The Russians were struck by prices in Turkey: everything has tripled in price

The holiday season has started. Despite the high prices for tours to Turkey, many Russians, by tradition, still prefer the Antalya coast to domestic resorts. While the relocators, who made their choice in favor of Turkey a year ago, are packing their bags. Food prices have doubled, staying in Turkey has become unaffordable.

Alexander Dubensky from St. Petersburg recently returned from Antalya: “A trip for two in a five-star hotel on an ultra all-inclusive system for 9 days cost 152 thousand rubles. Our 1 year old traveled for free. In June, the price for such a tour is even more expensive – about 280 thousand. We flew by charter, Turkish Airlines. The guys from St. Petersburg rested with us. For four in 21 days they got 525 thousand rubles.

Mostly Germans, French, British lived in our hotel. There are fewer Poles and Russians. The attitude towards us is excellent, both from the Turks and the Europeans.

Disappointed prices. In my opinion, they are very high. This is not my first time in Turkey, but it was this year that everything took off at times. For example, baby puree like “FrutoNyanya” cost 70 liras (280 rubles), in Moscow the price is 39 rubles. Bags and clothes are inexpensive, but much cheaper in China.”

Evgenia flew to Turkey not only to relax, but also to buy medicine. Last year, medicines there cost several times cheaper than in Russia:

“A ticket to Kemer cost 215 thousand for two people for ten days. I had a list of drugs, but something had to be crossed off. Some drugs have risen in price by half. But some are much cheaper. For example, I bought a medicine that costs 900 rubles from us, and there it costs 180 rubles.

But in general, prices are space. Most of all, I was surprised by the cost of household chemicals, electrical appliances, and appliances. For example, the 14th model of the iPhone Pro Max with 256 GB of memory is 60 thousand lira (234 thousand rubles). In Russia, this can be found for 125 thousand, despite the sanctions. They explained to me that customs clearance is expensive in Turkey, hence the high prices for cars and equipment.

Prices for branded items have skyrocketed. Previously, the simplest Nike sneakers could be bought for $50-60, now for $113.

Oksana described her week-long vacation in Istanbul: “My husband and I spent $1,200 (97,000 rubles) but bought a little at Zara and Adidas.

We ate in cheap cafes, away from the main streets, they were googled in advance. In canteens for locals, you can eat together for 200 liras (780 rubles). Street food is inexpensive, shawarma costs 50-100 liras (195-390 rubles).

In more or less decent restaurants, you can’t dine for less than 1000-1500 lira (3900-5800 rubles). And the cheapest hamburger in the mall was found for 130 liras (508 rubles).

Museums are expensive, so they didn’t go inside, everyone looked from the outside. The Turks are waiting for inflation, so they are breaking prices in order to stock up on dollars.”

Due to high prices, Russians who came to Turkey a year ago are considering moving to another country.

– At first, people left because of problems with obtaining a residence permit. 80 percent experienced rejection. And then prices went up in Turkey, and a new wave of migration started,” says Piotr, who lives in Istanbul. – A significant rise in prices for products and services occurred after the new year.

Prices continue to rise to this day. Often you come to the store, but there are no price tags. Sellers do not have time to change them, because the cost of goods is updated almost daily. Vacuum-packed beef used to cost 190 liras (740 rubles), now it is sold for 600 liras (2300 rubles). A good piece of meat is about 1000 lira (3900 rubles). Minced meat 400 grams – 98 lira (400 rubles). In farmers’ markets, away from tourist spots, you can find cheaper meat for 250-350 lira (970-1360 rubles).

Red fish – from 350 lira (1400 rubles). Turkey has always had cheap coffee, about 30 liras (117 rubles). Now – 50 lira (205 rubles).

Against this background, scammers became more active. In stores, I recommend checking receipts carefully. They can pierce three kilograms of cherries instead of one, or pierce one product twice. In pharmacies they fool: the prices are called from the bulldozer. Restaurants can cheat.

Prices in the resorts have skyrocketed, everything has risen in price by two or even three times. A year ago, it was easy to find a room in a modest hotel for 500-1000 rubles a day, now there is nothing cheaper than $100 (8,000 rubles). It is no longer possible to live in Antalya on less than $1,000 (80,000 rubles). Those who used to often go to restaurants, to parties, now sit at home, work more, save. But Türkiye is not worth the money. People are looking for a new place to relocate.”

But the Russians, who have been living in Turkey for a long time, have adapted. Mikhail rents a house with his wife and child in Kemer. The man believes that he needs to be patient a little: “We huddled as best we could. We spend at least 20 thousand lira (78 thousand rubles) per month. We rent not so hot what kind of housing for 12 thousand lira (47 thousand rubles). Utilities, internet and telephone costs 1,200 lire (4,600 rubles). We eat modestly for 5-8 thousand lira (19500-31000) per month.

We do not spend money on clothes, if necessary we buy underwear and socks – 500 lire (2000 rubles). We pray not to get sick, otherwise we will get money.

Sogdiana from Istanbul agrees with the previous interlocutor: “I learned to live on $300 (24,000 rubles) with two children. If you do not go to restaurants, do not buy shoes and clothes, then enough. Some Turkish families survive on 9,000 liras (35,000 rubles) – they rent modest housing, do not buy meat, boil a tub of beans and eat for several days. Life forces you to adapt to any circumstances.