15.03.2025 10:10
Once a place everyone longed to live in, Istanbul has now become a 'place of exile' for civil servant families. In a city where 3+1 old apartments are rented for an average of 30-40 thousand TL, the monthly essential expenses for a family of four, including balanced and healthy nutrition, housing, healthcare, education, and transportation, have risen to 85 thousand 450 TL.
As the rising cost of living and high rents in Istanbul weigh heavily on citizens' minds, civil servants who have been assigned to Istanbul say, "I feel like I've come to exile." Those whose assignments are approaching pray, "May I not be assigned to Istanbul."
MONTHLY EXPENSES OF A FAMILY OF 4...
The extent of the cost of living in Istanbul has also been confirmed by the monthly research of the Istanbul Planning Agency. The monthly essential expenses for a family of four in Istanbul, including balanced and healthy nutrition, housing, health, education, and transportation, have reached 85,450 TL. When renting a new house, one month's rent is paid in advance. At the time of the contract, a deposit equivalent to two months' rent and a real estate commission equivalent to one month's rent are often paid. There are additional costs such as painting and maintenance, which can reach 20-25 thousand TL, as well as fees. Pricing for professional moving companies varies based on the size of the house and the distance.
COST OF MOVING 100 THOUSAND TL
According to a report in Nefes, the cost of moving from Samsun to Istanbul for a 3+1 apartment is 100 thousand TL. The cost from Bursa to Istanbul is 50-60 thousand TL. Excluding minor expenses after renting, the bill for a 35 thousand TL rental -excluding new furniture and appliances- can reach 200-250 thousand TL.
"EVEN IF YOU ARE A CIVIL SERVANT, RENTS ARE HIGH"
The average civil servant salary in Turkey is still 50,500 TL. Even a couple, both civil servants, who earn over 100 TL monthly, suffers the consequences of this assignment for years. If only one of the spouses is working, the situation is even worse. Nizamettin Aşa, President of the Istanbul General Real Estate Agents Association, stated that the increase in rents is a significant problem for low-income individuals who are barely making ends meet, saying, "Whether you are a civil servant or middle-income, rents are high. Even in neighborhoods two hours from the center, the rent for a clean 2+1 ground floor apartment is 20 thousand TL."
THERE ARE APARTMENTS EXCEEDING 100 THOUSAND TL
In Istanbul, the rents for the smallest 3+1 apartments in new buildings and sites start from 50-60 thousand TL and can exceed 100 thousand TL, shocking many. Nizamettin Aşa, President of the Istanbul General Real Estate Agents Association, stated that in central districts like Bakırköy, Kadıköy, Şişli, and Beşiktaş, the rents for 3+1 apartments in 35-40 year old buildings are 35-40 thousand TL, while 2+1 apartments are 25-30 thousand TL.