Life in Turkey
Health, education, transport, connectivity and practical relocation guidance.
01Editorial visualHeavy rain warning covers 13 provinces in southeast Turkey on 12 October
MGM warns of local downpours, flash flooding, lightning, hail, strong gusts and transport disruption through 23:59 on Monday.
5 min read · today, 10:54
02Editorial visualTR-YÖS/2 answer key is online: what international applicants can check now
ÖSYM has published 10% of the 11 October TR-YÖS/2 question booklet with its answer key. The official calendar lists 5 November 2026 for results.
5 min read · today, 19:15
03Editorial visualTurkey fuel prices on 10 October: diesel nears TRY98 while petrol eases
Petrol Ofisi’s live table confirms diesel at TRY96.50–98.00 in Istanbul, Ankara and İzmir, while petrol is TRY83.60–85.10. These are location-sensitive recommended prices, not a single state-set tariff.
5 min read · today, 13:25
04Editorial visualHeating used 62% of household energy in Turkey in 2025
New TurkStat data show natural gas supplied 52.1% of household final energy and space heating was the largest use—useful context for renters and home buyers comparing running costs.
5 min read · today, 05:10
05Editorial visualTurkey expands e-Devlet insurance records: claim reports, fault ratios and policy history move into one view
The upgraded ‘My Private Insurance’ area can show adjuster reports, accident records, fault ratios, current and past policies, and renewal alerts.
6 min read · today, 13:10
06Editorial visualAFAD report places magnitude-5.2 mainshock in Saimbeyli as aftershocks continue
AFAD's preliminary report identifies Saimbeyli, Adana, as the epicentre of Sunday's magnitude-5.2 mainshock. A magnitude-4.1 event followed overnight at 01:51.
5 min read · today, 06:19
07Editorial visualTurkey changes how SGK calculates medicine reimbursement — what residents should know
A 3 October regulation introduces a 1% market-share test and greater use of Medula data in reimbursement calculations. It does not announce a new patient copayment or a list of medicines losing coverage.
6 min read · today, 10:19
08Editorial visualTurkey fact check: no kilometre EV tax, no public fund levy, stations not sold
Official Bulletin No. 215 rejects six circulating claims. The practical takeaways concern electric cars, public charges, Istanbul rail stations, finance and an earthquake image.
7 min read · today, 21:21
09Editorial visualTurkey's high-use electricity tariff reaches a new group on 1 October
Homes that first crossed 4,000 kWh by the 31 July meter reading can move to the market-linked tariff from 1 October. This is not a general price rise for every household.
5 min read · today, 05:27
10Editorial visualTurkey's unemployment rate fell to 7.8%, while labour underutilisation rose to 31%
August brought 136,000 more employed people and 106,000 fewer unemployed, but the broader underutilisation measure moved in the opposite direction.
6 min read · today, 10:25
11Editorial visualTurkey's expected schooling fell to 16.8 years — what foreign families should know
TÜİK's 2025 indicator declined from 17.2 years. Istanbul recorded 18.4 years, but the measure excludes foreign students and is not a school-quality ranking.
6 min read · today, 20:20
12Editorial visualCinema tickets set at 90 lira across 75 Turkish provinces for two days
About 1,500 screens will join the 26–27 September festival. Residents and visitors should still check the participating cinema, session, language and seat availability before travelling.
4 min read · today, 20:21
13Editorial visualTurkey launches its 2030 smart-cities framework: what changes now — and what does not
Presidential Circular 2026/11 prioritises integrated city services, data governance, AI-assisted decisions and digital security. It does not yet announce a city-by-city service launch or require residents to use a new app.
6 min read · today, 07:18
14Editorial visualTurkey launches AI literacy programme for 5.2 million middle-school pupils
MEB says the programme will bring age-appropriate AI activities, teacher guides and training to Turkey's middle-school system, with nationwide reach as the goal.
7 min read · today, 21:22
15Editorial visualTurkey's new döner rules require clearer types and tighter poultry limits
A new food-codex communiqué defines leaf, minced and mixed döner, lowers the poultry-döner fat ceiling to 15% and expands label disclosures. Existing operators have until 31 March 2027 to comply.
7 min read · today, 01:28
16Editorial visualTurkey's 2026–27 school year begins: the dates international families need
Classes started on 14 September; MEB has set two mid-term breaks, a 25 January–5 February semester holiday and a 25 June finish.
6 min read · today, 20:26
17Editorial visualTurkey circulates new-signature 50 and 5 lira notes — old notes remain valid
The new series entered circulation on 11 September. Only the signatures changed: size, design and general appearance are identical, and earlier-series notes continue to be legal tender.
5 min read · today, 16:20
18Editorial visualAnkara Gölbaşı wildfire extinguished after local evacuations and access closures
Crews extinguished the Taşpınar fire. Earlier evacuations and access closures concerned the response area; no Ankara-wide disruption was reported.
9 min read · today, 20:20
19Editorial visualDiesel passed TRY90 in Ankara and İzmir: what Turkey's 4 September fuel jump changes
Recommended pump prices rose by roughly TRY7.7–7.8 per litre for diesel and about TRY2.5 for petrol. A 50-litre diesel fill now costs around TRY4,500 in Ankara and İzmir.
7 min read · today, 12:23
20Editorial visualTurkey's unemployment rate is 8.1% in July: what the figure does — and does not — say
TÜİK's new monthly headline is higher than the 7.6% reported for June, but it is not a direct measure of vacancies, foreign-worker demand or formal employment.
7 min read · today, 11:27
21Editorial visualTurkey deposits August birth-support payments — foreign-born parents are not automatically excluded
The ministry says August payments have reached eligible mothers. A mixed-nationality family may qualify through a Turkish parent and Turkish child, but residence and application rules still apply.
6 min read · today, 08:18
22Editorial visualTurkey rewrites medicine-pricing rules — but 29 August is not a blanket pharmacy price rise
A new communiqué sets the reference-country, euro-conversion and application rules used to price medicines. It does not publish a new euro value or order every pharmacy product to rise immediately.
6 min read · today, 03:27
23Editorial visualTurkey gives one public-sector parent limited leave for school adaptation week
For preschool, first-grade and fifth-grade pupils, one parent employed by the public sector may request up to three hours of administrative leave per day during 7–11 September.
6 min read · today, 16:21
24Editorial visualTurkey registered 207,508 vehicles in July as electrified cars gained ground
Monthly registrations rose 6.6%, but remained 19.4% below July 2025; hybrids and electric cars made up nearly half of new car registrations in January–July.
3 min read · today, 10:00
25Editorial visualFact-check: an 18.81% rise in farm-gate prices does not mean the same increase in shops
TÜİK reported higher agricultural producer prices in July, but the index cannot be applied directly to a consumer's grocery basket.
5 min read · today, 08:40
26Editorial visualPaid employment in Turkey increased by 2.5% year on year
TÜİK's June data show growth in registered paid employment, but the figure is not the unemployment rate.
4 min read · today, 08:35
27Editorial visualHeat in Turkey: Ministry of Health advises to avoid the street from 11:00 to 16:00
Special caution is needed for the elderly, children, pregnant women, people with chronic diseases and those who work outdoors.
6 min read · today, 07:20
28Editorial visualLife in Turkey is becoming more expensive unevenly: housing and utilities are growing faster than inflation
With overall annual inflation of 32.11%, costs for housing, water, electricity and gas increased by 45.14%.
7 min read · today, 08:04
29Editorial visualHow much does the first month of life in Turkey cost: an honest cost structure
Housing, communications, insurance, transportation and household expenses for a new resident.
6 min read · today, 10:35