The Ultimate Digital Nomad Guide to Istanbul

Istanbul is slowly and steadily growing as a digital nomad hotspot during the last couple of years and below I’ll list the reasons why it is a great location to work remotely from, including some downsides so you have the whole picture.

As I personally lived in Istanbul as a digital nomad, I’ve summarised my experience in this guide to help you prepare for the cost of living, the best accommodation options, visa requirements, best places to explore as well as the internet connection, coworking and community options.

Is Istanbul good for digital nomads?

Istanbul is absolutely a great place for remote workers and digital nomads in my experience! So is Turkey as a country as well.

Here is my list of pros and what Istanbul can offer you:

– nice weather for most of the year

– plenty of things to see and explore (lots of historical and cultural places to visit)

– affordable accommodation, relatively low cost of living

– great food, plenty of choice for every taste

– stable internet connection

– very good infrastructure, public transport, and transport connections

– hospitality – friendly and helpful people

– multicultural cosmopolitan environment and great vibe

– a city that’s alive 24/7

How to enter the country?

First things – first, you need to be sure your documents are fine so you can enjoy your stay as a digital nomad in Istanbul and the Turkish country.

Let me show you the requirements and your options:

1. Free of visa entry

You don’t need a visa for Turkey but your valid passport only if you’re a citizen of one of the following countries:

• USA, Canada
• New Zealand
• Japan, Singapore
• EU citizens, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Ireland

US & Canada citizens who travel to Turkey:
I have good news for you – fortunately, since Jan 2024, US and Canadian citizens can enter Turkey and stay for up to 90 days visa-free. The Turkish government dropped the requirement for Americans and Canadians and you can visit the country as a tourist now with only your passport and without a visa.

According to the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs you only  need a valid passport to have your free of visa 90-day stay in any 180-day period. Make sure your passport is valid no less than 6 months from your arrival date in Turkey, as the US embassy in Turkey recommends.

If you’re like me and like to double- or triple-check everything, you can do this on the official websites of:

• the Turkish Ministry 
• the US Embassy in Turkey 
• or the Bureau of Consular Affairs USA

European Union citizens who travel to Turkey:

Turkey is also visa-free for passport holders of the countries part of the European Union. If you’re one of them, then the 90-day rule is applicable also to you. This is valid also for the following European countries as well – Switzerland, United Kingdom, Ireland.

2. Entry with a national ID card only

Not only you don’t need a visa but you may be also able to enter Turkey with only your ID card – check if your European country is on the list.

3. E-visa for Turkey

If you’re not a citizen of one of the countries above you can apply for an e-visa for Turkey.
The e-visa is paid but doesn’t cost much.

Note – this is the one and only official website of the Turkish government to apply for the e-visa.
All the other websites with similar or almost identical domain names are either agencies (i.e. you need to pay extra fee to help you apply for it) or scammers.

4. Digital nomad visa for Turkey

(Drum roll please :)… )

Fortunately and finally, in April 2024 Turkey officially launched its 1-year Digital nomad visa!
It’s a new program with some great benefits.
The best part is that you can apply online on the official website of the Turkish Culture and Tourism Ministry.

Who can apply for Turkey’s digital nomad visa?

Here are the requirements you need to meet in a nutshell, so you know right away if it’s an option for you:
– remote workers ( employees of companies outside of Turkey or self-employed)
– age: between 21 and 55 years old
– citizens of: USA, Canada, UK, most of EU countries
– proof of minimum monthly income of USD $3000
– university degree
– a passport valid for at least 6-months after arrival

A nice bonus

about living and working as a digital nomad in Turkey – your income won’t be taxed in the country as long as it’s received from abroad.
You’ll only need to start paying taxes if you want to settle here or get Turkish residence.

However, the rules can always change so make sure to check the law. Please be aware, I’m not a lawyer or a tax consultant, so don’t take this as any kind of legal advice.

If you’re still not sure about what kind of travel documents you need to visit Turkey check the official requirements for your country.

Cost of living

Although in the last couple of years we’ve experienced a raise in the cost of living in Istanbul, everything here is still cheaper than in most European countries.

The increase in prices of everything is because of the big amount of inflation Turkey has had in the past few years due to .

But even the prices are higher than ever before, so is the exchange rate.

In 2024 1 USD varies between 25-35 Turkish liras – something to easily remember when you do some rough calculation about your cost of living in Istanbul.

From my experience and also according to Nomadlist the average cost of living in Istanbul for a single person is around USD 1800-2000 a month.
Of course, it depends a lot on your lifestyle and can vary a lot from person to person.

This average living cost wouldn’t cover luxury lifestyle or any extras, but it will for sure allow you to eat outside, try the street food, use the public transport and include some sightseeing that are a must in Istanbul.

What will cost you the most?

Rent, eating out and travelling / sightseeing will cost you the most when living in Istanbul as a digital nomad.

Rental prices went really high the last couple of years and continue to rise.
Of course, one of the reasons is that Istanbul became very attractive for digital nomads. As foreigners, no matter in which country, we’ll always spend a bit more for living than as locals, especially for rent.

Eating out could be at a reasonable price if you choose street food or places where the locals eat.
But as travellers we’re often attracted by some touristic places – we choose to “live for the moment” by eating dinner at a first class restaurant with a Bosphorus view or just can’t resist trying a new Turkish dessert each day, because why else am I here as a digital nomad if I can’t benefit from the place I am living the most?!
Sounds familiar, right? 🙂 I totally get you. Just be prepared.

Travelling outside of Istanbul / Sightseeing in Istanbul will be another section of your monthly budget spreadsheet that you’ll spend the most.
Reasons? – The same that you’ve become a digital nomad for – we love travelling, exploring new places, seeing as much as we can in the place, visiting “the must sees” of Istanbul and discovering each corner of the city.

You never do this in your hometown, or at least not anymore, right? That’s why we cannot compare our cost of living with the budget the locals live with.

So is Istanbul, and Turkey at all, your next place as a digital nomad? 

Take your time to decide and feel free to explore even more about Istanbul in my next topics. If you feel ready – go ahead and set your budget, pick your travel dates and book the flight for your next adventure in Istanbul!

Istanbul’s already waiting for you with its rich and unique culture, welcoming atmosphere and affordable cost of living. It’s calling you and all digital nomads to come and enjoy everything that only Istanbul can offer!