overseas are self-insured for medical care. That means that not everyone buys health insurance when they move overseas. That probably sounds crazy to many of you.

I didn’t carry medical insurance for most of my first 17 years living overseas. But last year I bought medical insurance. If you are wondering what it costs and what it covers, watch my medical insurance video at this link. This is not an affiliate link.

More typical expat living costs in Fethiye Turkey range from about $2000 to $4000 per month. But people spending that much often have higher savings, incomes, or pensions. They often report spending more on accommodations, entertainment, eating out more, traveling, and alcohol. Many also have more expensive cars, houses, or apartments.

Story and Walking Tour of Fethiye

Fethiye has a population of about 180k and is one of the most prominent tourist destinations in the Turkish Riviera. Fethiye is on the site of an ancient Greek city, the ruins of which can be seen Hellenistic Amphitheater built in the 4th century BC which still hosts live performances today. The Amyntas Rock Tombs were also built in the 4th Century BC.

Fethiye has been renamed by victorious invaders several times over the last 3000 years, including the Greeks, Persians, and Byzantines. The area fell to the Turks in the 12th century AD and became part of the Ottoman Empire in 1424 AD.

Greece and Turkey did a population exchange in 1923 between the Greeks in Asia Minor and the Muslims in Greece, where 1.2 million Greeks were sent from Turkey to Greece and 400k Muslims were sent to Turkey. Whole neighborhoods of formerly Greek towns thereafter become ghost towns in Turkey.

Fethiye is in an earthquake zone. The quake of 1957 damaged 90% of the buildings in the town but has been rebuilt and a few quakes since then have not been as destructive.

Tourism is the major economic driver of Fethiye with over 1 million visitors per year.

Google Map

The Tomb of Amyntas is located on the mountainside above Fethiye. It was built in 350 BC and was named after the Greek inscription on the side which reads Amyntou tou Ermagiou, which means Amyntas, son of Hermagios. The tomb was built by the Lycians of the Persian Empire. The Lycians were a tightly-knit confederation of independent city-states, including Telmessos, now known as Fethiye.

Fethiye Ancient Theatre is from the Hellenistic period built in the 4th century BC which still hosts live performances today.

Old Town Fethiye is one of the oldest parts of town. This part of town has fallen and been rebuilt so many times over the centuries after being devastated by earthquakes, that the locals only build single-level buildings now. Here you will find nightlife, restaurants, and the famous fish market where you can pick out the fish you want to eat and they will cook it up for you.

Waterfront (SALUT Döner Shawarma) is where you will find all the tour boats for swimming, fishing, and scuba diving on the islands off the coast of Fethiye. Just walk along the waterfront until you see the services you are interested in.

Fethiye Tuesday and Friday Market is where you can buy the freshest vegetables and fruits at the lowest prices. You will also find other odds and ends in this market.

Where we stayed in Fethiye

We stayed at this apartment on Airbnb for $59 USD/night because I wanted to be within walking distance of everything in Central. If we moved here and signed a long-term lease, I would actually be happier being further away from the water in a less touristy neighborhood. The 2 bedroom rental I mentioned above is in a great area.

How we got to Fethiye Turkey from Bodrum Turkey

We flagged down a local taxi (they use meters here) in front of our Airbnb and took it to the New Bodrum Bus Station for 250 TL ($7.29 USD) per taxi. Look for the bus with Mulga on the windshield. Tell the driver you want to go to Mulga in order to catch the bus from Mulga to Fethiye. It costs 215 TL ($6.27) per person. Once in Mulga, ask your driver which bus goes to Fethiye (or look on the windshields). The bus from Mulga to Fethiye costs another 300 TL ($8.75) per person. Upon arrival at Fethiye bus station, we took a taxi (metered) to our accommodations for 250 TL ($7.29 USD) per taxi.

We used a private minivan transfer (Fethyie Airport Transfer contact using WhatsApp number +90 535 569 17 72) to go from Fethiye City to Dalaman Airport for 1700 TL ($50 USD) when we flew out of Turkey.

Restaurants, Services

Restaurants, Bars (Turkish Lira TL 32 to $1 USD)

Citrus Mediterranean Restaurant & Bar: (Expensive Local) Famous Turkish breakfast set 550 TL/person

Yeşil Asma Yaprağı Ev Yemekleri: (Local) 1kg = 300TRY food by weight

Müzeyyen Abla: local buffet style

BIG BOSS PUB PİZZA: Efes 500ml 135, Chicken wings 270, Cheese sandwich with fries 210

Habbaba Kitchen: Cheeseburger 220, Vegetarian taco 200, tea 15

Ailem Kafe Restaurant: (Local) Fish & chip 250, salad large 90, tea large 30

Güneydoğu Özgün Ev Yemekleri: Local

Services

Fethiye Bus Station: Bodrum to Mulga 250/cash ; Mulga to Fethiye 300/cash

Migros Merkez: Grocery Store

Uğur Kaptan 2 Gezi Gemisi: 12 islands boat tour 750TRY (Depending on season)

WATSONS FETHIYE SAHIL: Pharmacy and cosmetics.

CarrefourSA: Grocery Store