What if you were born in Turkey?

If you had grown up in Turkey instead of Pakistan, here is what your money, your home and your day in Istanbul could look like.

Try it with my numbers

Hot-air balloons over Cappadocia. Photo: Ivankazaryan, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Three alternate lives in Turkey

Each person keeps the same place on the income ladder they have in Pakistan. Amounts are per month, after tax, in TRY and in rupees at today’s rate.

Single, starting out

Earns Rs 60,000 a month in Pakistan, on your own.

Take-home in Turkey: TRY 52,700Rs 291,000
Rent (city centre): TRY 15,200
Transport (public transport): TRY 2,690
Food: TRY 7,620
Saved: TRY 7,910

Family of four

Earns Rs 120,000 a month in Pakistan, as a family of four.

Take-home in Turkey: TRY 121,000Rs 668,000
Rent (suburbs): TRY 30,900
Transport (public transport): TRY 6,180
Food: TRY 20,600
Saved: TRY 18,200

High-earning couple

Earns Rs 300,000 a month in Pakistan, as a couple.

Take-home in Turkey: TRY 196,000Rs 1,080,000
Rent (city centre): TRY 48,100
Transport (car): TRY 18,400
Food: TRY 24,000
Saved: TRY 55,000

Try it with my own income

A day in Istanbul

The family of four above, with one parent working as an engineer.

Morning
You wake up in Istanbul, a city of cool winters around 6°C and warm summers around 26°C.
Commute
You take a bus and a train: about 40 minutes, a bit longer in bad weather.
Work
As an engineer: You spend the morning on site and the afternoon on drawings and calls with suppliers.
Language
Everything happens in Turkish; English is not widely spoken.
Lunch
Lunch might be kebabs, baklava and very strong coffee.
Evening
You get home with TRY 18,200 saved each month. You stay alert in some areas at night.
Weekend
Weekends are for the coast and the mountains.

Turkey compared with Pakistan

	Turkey	Pakistan
Prices of everyday things	2.0× Pakistan	1×
Average life expectancy	77 years	68 years
Air pollution (PM2.5)	26 µg/m³	58 µg/m³
Unemployment	8.5%	5.4%
Average temperature, main city	15°C	26°C
Languages	Turkish	Urdu, English, regional languages
Currency	TRY	PKR

Sources: World Bank (price levels, household spending, life expectancy, PM2.5, unemployment), NASA POWER (climate), Dareecha’s daily exchange rates.

Thinking of really moving? See Pakistan vs Turkey, living in Turkey and the visa checker.

Questions

How much would I earn if I was born in Turkey?

It depends on where you are on the ladder. A family earning Rs 120,000 a month in Pakistan, above the national average, would take home around TRY 121,000 a month at the same level in Turkey (about Rs 668,000 at today's rate). Try your own numbers in the simulator.

Is Turkey more expensive than Pakistan?

Yes. Everyday goods and services cost about 2.0 times as much as in Pakistan (World Bank price levels), but incomes there are higher too, so what matters is how far your pay goes.

What language would I speak in Turkey?

Mainly Turkish. English is not widely spoken.

Can I actually move to Turkey?

This page imagines being born there. For a real move, compare costs, safety and jobs on the Pakistan vs Turkey page, and check visa rules in the visa checker.