Calis Beach and Fethiye Turkey Discussion Forum
Turkey Related Subjects => Turkey Discussion Forum (Not Calis specifically) => Topic started by: jezz on March 24, 2010, 19:49:51 PM
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We subscribe to Martin's Money Tips usually a good site that gives useful information on every subject. However, I have just opened up this week's copy and the first item was - Where the pound goes further - top destinations where you cssh buys more ....
- here's the price of a basket of goods inc beer, water and meals which cost £72.14 in the UK (Brighton) compiled by the post office at today's exchange rates.
Hungary 37.40, Bulgaria 39.52, Thailand 42.31, Spain 45.26, Baili 52.51l Kenya 52.60, Malaysia 57.71, Croatia 63.40, Greece 64.02, Egypt 65.45, USA 62.70 Turkey 76.08.
What has happened, when we were in Calis last year, yes, prices had increased but still good value for money. Has he got his facts wrong or are we in for a big surprise ???
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Ah Jezz Statistics Statistics Statistics!
I would hazard a guess that everthing depends on how and on what the costs are based. If for example the costs were obtained from a supermarket shopping trip for Beer, Water ( presumably bottled ) and the ingredients for making meals I would be rather surprised at the result.
Certainly bottled beers in a UK supermarket can be inexpensive compared to shop - bought Beer in Turkey.
Water ( the bottled varieties ) is a fair bit cheaper when shop - bought in Turkey.
As for meals. Well that is a difficult one. I would wager that the vegetable content is a fair bit cheaper here in Turkey. But the comparatively very high meat proportion of UK meals though just might weigh the whole meal cost towards the UK as most meats here are a shade above UK prices.
Having said that, if the report is a reference to the cost of all the items mentioned in an " eating out " situation, then I truly doubt it's veracity.
It would be nice if you could elaborate on how the costs you quote are derived and calculated.
Regards,
farmer
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The shopping basket quoted a bit way out.
When we returned to the UK we couldn't believe how much cheaper our shopping basket was in the UK compared to Turkey, we also forgot the huge choice on offer in UK.
I don't drink, but do know that I could buy (today) 20 x 440ml can of Carling Black Label (plus a few other brands) for £18 (£1.12 per can).
If we did not have our own home in Turkey I would definitely be looking at package holidays.
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Jezz, you are in for a big surprise.
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My apologies. The figures I quoted below were from 2008. The PO claims they have increased considerably since then.
I have copied below the Post Office holiday "basket" of goods. Perhaps Calis residents would care to comment on its accuracy. I have paid a lot for Suncream over there but nearly £10 seems high. I have never had a Heineken in Turkey so that may be an unfair comparison. And why anyone should want to read a UK tabloid when on holiday is beyond me.
ITEMS
Cup of coffee (Bar/café) £1.51
Bottle of Heineken (Bar/café) £2.58
Bottle/can of Coca-Cola (Bar/café) £1.08
Bottle of mineral water (Supermarket) £0.43
Suncream Factor 15 (Supermarket) £9.26
Postcard & stamp for UK (Tourist shop) £0.75
Insect repellent (Supermarket) £2.26
Pack of Marlboro Lights cigarettes £2.07
English tabloid newspaper £2.20
3 course evening meal for 2 £30.14
(including bottle of house wine)
in a local restaurant
TOTAL £52.28
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From Jezz's figures one thing is quite obvious - the very thought that Turkey and Brighton are similarly priced is quite ridiculous if we are talking about holidaying. The major cost is accommodation - you can get a hotel room in Calis for £8 a night if you are happy with basic/clean - try getting one in Brighton for that. How much a postcard or bottle of water is has very little relevance on your overall holiday budget.
The other point is that comparing your holiday spending with your day to day life spending is pointless. It is like choosing not to book a limousine as a special occasion treat because your Fiat Panda costs nothing like the amount they are quoting. It's pretty much as farmer says, you can make statistics show any point at all.
Remember, you may be happy to read that 90% of people you walk past on your way home at night have no intention of hurting anyone. Sadly that would mean that one in ten people you pass are violent nutters ;)
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Loz
"I don't drink, but do know that I could buy (today) 20 x 440ml can of Carling Black Label (plus a few other brands) for £18 (£1.12 per can)". or may be £0.90 per can
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Yes we all know that the cost of every day items, have risen in Turkey, but the same as the UK, you have to shop around. Certain things may be cheaper/more expensive in Migros, so you look at the same cost of these items in Tansas and Bim. We can all find a bargain (occasionally) if we look hard enough, but same as the UK, prices fluctuate, and you buy storable goods when you find them cheaper. Having said that, if they had added the cost of a decent bottle of wine to the lists quoted, Turkey would have been far more expensive, than already stated.
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quote:
Originally posted by steveb1
Loz
"I don't drink, but do know that I could buy (today) 20 x 440ml can of Carling Black Label (plus a few other brands) for £18 (£1.12 per can)". or may be £0.90 per can
Oh dear should have gone to spec savers! :) reverse divided. 8)
We went to live in Turkey 2003, shopping was much cheaper than UK, now the tables have well and truly turned, even with shopping around Bim, Tansas, Migros etc could not compare to a bargain in UK. Toiletries are really expensive in any Turkish shop, when we return to Turkey I am buying a large supply to bring out, even the extra luggage cost is worth the saving.
Meat had started to get expensive when we left Turkey last year, having not returned to the UK for 5years it was very noticeable, I could not help buying kilos & kilos of meat, I was like a child in a sweetie shop, we ate like kings...lol
Clothes are less expensive in the UK, also more choice. I bought clothes before we came back to UK , I could kick myself!
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Depends where you buy your meat surely? Asda for example is rubbish compared to a quality butchers but the price is totally different and as for 3 course evening meal for 2 £30.14
(including bottle of house wine)
in a local restaurant
Try and get that in brighton. :o
I know where id rather spend my hard earned cash no matter what the cost. :)
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It is all swings and roundabouts, when on holiday you have x amount of disposal £'s and not a care in the world, would you spend the same amount in a normal week in the UK? I doubt it.
You can't compare holiday spends with all year living spends. We are to return soon and to be honest I am saving and preparing for the extra cost.
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The exchange rate is not helping at the moment, either.Now only 2.30 Lira to the Pound!!.
WW
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For an average weekly shop I would agree that Turkey is more expensive than the UK now. Meat is exorbitant, a crate of efes is now 50tl, wines ridiculously expensive unless you buy the draino. then when you take into consideration the cost of household cleaning products, toiletries, washing powder etc . The only thing that is cheaper is fruit and veg. but it is very seasonal and even that is going up in price. I think the price comparison was based on living rather than being on holiday and whereas I could get a weekly shop for around 70/80 tl a couple of years ago that doesn't buy anything now. You can shop around, Bim, Tansas etc but the savings are minimal.
The cost of living in Turkey has rocketed, petrol 3.77tl a litre!!!
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I was out a couple of weeks ago and yes, prices have gone up a bit but, watch this space in the UK over the next couple of years!
I would aslo add that the higher prices are worth paying for the joy of the lovely sunny weather, the lovely people and the great surroundings. We also shopped around and had lots of bargains, the Efes was 3.5Tl and lunch for two with salad, a drink, bread and Kebabs cost me £11 not bad!!
Kevin
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I have been in Turkey for 21 years, never have I seen prices rocket like they have in the last year or so.
I had some idea that this would happen, so being a 'belt and braces' type of person I sold my property here and now rent, so have no real ties.
When the sh*t really hits the fan, and prices go through the roof, I am afaid that it will be time to say goodbye and look for pastures new.
I still own a house in the UK that I have been sitting on for a rainy day, but it looks like I will be living in it for a lot of rainy days!
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OK, I'll try again. Here are the 2010 figures. I assume exchange rate approx 2.24 TL = £1. So cup of coffee = 5TL. That makes a meal for 2 = 130TL - surely not?
Cup of coffee (Bar/café) . £2.24
Bottle of Heineken (Bar/café) . £2.24
Bottle/can Coca Cola (Bar/cafe) . £2.24
Bottle of mineral water (Supermarket) . £0.51
Suncream Factor 15 (Supermarket) . £5.59
Insect repellent (Supermarket) . £1.79
Pack of Marlboro Lights cigarettes . £2.46
3 course evening meal for 2 adults . £58.14
(including bottle of house wine) in a local restaurant
TOTAL COSTS . £75.21
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Nice to see that Insect repellent and Heineken prices continue to fall in Turkey ;)
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You are all depressing me, just purchased, should I sell already LOL!!
I have been reading various articles on the Turkish economy recently and they are not predicting that the currency is going to go POP. Surely the situation in Turkey is no different to any place in the world at the moment, the world economy needs to improve and the Turkish one is no different. The forthcoming elections in the UK will also have a destabilising effect, especially if there is a hung parliament. That said, my view is that "what goes around comes around", the pound has been weak before and I am sure it will recover, as it has done before giving us more lira, it is the weak pound that has been the major catalyst to a lot of the increased prices. Sit tight and continue to enjoy the country and the people, which surely it is all about!
Kevin, for ever the optimist :).
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We can argue about this forever and never agree. There is one common theme that I agree with is that people who permanently live in Turkey do notice the difference in prices when they visit the UK. I have noticed how more expensive some essentials are in Turkey.
I also think that British prices are driven down by the level of competition as every reasonable sized town has at least 2 or more of the big chain supermarkets. Another impact on prices in the UK is the recession and it has driven prices down. The UK rate of inflation is about 3% in comparison to Turkey at 10%. Simple maths proves over time Turkish prices must overtake UK prices. This is accelerated when you take in the devaluation in sterling against the TL.
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So how much on average do you spend on a weekly shop in Turkey? Ive just been to Tesco and for a family of three i spent £140.00 which is our average. Id be interested to see the comparisons :D
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Went to a restaurant last Saturday. For two we had a starter each then a main course. One bottle of decent wine, one dessert we shared and a couple of cocktails. Price was 670 lira. Last night we went to another place and had the same sort of meal and it was 184 lira. It all depends where you go so stats are meaningless.
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I worked out a while back that if you consider the average wage in Turkey & UK, and work out how much a litre of petrol costs in relation to that, average wage earning Turkish people would pay the equivalent of £11/litre. That is probably higher now as petrol prices have risen by rather a lot and the average wage hasn't.
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quote:
Originally posted by Robw
So how much on average do you spend on a weekly shop in Turkey? Ive just been to Tesco and for a family of three i spent £140.00 which is our average. Id be interested to see the comparisons :D
Normally around 350-400 TL we spend every week in Macrocenter.
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Increases are inevitable, simplicity is often the answer.
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quote:
Originally posted by starmanTM
Went to a restaurant last Saturday . . . Price was 670 lira.
Blimey, living rather high on the hog there, Starman - if such things are allowed in Turkey. Remember we are talking about a survey of holiday costs and in the Aegean and Mediterranean resorts of Turkey 670TL gets you a 3* hotel double room and half board for week.
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You only have to look around the Fethiye region to see the difference in prices from one place to the next for holiday makers in Turkey. I can only comment on last years prices. Efes price in Calis 3.5 lira, Hisaronu 5 lira, Olu deniz 6 lira. Pretty much the same price differential on a glass of coke. I understand prices are double that in the Alanya area. Still a long way to go until it catches up with the Eurozone.
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With the price of a meal accounting for over 77% of the total basket cost it isn't surprising that a cursery glance at the list from cheapest to dearest almost mirrors that of the assessed cost of a meal
http://ftp://ftp.royalmail.com/Downloads/public/ctf/pw/holidaycostsbarometer.pdf
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Prices have risen steeply in the 3 years i've been here. It's easy to spend 200TL in Migros, and realise you haven't got anything to make a decent meal!
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Colwyn, What I was trying to point out that there is cheap and out of this world expensive. Thats why I take no notice of stats. You can find a 15,000 USD per month rental here but you can also find a 500 USD per month rental here.