A brief answer for the frequently asked question: What are the food and drink prices in Turkey 2023, is food expensive in turkey?
If you are planning to visit Turkey, one of the first questions you might ask is about the prices of staples in this country. Turkey has had some changes in prices of things in the last year, which made some products a little bit more expensive. Still, for a visitor, Turkey is a very affordable country. Here are the prices for some essential goods to give you an idea. Please keep in mind that as I write this article, 1 USD equals to 6.10 Turkish liras and 1 GBP equals to 8 Turkish liras.
Eating Out
Restaurants are much cheaper than their European and North American counterparts. Simple street snacks start from 2 to 5 liras. If you eat at a restaurant on the cheaper side, expect to pay around 20-25 liras. If you are eating a three-course-meal at a mid-range restaurant, the price goes up to 60 to 120 liras. A McDonald’s meal would cost you about 20-25 liras.
Drinks
A bottle of water usually takes you back a lira. Having a coffee at a cafe can cost you anywhere between 7 to 15 liras. Having a coke any other fizzy drink would cost about 5-7 liras. When it comes to alcoholic drinks, Turkey is a bit more expensive. Having a beer in a pub can cost you anywhere from 15 to 25 liras. If you are at a very fancy place, expect to pay around 40 liras for a pint.
Shopping at a Market
If you are planning to cook your own meals in Turkey, you’ll find that shopping for groceries will not make a big dent in your budget. 1 kilo of apples, oranges, lettuce, onions, potatoes or tomatoes are all less than 5 liras. Red meat can be quite a bit more expensive than chicken meat, with the former costing about 60 liras a kilo and the latter about 20. A loaf of bread is around 2 liras and a kilo of white rice is about 9 liras.
If you buy alcohol from the market, domestic beer (0.5L) will cost you about 10-13 liras and imported ones (0.33L) will cost you about 13-15 liras. The price for a bottle of wine starts from 40 liras.
You might realise that some shops and restaurants in touristy towns are charging much more than usual. It is best to avoid these places and try to check the place online beforehand or check the prices before you enter a restaurant in these type of towns. Checking to see if there are locals eating in a place is always helpful as well.
