Everything You Need to Know About Ankara, Turkey

If you're considering moving to Ankara, Turkey, here's a condensed list of everything you need to know from the economy and politics to lifestyle and personal living:

Fun Facts!
Turkey is a first world country with Ankara as its capital. Most people mistakenly assume the capital is Istanbul, but it's simply the most well known city. Bridging Asia and Europe, there is debate on whether Turkey is considered to be part of the Middle East or Eurasia.

Economy
Turkey is a cheap country and has been called "the cheap man's Rome" for good reason. As of this writing, 1 USD = 2.11 TRY (Turkish Lira). Depending on the position, the average Turkish job offers a salary between 1,000-3,000 TRY while physicians earn up to 6,000 TRY. It doesn't seem like much compared to what people earn in the US, but keep in mind that cost of living is cheaper, too.

Lifestyle
6 day work weeks are the norm, with people enjoying tea, smoking, and drinking for recreation. While Turkey is a Muslim country, alcohol is legal, but heavily taxed (Absolut Vodka runs $40 for a $20 bottle) so people prefer to smoke. Pubs, bars, and nightclubs are easy to find. Ankara's ~5 million population + low income means most people ditch the car in favor of walking and taxis.

Popular Areas
Just like LA, there are several smaller cities within Ankara. Popular areas include Tunalı Hilmi (Beverly Drive), Kızılay (DTLA), and GOP (Beverly Hills). Tunalı Hilmi is a long street filled with cafes, groceries, and clothing stores. Kızılay is cheaper and more crowded, so pay extra attention to your surroundings. GOP is a quieter, more upscale area with higher end restaurants and shops.

Environment
Leave your stilettos behind. Ankara is a rustic city built on a hill, so you'll be walking on unsteady, broken ground most of the time. Climate is cold with spring/summer between May-August and fall/winter the rest of the year. Extreme weather changes - from hail to sun - are not uncommon.

Politics
Despite being a first world country, government corruption does exist. Be aware that there is voter fraud and rigged elections. People are not afraid to protest for gay rights or against police hostility either; watch crowds when in seedier areas and be prepared to turn around if you sense an uprising.

Healthcare
Turkish citizens enjoy national healthcare but foreigners are recommended to purchase international health insurance before traveling abroad or check with their current providers about international coverage. Pharmacies can be found on every block with some medications (e.g. insulin, blood pressure) available without a prescription but dosage may vary.

Your Life in Ankara
$1,000 per month will cover all basic living expenses plus fun extras; the trick is to avoid Turkey's low wages by securing a telecommute job based in the US. There are slight differences between the Turkish and English alphabets but characters are largely the same. Homelessness is more common and I sadly recommend not donating to individual beggars as they will heckle you in the future.

Hopefully you found this list helpful and are better equipped to make a decision on whether or not Ankara is the place for you!