What currency does Türkiye use, and should I pay by card or cash?
Türkiye's currency is the Turkish lira (TRY), written with the ₺ symbol or simply TL on price tags. Bank cards, including contactless cards and phone payments, are accepted in supermarkets, chain stores, cafés and most restaurants, even for small amounts.
Cash is still useful at open-air markets, small kiosks, some taxis and older family shops. If a card terminal offers to charge you in your home currency, choosing lira usually avoids a poor conversion rate set by the terminal.
Where do people in Türkiye buy groceries and everyday goods?
Most households mix several formats: large supermarket chains, discount supermarkets with a short range and low shelf prices, and the neighbourhood bakkal, a small grocer that sells bread, drinks and basics until late. Bread is also bought fresh every day from local bakeries.
Weekly open-air markets, known as semt pazarı, set up in each neighbourhood on a fixed day and sell fruit, vegetables, cheese, olives and household goods. Prices are fixed in supermarkets, while light bargaining is normal at markets and in covered bazaars. Most shops open seven days a week.
Is VAT included in shelf prices in Türkiye?
Yes. Türkiye's value added tax, called KDV, is already included in the price on the shelf and on the receipt, so what you see is what you pay. The standard rate is 20%, and lower rates apply to many foods and some basic goods.
Visitors who live outside Türkiye can reclaim KDV on eligible purchases from shops that take part in the tax-free scheme, usually above a minimum spend and with the forms stamped at customs on departure. Check the current conditions before you shop.
Why do prices in Türkiye change so often?
Türkiye has been through a long spell of high inflation since 2021, together with a sharp fall in the lira against major currencies. Inflation has eased from its peak, but shelf prices are still revised often, and imported goods and energy react quickly to the exchange rate.
For a visitor, a weaker lira can make local prices feel lower, while residents see the same prices rise in lira. That is why the read date next to each price on this page matters: a figure from a few months ago may already be out of date.
Coverage by category
Compared with the other cities
US dollar prices for 51 products that we also have in at least three other cities. The percentage shows the difference from the average of those cities.
Lower in Türkiye
- Multi-purpose cleaner - 1 L$1.22-75%
- Paper towels - 2 rolls$0.62-64%
- Biscuits - 1 pack$0.52-59%
- Toilet paper - 4 rolls$0.68-58%
- Gloves - 1 pair$4.49-58%
- Bar soap - 100 g$0.58-57%
Higher in Türkiye
- Blanket - 1 piece$12.46+162%
- Deodorant - 150 ml$5.78+52%
- Single bed linen set - 1 set$19.93+51%
- Basic jacket - 1 piece$59.82+50%
- Cooking pot - 24 cm$19.44+48%
- Women's dress - 1 piece$33.90+42%
Local product types can differ between cities. The comparison tool only matches the same product type.
Compare Türkiye with another country
Same budget, same products: see where your money goes further.
Insights and guides about Türkiye
All articles →Travel and life in Türkiye
Pictures of Türkiye
How these prices were read
Prices come from public shop pages and haven't been independently verified. The Data & methodology page has the details. Data & methodology
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Questions people ask
What is the price of milk in Türkiye?
The local shop price we read on November 8, 2026 was TRY 52.75 per 1 L, about $1.05 at that day's reference rate.
What is the price of eggs in Türkiye?
The local shop price we read on November 8, 2026 was TRY 89.75 per 10 pieces, about $1.79 at that day's reference rate.
What is the price of rice in Türkiye?
The local shop price we read on November 8, 2026 was TRY 80.95 per 1 kg, about $1.61 at that day's reference rate.
How much is US$100 in Turkish lira?
At the reference rate of November 8, 2026, US$100 comes to about TRY 5,015.28.
Which products cost less in Türkiye than in the other cities?
By dollar price, the clearest gaps are multi-purpose cleaner (-75%), paper towels (-64%), and biscuits (-59%).
Which city do the Türkiye prices come from?
All prices on this page were read in Istanbul.
Do I need cash in Türkiye?
In Türkiye you can pay by card for most everyday purchases, including small amounts in supermarkets and cafés. Keep some Turkish lira in cash for open-air markets, kiosks, some taxis and small family shops.
Can tourists get a VAT refund in Türkiye?
Yes. Visitors who live outside Türkiye can reclaim KDV on eligible goods bought from shops in the tax-free scheme, usually above a minimum spend, by having the forms stamped at customs when they leave. Rules and thresholds change, so check them before buying.
Are shops open on Sundays in Türkiye?
Yes. In Türkiye most supermarkets, shopping centres and neighbourhood grocers open on Sundays, and many small shops stay open late into the evening. Some banks and offices close at weekends.
Where do these prices come from?
Prices come from public shop pages and haven't been independently verified. The Data & methodology page has the details.
