A comfortable retirement works out cheaper in Turkey — around £1,800/month for a couple, versus £2,500 in France (about 28% more).
Cost of living, side by side
| France | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Modest (couple/mo) | £1,700 | £1,150 |
| Comfortable (couple/mo) | £2,500 | £1,800 |
| Premium (couple/mo) | £3,800 | £2,900 |
Indicative monthly estimates for a couple — real costs vary by location, lifestyle and exchange rates.
France: There are no nationality restrictions on owning French property: non-residents can buy freehold (pleine propriété) apartments, houses and land on the same basis as citizens. Every sale is completed by a notaire, who guarantees legal title and collects taxes.
Turkey: Foreigners from most countries can buy freehold property outright, registered in their own name on the tapu (title deed); individual foreign ownership is capped at 30 hectares nationwide and barred in military zones. No residence permit is needed to buy.
France: EU/EEA nationals need no visa; others (including UK citizens) generally use the long-stay visitor visa (VLS-TS visiteur), requiring stable income of roughly €1,400+ a month, private health insurance and accommodation, renewed annually.
Turkey: Turkey has no dedicated retirement visa; most retirees obtain a short-term residence permit (usually valid up to two years and renewable) by showing sufficient income or savings, valid health insurance and a local address.
France: France's public health system is excellent; after three months' residence you can join it (PUMA), and UK state pensioners use an S1 form so the UK covers their care. Most residents add a top-up mutuelle policy, often EUR 50-150 a month, to cover the balance the state does not.
Turkey: Turkey has modern, low-cost private hospitals, especially in Istanbul, Antalya and the coastal resorts. New residents must hold private health insurance, which is inexpensive, and after a year of residence under-65s can join the public SGK scheme for a modest annual premium.
France: Under the UK-France treaty most UK pensions, both state and private, are taxed in France at progressive rates after a 10% allowance, while UK government-service pensions stay taxable in the UK. S1 holders are exempt from France's social charges on pension income, a valuable saving.
Turkey: Once you are tax-resident, Turkey can tax worldwide income including foreign pensions, though the UK-Turkey double-tax treaty and generous allowances often keep the burden light; UK government-service pensions remain taxable in the UK. Take local advice on your position.
France: Temperate in the north and west with mild, wet winters and warm summers, turning Mediterranean and hot in the south. Late spring and early autumn are especially lovely. France is safe and well-run, with petty theft mainly a big-city concern; they drive on the right, and while English is spoken in cities and tourist spots, some French is important for rural life and officialdom.
Turkey: A hot, dry Mediterranean and Aegean summer with warm, mild coastal winters makes for a long beach season, and spring and autumn are ideal. Inland winters, by contrast, are cold. The tourist coasts are safe and welcoming; they drive on the right, and English is widely spoken in expat and resort areas though far less so inland, where some Turkish goes a long way.
France: Budget around 7-8% of the price in frais de notaire on an existing home (much less, 2-3%, on a new build), mostly transfer duty of up to 5% plus the notaire's fee and registration; agency commission is often already in the price. Completion typically takes about three months.
Turkey: The main one-off cost is the 4% title-deed (tapu) transfer fee, legally split with the seller but often paid in full by the buyer, plus modest notary, translator and agency fees; budget around 5-8% all in. A transfer can complete within a week or two once checks are done.
France: The Dordogne for its long-established British community and countryside; Provence and the Occitanie south for sun and Mediterranean life; Brittany for a familiar green coast close to the UK; and the Riviera for glamour at a price.
Turkey: Antalya and its suburbs for a warm coastal city; Fethiye and Calis for a relaxed resort feel; Bodrum for a smarter Aegean scene; and Altinkum/Didim for budget-friendly seaside living.
Thinking seriously about France or Turkey?
Two honest Brits, a private call, and straight answers — see if a freehold home abroad is a fit for you.
See if you qualify →