Cost of living in Bursa

🇹🇷 Türkiye · A realistic 2026 budget for newcomers — rent, food, transport, and what a month actually costs.

Wondering how far your salary goes in Bursa? Here’s what everyday life costs, in local prices — the numbers that matter when you’re deciding to move or negotiating a package.

What things cost

Furnished 1-bed, central (Nilüfer/Çekirge)US$300-550 / mo
Meal, mid-range restaurantUS$7-12
İskender, bir buçuk porsiyonUS$6-10
Çay (glass of tea)US$0.25-0.55
Transit ride (BursaKart)under US$0.45
Est. single-person monthlyUS$500-750 (excl. rent)

Good to know

Population
~2.1 million city, ~3.3 million province
Languages
Turkish — very little English outside the university and the multinationals' offices
Currency
Turkish Lira (TRY, ₺) — high inflation; savings usually held in USD/EUR
Time zone
TRT (GMT+3), no daylight saving
Power plug
Types C/F, 230V
Climate
Transitional Mediterranean — warm dry summers, cool damp winters, snow on the mountain
Geography
In a basin under Uludağ (2,543 m), 25 km inland from the Sea of Marmara

Some of this may be out of date. Spotted something inaccurate? Help us keep it right for the next newcomer.

A note on budgeting

Rent is usually the swing factor — location and whether bills are included move the number most. Build your estimate from the rent band above, add a monthly living figure, and keep a buffer for one-off setup costs (deposits, a residence permit, a local SIM, first-month transport). Globe Quest turns this into a personalized Bursa checklist so nothing setup-related catches you off guard.

Plan your move to Bursa

A free, AI-personalized plan — the language, culture, and setup steps timed to your move date.