Turkey vs Greece for Retirement: Which Is Better?

Turkey vs Greece for U.S. Retirees

Are you considering retiring abroad? If so, you’re not alone. While the precise number of Americans living outside the U.S. in retirement is indeterminate, approximately 700,000 receive Social Security benefits abroad, up more than 20% over the last 12 years, according to the Social Security Administration.

The reasons people give for retiring abroad are predictable: they want a lower cost of living, a slower pace, a different lifestyle, and, more recently, a calmer political climate. According to a recent survey, more than six in ten Americans said today’s political climate in the U.S. has made them more likely to move abroad. And about one in five Americans said they would like to leave the U.S. and move permanently to another country if they could, according to a Gallup report.

These sentiments are not held exclusively by retirees either. Across demographic groups, Americans with lower confidence in institutions such as the government, judicial system, military, and integrity of elections are consistently more likely to express a desire to leave the U.S., according to the research.

Why I Compared Greece and Turkey

As an expat blogger who has retired abroad, I’m interested in following trends, polls, and expert opinions on international relocation. Each year, a number of publications release their list of best places to retire. Frankly, I am amused that the lists never seem to change; only the ranking order shifts slightly.

For 2026, however, one authoritative publication boldly elevated Greece to the #1 spot from near the bottom of its top ten list the year before. I considered every country found on most top ten lists, and I chose Turkey. So I thought it would be an interesting exercise to compare Turkey to the holder of a 2026 top spot.

Greece vs Turkey for retirement is basically: EU island lifestyle vs. lower-cost East-Mediterranean comfort. Both can be amazing, but I’ll break it down point by point.

Cost of Living

Turkey

• Generally cheaper overall
• Rent, groceries, and eating out are very affordable (especially outside Istanbul)
• Private healthcare is good quality and low cost
• Currency depreciation can work in your favor if you have foreign income

Greece

• More expensive than Turkey
• Still cheaper than most of Western Europe
• Islands and Athens cost more
• Utilities can be pricey

If budget is a big priority, Turkey usually wins.

Healthcare

Greece

• EU healthcare system
• Public and private options
• EU retirees can use S1 arrangements
• Generally reliable but can be slow in public hospitals
• U.S. retirees must purchase private health insurance to qualify for Greek residency

Turkey

• Excellent public and private hospitals in major cities
• Much lower private healthcare and insurance costs
• After living in Turkey continuously for one year with a valid residence permit, you can apply to join the public health insurance system (SGK); monthly premiums are very low
• Many expats use a hybrid strategy: they join SGK and pay out-of-pocket for specialists when needed

Both offer high-quality healthcare, but Turkey provides private healthcare and insurance at a much lower cost.

Lifestyle & Climate

Both Offer

• Mediterranean climate
• Great food
• Sea views
• Strong café culture
• Slower pace of life outside big cities

Greece

• More English widely spoken
• Lots of expat communities
• Very classic Mediterranean retirement feel

Turkey

• Warmer winters (especially the Turkish Riviera)
• Extremely hospitable culture
• Bigger country with more variety
• Can feel more dynamic and less EU-regulated

Stability & Currency

Greece

• Euro currency
• EU member; some fear loss of sovereignty
• More economic stability

Turkey

• Turkish lira has been depreciating, though this can be advantageous to those earning in euros or U.S. dollars
• Stable, independent-minded government
• Broad-based growth economy

Travel Connectivity

Athens (ATH) – Eleftherios Venizelos

• International destinations: ~155–165
• Domestic destinations: ~30
• Airlines serving: ~65–70
• Average daily flights: ~600–700 (peak summer higher)
• Annual passenger traffic: ~28–29 million

Notes:

• Strong seasonal swing (huge summer traffic)
• Major base for Aegean Airlines
• Primarily Europe-focused with some Middle East, North America, and limited Asia routes

Istanbul Airport (IST)

• International destinations: ~300+
• Domestic destinations: ~50
• Airlines serving: ~100+
• Average daily flights: ~1,400–1,600
• Annual passenger traffic: ~75–80+ million

Notes:

• Global mega-hub
• Turkish Airlines drives massive long-haul network (Africa, Asia, Americas)
• Among top airports worldwide for international connectivity

Sabiha Gökçen (SAW)

• International destinations: ~130–150
• Domestic destinations: ~35
• Airlines serving: ~50–60
• Average daily flights: ~700–800
• Annual passenger traffic: ~35–40 million

Notes:

• Major hub for Pegasus Airlines
• Strong low-cost and regional network
• Significant Europe and Middle East coverage

Both countries have numerous regional airports serving their hubs, but Turkey has the clear advantage when it comes to international connectivity.

Social Life & Community

• Greece has well-established expat retiree communities
• Turkey has expats too (especially Antalya, Fethiye, Bodrum) but they are slightly less structured

Residency & Bureaucracy

Greece

• EU citizens: easy process
• Non-EU: need residency visa (financial proof required)
• Golden Visa program available (requires property investment)

Turkey

• Residence permit required
• Property purchase makes it easier
• Rules change occasionally, so you need to stay updated

Golden Visa vs Citizenship by Investment

Greece

Launched in 2013, the Greece Golden Visa is a residency-by-investment program. The minimum real estate investment requirement for 2026 is €250,000, making it one of the most affordable programs in Europe. It grants a five-year residency permit with renewal options. Citizenship is not automatic. You must spend time in Greece, pass language and cultural tests, and meet other legal requirements.

Turkey

Foreign nationals can obtain a short-term residence permit through property ownership with no minimum purchase requirement. Permits are typically issued for one year and can be renewed. Turkish Citizenship by Investment requires a minimum property purchase of $400,000, held for at least three years. The process can take several months to one year and can include your spouse and dependent children.

Turkey wins due to its shorter timeline and no physical residency requirement. Added bonus: no capital gains tax after five years and potential zero property tax.

Conclusion

Turkey has a lot going for it, much more than outlined here. So why doesn’t it appear on top retirement lists? Most rankings are written by Western outlets and favor EU familiarity, English-speaking systems, and standardized healthcare structures.

Turkey sits outside that framework, so it gets overlooked. Add perception issues like currency volatility and geopolitics, and editors often default to safer, more familiar options. The irony? When you focus on what retirees actually care about: cost of living, healthcare, climate, food, and lifestyle, Turkey quietly excels.

If you are still undecided, it’s just a one-hour flight between Athens and Istanbul. You can explore both in one trip. And if, like me, you conclude that Turkey offers more, I recommend contacting James & Aysegul for expert guidance on real estate and relocation.