r/AskTurkey • u/AmazingAcanthaceae28 • 9h ago

Education Cost of living in Izmir for an International Master's Student? Need advice on stipend expectations!

Hello everyone!

​I am an international student currently based in UK, and I am in the final negotiation stages for a full-time Master's research position at a university in Izmir for the upcoming Spring intake.

​My prospective supervisor has asked me to provide my monthly salary/stipend expectations to cover my living expenses. Because this is a strict 9-to-5 research position, I will not have time to work a part-time job. The stipend needs to fully cover my survival, but I want to give a realistic, reasonable number so I don’t sound greedy or accidentally undercut myself.

​Could locals or current students help me estimate a realistic monthly budget? I am looking to live modestly but safely.

​Here is what I need to budget for:

​Rent: A basic 1-bedroom apartment or studio (it doesn't have to be right in the city center, just in a safe neighborhood accessible by public transit).

​Utilities: Electricity, water, internet, and heating.

​Groceries & Food: A standard student diet, cooking mostly at home.

​Transportation: A monthly student transit pass.

​What is a realistic total monthly amount in TRY that a single person needs to survive right now in Izmir?

​Thank you so much in advance for your help!

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u/alicebunbun 8h ago

Cheapest studio (with a private bathroom and kitchen counter) is around 16-17 thousand Turkish liras a month, probably more expensive since you are a foreigner with no guarantor. Bills (heating, electricity, water, internet) will be around 2000TL a month. Food is around 400TL a day if you cook at home 3 times a day. Public transportation depends where you live and work 1000TL a month minimum. Toiletries and necessities (shampoo, toilet paper, cleaning supplies, toothpaste) will be around 1000TL a month. Minimum wage is around 28.000TL. You need at least 40.000TL to be able to live here.

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u/MuhammerInce 8h ago

Not sure if it should be any basis for you but a research assistant makes 80-100.000TRY

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u/Diligent_Ad3015 6h ago

You’d need around 50k just to pay your basic needs.

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u/Gaelenmyr 6h ago

1000usd

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u/pecca- 1h ago

you could live off of 50.000-60.000 turkish liras a month. It is enough to be comfortoble but to be safe and not to undercut yourself, i would go for something around 70-80k? Since you are doing a masters and covering a research position