Although vary according to your lifestyle and preferences, life is quite affordable for students in Turkey. On this page, you can find answers to possible questions about an international student’s main expenditure items.
Tuition Fee / Contribution
Turkey is a unique country in terms of delivering high-quality education options with relatively low tuition fees in higher education compared to many other leading countries. The lower and upper limits of the amount of contribution to be received from international students are determined by the state, and the net amounts are left to the initiative of the university. For this reason, the tuition fees in Turkish universities vary according to the type of university (state or foundation), the level of the program (undergraduate or graduate), the faculty (medicine, dentistry, engineering, law, etc.) and the duration of education, It is quite suitable compared to universities of similar quality in America.
Tuition fees are paid at the beginning of each semester before course registrations. Each academic year consists of two terms. Depending on your academic success, you can get discounts or full exemptions at various rates. For tuition fee discount / exemption opportunities, be sure to contact your school’s International Student Office.
Insurance and Health Expenses
Health insurance for international students varies between 300-500 TL per year in private policies. These private insurances allow you to receive free healthcare service within the limits specified in the policy at contracted hospitals. It is important that you also obtain an English copy of your policy and read the relevant clauses carefully.
General Health Insurance payment is 1059 TL per year as of 2020. With this insurance, you can get free health care in all public hospitals. In private hospitals, you will have to pay varying amounts of contribution.
Daily Expenses
Student discounts are offered intheater, museum, public transportation, some bookstores and restaurants. Let us remind you that Turkish Airlines also offers attractive discounts and campaigns for students.
You can see the average prices of some basic needs below for hints.
Book and stationery fees (annual): 700 TL
Mobile Phone Bill (monthly): 60-120 TL
Transportation & Entertainment
Bus / metro ticket (one way): 1.75 – 3.50 TL
Taxi (5 km): 20 – 25 TL
Food
Bread: 1 – 3 TL
Water (0.5 lt): 1 TL
Milk (1 liter): 5 TL
Fruit Juice (1 liter): 5 TL
Eggs (10 pieces): 10 TL
White Cheese (1 kg): 40 TL
Pasta (1 package): 3 – 7 TL
Red meat (1 kg): 45 – 100 TL
Chicken (1 kg): 25 – 50 TL
Apple (1 kg): 10 TL
Eating & Drinking Outside
A meal at the cafeteria (state university): 3-10 TL
Breakfast in the university canteen (state university): 3-8 TL
Tea in the university canteen (state university): 1-3 TL
Coffee in the university canteen (state university): 3- 5 TL
Toast at the university canteen (state university): 5 TL
Soup: 5 TL
Hamburger menu: 20-25 TL
Kebab menu: 25-30 TL