The formation of comfortable living in Turkey has gained strategic importance. The growth of digital migration, infrastructure development, and stable urbanization rates have shifted the focus to the quality of the urban environment. Priorities include safety, climate, transportation, education, healthcare, ecology, and crisis resilience. The best cities in Turkey compete not only with beaches and landmarks but also with the level of service, economic stability, quality of life, and opportunities for remote work.
Urban Transformation in Turkey
Municipalities have intensified competition for residents. Cities are adapting spaces for pedestrians and bicycles, implementing digital solutions for housing and utilities, developing concepts of “15-minute accessibility,” and investing in green architecture. Initiatives like “Akıllı Şehirler” have already covered Istanbul, Ankara, Bursa, and Izmir. The opening of digital hubs, the increase in the number of international schools, and business incubators have shaped a new portrait of the Turkish region as a multifunctional center.
Selection Criteria: Factors Influencing Rankings
The ranking analysis of the best cities in Turkey is based on 9 key factors: cost of living index, climate stability, safety, healthcare level, air pollution index, educational infrastructure saturation, population density, transportation accessibility, digitization of administrative services. The activity of the local real estate market and the number of job openings for remote specialists play a significant role.
Top 7: Best Cities in Turkey for Living
Locations that have confidently emerged as leaders in terms of comfort factors, development prospects, and urban sustainability.
Izmir
Stable climate with 300 sunny days per year. A combination of urban infrastructure and maritime tranquility. The introduction of a “green belt” around central districts has reduced temperature fluctuations. The digital ecosystem is represented by platforms like İzmirNet. The average rent for a 2+1 apartment is 8000 lira, the cost per square meter for purchase is 32,000. The city leads in educational infrastructure: Ege University, Yasar University, dozens of private international schools.
Antalya
The region is developing a new generation resort city model. The migration growth in 2023 exceeded 72,000 people. The quality of healthcare is confirmed by the presence of clinics like Acıbadem and Memorial. Antalya actively promotes remote work – coworking spaces, hub platforms, business centers. The average rental rate is 9500 lira, housing square meter price starts from 28,000. The implementation of new urban projects in Lara and Kepez districts creates additional growth potential.
Istanbul
Transport hubs, high level of healthcare, multilingual educational environment. Istanbul remains the financial, cultural, and digital heart of the country. Despite the high population density (over 15 million), the city maintains a stable pace of infrastructure renewal. Metro stations, new Marmaray lines, digital platforms like e-Devlet optimize daily tasks. The average rental cost is 12,000 lira, with areas like Kadıköy and Beşiktaş offering high quality of life.
Ankara
The capital offers a balanced model: low rental rates (average value – 7300 lira), strong healthcare, government subsidy programs, high concentration of universities. Çankaya and Yenimahalle districts demonstrate high levels of safety and access to social services. In 2024, Ankara ranked 2nd in the best cities for living with high digital accessibility among Turkish municipalities.
Bursa
A city with an industrial base and green policies. Bursa maintains leadership in air cleanliness index. It develops the IT sector, coworking scenes, technoparks (e.g., ULUTEK). Located an hour away from Istanbul, the city is attractive to those seeking a balance between career and comfort. The average rental cost is 6700 lira, housing purchase starts from 25,000 per m². Good transportation connections, access to ski resorts, and cultural heritage enhance the region’s appeal.
Fethiye
A location suitable for those who value a quiet environment and natural aesthetics. Growing demand for real estate from expats has raised the service level. The opening of an international school in 2023 has boosted migration of families with children. Local authorities invest in ecological projects – solar farms, waste recycling, preservation of lagoon nature. The average rental rate is 9200 lira. The city is among the top ten in terms of tourist service level and safety.
Mersin
Strong logistics and port potential. Infrastructure development includes new residential quarters, highways, parks, shopping complexes. The city activates programs to attract young specialists, reduces tax burden, and develops accelerators. Mersin has a high density of universities and business incubators. The average rental rate is 6900 lira. Proximity to the sea, food availability, and price stability make it convenient for living on a moderate budget.
Economic and Social Indicators
The best cities in Turkey for living provide a sustainable balance between the cost of living and service quality. For example, the level of medical service in Antalya and Izmir is comparable to private clinics in the EU. Istanbul has 78 universities, including international branches, creating a powerful educational cluster. According to TÜİK, in 2024, out of 100 surveyed digital specialists, 63 chose Izmir and Ankara as a comfortable environment for work and residence.
The air pollution index in Bursa is 42 (on a scale of 100), which is half as much as in Istanbul. Ankara has the lowest number of traffic jams among the country’s megacities – the average delay does not exceed 11 minutes. These data show how municipalities compete not with slogans but with concrete results.
Technologies and Sustainability
The transition to digital management is reflected in daily routines. Electronic passes, QR access to transport, utility payments via mobile platforms have become standard. Izmir and Ankara have full-fledged Smart City programs – traffic analysis, climate control in parks, lighting and energy consumption optimization. An important direction is resilience to climate risks. Antalya and Mersin actively invest in protection against landslides and floods. Coastal cities already have 27 solar mini power stations, reducing dependence on external energy resources.
Life Prospects in the Best Cities in Turkey 2025
Demand for living in Turkey from expats, freelancers, entrepreneurs will continue to grow. It is predicted that by 2026, the share of digital migrants will increase by 18%. Municipalities are expanding English-language online services, creating tax incentives for IT companies, strengthening tenant protection. In 2025, the best cities in Turkey for living will present not only domestic comfort but also infrastructure for capital growth. Real estate market activity in Fethiye, Bursa, and Mersin has already increased by 26-33% compared to 2022. At the same time, stable demand for rentals in Antalya, Izmir, and Ankara maintains investment profitability at 8-12% annually.
Conclusion
The best cities in Turkey for living in 2025 are shaping a new reality: a hybrid living style, a technological environment, cultural diversity, and economic stability. Unlike the past decade, the choice of municipality is no longer determined solely by nature or prices – the details become decisive: digital comfort, ecology, government involvement, and urban environment quality. It is the second-tier locations – Bursa, Mersin, Fethiye – that prove that Turkey’s potential is distributed unevenly but is purposefully developing.
