Free tools for newcomers

Practical tools for
living in Istanbul

Moving to Istanbul is exciting and overwhelming in equal measure. We built the tools we wish existed to help you find the right neighborhood, plan your budget, and navigate the basics.

Explore the tools
Istanbul skyline with Bosphorus strait and historic mosques
Istanbul, Turkey Free tools for expats & newcomers
11 neighborhoods covered
2 continents, one city
100% free, no sign-up
March 2026 data last updated

Interactive tools

Everything you need to settle in

Kadฤฑkรถy neighborhood Istanbul street scene Most popular
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Neighborhood Finder

Answer a few questions about your lifestyle and budget. Get a ranked list of Istanbul neighborhoods that actually fit how you want to live.

Find your neighborhood
Istanbul market bazaar with spices and goods Plan ahead
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Expat Budget Planner

Get a realistic monthly budget estimate based on your lifestyle, including the costs most guides forget such as aidat fees, DASK insurance, phone registration.

Plan your budget
Person working on laptop with Istanbul view in background New
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Salary Reality Check

Earning in USD, EUR, or GBP? Find out exactly how far your foreign salary goes in Istanbul and whether your lifestyle is comfortable, tight, or needs a rethink.

Check your salary

Why Istanbul Expat

Built by someone who actually lives here

Most expat resources about Istanbul are written by people who visited for two weeks or scraped data from other sites. This one isn't. Every tool here reflects how the city actually works, not how it looks from the outside.

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Locally accurate Real neighborhood data, not generic city guides
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Regularly updated Costs and data refreshed for 2026
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No sign-up required All tools are completely free to use
Bosphorus Bridge Istanbul at sunset
15M+ people call Istanbul home