Looking for American Expats in Turkey?

Thinking about moving to Turkey as an American? These pros and cons come from the InterNations Expat Insider 2026 survey, in which thousands of expats around the world share what they like and don't like about life abroad each year. The points below reflect what an American expats in Turkey wrote in their own words, backed up by survey percentages from all expats living there.

• The nature and weather are stunning. Landscapes and a warm climate stand out — 87% of expats in Turkey rate the natural environment positively and 71% rate the climate and weather positively (vs. 58% globally).

• The food, history, and culture are rich. Cuisine, historic sites, and hospitality come up constantly as the heart of daily life there.

• Getting around and travelling are easy. 82% rate the availability of public transportation positively, and Turkey's location makes international trips cheap and quick (79% rate the opportunity to travel positively).

• It feels safe and hospitable. Americans mention low crime and genuine warmth, with 78% rating personal safety positively.

• The economy is the biggest strain. Inflation weighs heavily — just 16% of expats in Turkey rate the state of the economy positively and 23% rate the general cost of living positively.

• Politics and instability worry people. Only 30% rate political stability positively, and censorship and repression come up in the answers.

• Bureaucracy is hard to navigate. Just 19% find it easy to deal with local authorities, well below the 38% global average.

• The language is a barrier. Only 30% say Turkish is easy to learn, which complicates daily admin.

For Americans, Turkey offers stunning nature, deep history, wonderful food, and genuine hospitality at a low price. The trade-offs are economic and political: high inflation, instability, and heavy bureaucracy. Overall happiness sits below the global average (58% vs. 70%), reflecting the economic strain more than the lifestyle.

Every year, we publish one of the biggest global surveys for expats — Expat Insider — where we ask people living around the world about every aspect of expat life. We’ve rounded up key facts about the typical American expat: what motivated them to move to a new country, what they enjoy about life abroad, as well as what they struggle with the most.

Of course, expat living in Turkey is not just about shipping your belongings and filing in some bureaucratic papers. Regular socializing with fellow Americans is an essential part of expat life and helps getting accustomed to the Turkish way of life and mentality. InterNations helps you connect and meet up with other Americans in Turkey, residing in Istanbul, Ankara, Antalya and many other places throughout the country. Just take a look at our group of Americans in Istanbul or Americans in Ankara.

• Look up our top quality network to get to know open-minded expats from the United States of America in Turkey.
• Obtain and share insider tips in our Turkey Expat Forums – e.g. how to hire a babysitter fluent in your native tongue for your children or where to get stuffed turkey in Ankara.
• Search the InterNations Places database for Turkey to get information on institutions from your home country, including the American embassy.

From the Bosporus to Aegean Turkey, between the azure sea and silvery olive groves, we’ll help you connect with supportive and friendly American expats in Turkey.

Moreover, please feel free to attend our regular expat events and activities in Turkey. Our get-togethers are very diverse and range from a cozy gathering to enjoy the traditional Turkish köfte, to big expat celebrations with hundreds of participants in Istanbul’s best locations. You can also participate in one of our expat trips to go and see semi-desert Anatolia as well as other beautiful landmarks in Turkey.

Our meet-ups and activities are a great opportunity to mingle with expats from the United States of America and various other countries in a casual setting. Interested? Just sign up and you’ll soon be receiving a cordial Hello from our Americans living in Turkey!