Türkiye's construction cost index increased 1.15% in July 2026 and 28.33% from a year earlier, according to TÜİK's 9 September release. Labour costs rose faster than materials in the annual comparison. The figures matter to developers and buyers of homes still under construction, but they do not say that every Turkish property has gained 28.33% in value. This is a national input-cost measure, not a transaction-price, valuation or asking-price index.
Labour was the faster-growing component
The materials component increased 1.28% month on month and 27.13% year on year. Labour rose 0.92% in July and 30.51% over twelve months. Building construction costs increased 1.08% monthly and 28.37% annually; for non-building construction, the increases were 1.38% and 28.19%. These national averages can differ sharply from a particular project, city or specification.
Why this is not a 28.33% home-price prediction
Construction inputs are only one part of a sale price. Land, financing, developer margin, taxes, demand, unsold inventory, location and exchange rates also matter. A completed resale apartment may have little immediate connection to this month's input index, while an early-stage development can be more exposed. The release therefore supports a cost-pressure assessment, not a guaranteed direction or percentage for housing prices.
Off-plan buyers should read the price clause, not the headline
For an unfinished home, check whether the agreed price is fixed or whether the contract permits indexation, variation orders or exchange-rate adjustments. Record the payment currency, instalment dates, delivery date, specifications and remedies for delay. The TÜİK figure does not itself authorise a developer to change a signed price; any adjustment must rest on the contract and applicable law. Obtain independent legal advice before accepting a revised schedule or signing an addendum.
International investors need a second currency calculation
The index measures costs in Turkish lira. An investor reporting in euros, dollars, pounds, roubles or hryvnia should separately calculate the purchase price, staged payments and exit value in that currency, including transfer costs and conversion spreads. A lira cost increase may be partly offset or amplified by the exchange rate. Comparing a finished home with an off-plan unit on the same all-in, same-currency basis is more useful than applying the national percentage to a listing.
A practical project-level check
Ask for the title and zoning position, building permit, approved plans, contractor and developer details, construction servitude or condominium status, and occupancy permit where relevant. Match the promised materials and floor area to the contract, inspect progress, and compare recent completed transactions rather than advertisements alone. The cost index is valuable context; the documents, delivery risk and local demand determine whether a particular deal is sound.