Mugla vs Aksaray: Which City Wins for Expats in 2026?
Aksaray costs roughly 4.5x less than Mugla. Beyond cost, the two cities are closely matched — lifestyle fit and visa options are likely the deciding factors. Use our tool below to personalize the estimate based on your income and lifestyle.
Aksaray is approximately 33% less expensive than Mugla based on cost of living including rent. This makes Aksaray a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Aksaray has a FIRE Score of 87/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The city's safety index is 68, which is relatively safe.
Recommended profile: Aksaray is ideal for GeoArbitragers and remote workers looking to maximize savings.
About Mugla
Mugla is a small inland city of 65 thousand at 670 m elevation, so you trade beachfront bustle for cooler air and cheap living: a city center one-bedroom runs $405/mo while a three-bedroom outside the center drops to $507/mo. The catch is earning power, since the average monthly net salary of $1,520/mo barely clears the $3,000/mo income floor for Turkey's Digital Nomad Visa, making remote work the only sensible play here. With a cost of living index of 38/100, a safety index of 75/100, and an expat score of 81/100, it suits budget-minded remote workers and early retirees who want a small, widely English-speaking community and can tolerate a small expat scene and a 90 km haul to DLM.
About Turkey
Best for digital nomads meeting the $3,000/mo income requirement for Turkey’s dedicated visa. COL is 61% lower than NYC with a single monthly budget of $646.20 excluding rent. However, internists and a moderate political stability score pose risks for long-term stays.
$2,247/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
City Details
About Aksaray
Aksaray is a cheap place to live, with a 1-bedroom city center apartment at $304/mo and a single adult's mid-range monthly total at $465/mo, but the average net salary of $811/mo means local wages stay modest. The 85/100 overall expat score and 87/100 FIRE score make it a strong pick for remote workers and savers, though the 62/100 digital nomad score and limited English proficiency are real drawbacks. Retirees get a 63/100 score, and the Turkey Short-Term Residence Permit requires $773/mo in income, which is nearly the entire local salary. Come for the low costs and safety index of 68/100, not for the social or professional scene.
About Turkey
Best for digital nomads meeting the $3,000/mo income requirement for Turkey’s dedicated visa. COL is 61% lower than NYC with a single monthly budget of $646.20 excluding rent. However, internists and a moderate political stability score pose risks for long-term stays.
$2,535/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
City Details
Which visa fits your move?
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| Metric | Mugla | Aksaray |
|---|---|---|
| 1BR Apartment (Center) | $405.35 | $304.01 |
| 1BR Apartment (Outside) | $304.01 | $202.68 |
| 3BR Apartment (Center) | $810.7 | $608.03 |
| 3BR Apartment (Outside) | $506.69 | $445.89 |
| Safety Index | 75 | 68 |
| Internet Speed | 48Mbps | 40Mbps |
| Walkability Score | N/A | N/A |
Monthly cost by categoryOne person, computed from each city's own average prices
| Category | Mugla | Aksaray |
|---|---|---|
| Total (rent included) | $714/mo | $501/mo |
| Excluding rent | $410/mo | $298/mo |
| Rent | $304/mo | $203/mo |
| Groceries | $107/mo | $85.00/mo |
| Dining out | $66.00/mo | $61.00/mo |
| Entertainment & lifestyle | $137/mo | $72.00/mo |
| Utilities & connectivity | $100/mo | $80.00/mo |
| Transport | N/A | N/A |
Usage-based estimates from this city's own average prices. A row marked N/A means that city is missing data, so no figure is shown instead of a stale one.
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Mugla vs Aksaray -- Frequently Asked Questions
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