Affordable, beautiful, tasty: an American woman moved to Istanbul and spends $1500 a month on a comfortable life

American Maria Mocerino left the United States and moved to Istanbul to start over. She spends just $1500 a month to live comfortably in Turkey, reports Insider.

Photo: IStock

Traveling around the world, Maria wanted to find a city where she would feel comfortable. Maria, a big city girl who has lived in both Los Angeles and New York, wanted a more affordable place to live.

About nine months ago, a friend suggested she visit Istanbul.

She found the city stunning and bustling. Maria felt comfortable in Istanbul with her freelance income.

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“I have officially fallen in love with this ancient and modern metropolis,” she said.

She managed to extend her tourist visa, but it was almost over. The girl says she doesn't want to leave.

Why you can love Istanbul

Istanbul is the meeting place of East and West. It is ideal for those who appreciate history and culture.

“One of the most beautiful features of Istanbul is the combination of Asian and European cultures in everything from cuisine to architecture,” Maria noted. “Walking around, I feel like I can see, taste and appreciate the charm of Central Asia, the Middle East and the Mediterranean.”

As a former New Yorker, it is important for Maria to live in a place where there is a real mix of cultures.

“Istanbul feels a little familiar and foreign, ancient and modern—I get the best of all worlds here,” she explained.

affordable life

The lira, the local currency, has weakened against the US dollar in recent months. This allowed Maria to feel quite free with her American money.

For example, she lives in a digital nomad hotel in Kadikoy, one of the trendiest areas on the Asian side, right by the water.

A cool area like this in New York or Los Angeles would be way beyond her budget, but here she only pays about $400 per room. This price includes internet, electricity and other utilities. Maria spends only about $100 a month on groceries. She recently bought kombucha and a salmon dinner at a restaurant for $12.

And recently an American woman was at a concert and paid less than $5 for one of the best seats.

Overall, Maria spends about $1500 a month to live very comfortably. She is able to save money every month, which was always difficult for her to do when she lived in New York. However, according to the girl, fees on foreign debit cards add up, and Istanbul ATMs often charge hefty withdrawal fees ranging from 6% to 8%. Whenever possible, Maria pays in cash and tries to withdraw large sums from her bank to get by for the month.

Istanbul - Mecca of beauty and health

Turkey's largest city is known as a medical tourism destination.

People travel to Istanbul because prices for treatments such as Botox and other facial treatments such as microneedling, as well as dental services, are quite low.

“Affordable prices mean I can put self-care first, something I wasn’t able to do when I lived in the US,” Maria argued.

For example, in Istanbul she received a massage for $30 per session. When she lived in the USA, she could not find a single master for less than $75. Since Maria can now afford a massage, she treats herself to it at least once a month.

She now has a personal trainer, which costs her $10 an hour. This is two times cheaper than in the USA.

Super social city

In the sprawling metropolis, each neighborhood feels like its own not-so-small world to discover, with alleys crowded with bars, shops, restaurants, bazaars and cafes.

In Maria's experience, Istanbul has a vibrant nightlife and many people here enjoy spending time outdoors and socializing. The terraces often fill with people as soon as the sun begins to set.

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“Many areas are very vibrant and welcoming. Sometimes it seems to me that I communicate even when I am alone,” admitted Maria.

Transport

Istanbul is a large port city on the Bosphorus Strait, located between Europe and Asia.

The proximity to the Black and Marmara seas, which are connected by the Bosphorus, allows you to take a ferry and get to almost anywhere.

“The wide ferry access is probably the coolest part of living here. This is a fast way to travel, great views, and the trip costs me less than $1,” Maria emphasized. “In my opinion, Istanbul’s elevated trains, buses and metro are also quite efficient and well designed.”

Art and architecture

“I am so lucky that I can visit Hagia Sophia at sunset and see the Blue Mosque glow at night. The iconic monuments alone are worth returning to the Sultanahmet area at any time,” she admitted.

In addition, there are ancient ruins and more than 3000 mosques throughout the city. Maria enjoys the museum and gallery life, whether she visits the contemporary art galleries in Beyoğlu or the modern museums in the seaport.

Delicious food and, of course, Turkish coffee

Turkey's coffee culture is incredible, as Maria notes. She enjoys enjoying the delicious drink and the rituals around it throughout Istanbul.

Delicious and grainy, Turkish coffee is often served in real porcelain and can be ordered from street carts that prepare the flavorful drink in the traditional way using hot sand.

When it comes to food in Istanbul, Maria is particularly fond of meze - a selection of small appetizers such as orzo, salad, stuffed grape leaves and yogurt-based spreads. They are served together as an appetizer.

The street food that the girl tried was tasty and affordable.

“For just a few dollars, I ate chestnuts, corn and mussels stuffed with rice, spiced and sprinkled with fresh lemon juice,” Maria listed her favorite delicacies. — And, of course, amazing desserts. Every evening I enjoy baklava stuffed with pistachios, walnuts and almonds, as well as fragrant Turkish delight.”

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