The most important problem for a foreigner who decided to live in Istanbul for a couple months or years is the lodging problem. It's a normal problem for everybody who is changing their cities for a while. If You are planning to stay in istanbul more than a month my advice is stay in a residence if your budget affords it. i will try to explain how much does it cost to rent a flat or residence or to stay in an hotel.

The Flat Rentals

The rents of flats are changable but changeless thing is you have to pay deposit(it equals to 1-2 month rent) and one month rent price cash. For example if you are deciding to rent a flat for 1000$ you have to pay 2000$ or 3000$ before entering the house. And the contrats' continuance between you and the owner of the flat is for one year. it's the handicap to people who plans to stay at the house less than a year.

At these conditions staying in a flat is more expensive than staying in a resindence or a hotel for a couple months.

The rental of flats or apartment buildings in istanbul is very changable. you can find a flat starting forum 200$ to 20.000$ but the cheaper flats are not in the safe and comfortable areas. the flats that a foreigner can live is in the areas like bakırköy, bahçelievler, mecidiyeköy, şişli, nişantaşı, etiler, levent, taksim, cihangir, gümüşsuyu, bebek, arnavutköy, sarıyer, tarabya, yeniköy, büyükçekmece, beylikdüzü, bahçeşehir(these are the areas landing at european side)

Üsküdar, ataşehir, kadıköy, erenköy, bağdat avenue, bostancı, anadolu hisarı, göztepe, çamlıca, fenerbahçe, kızıltoprak, kanlıca, anadolu hisarı(for the Asian side areas)

At those areas, the rents starts from 1000ytl(850$) up to huge amounts(the areas near the bosphorus) and the revenues is between 100$ to 300$ depends on the flats situation. The revenue and the bills that i pay for every month is total 300$(100$ for revenue to the apartment and 200$ for the bills like electricity, adsl, warming, water)

For more Information;

http://www.century21.com.tr/index.aspx

http://www.remax.com.tr/en/

P.S: There are high quality transportation firms for bringing your house belongings, vehicles and pets to turkey... It doesn't matter where are you coming from(like tokyo, london, ny...) check this transportation and moving firm's official web-page if you decide to bring your goods with you..

The Rentals of Residences

As you know if you decide to rent a flat you will need to buy home furniture, white goods, and home accessories.. and it will be not ecenomic for you if you are planning to stay in that flat for less than a year. and my advice is rent a residence flat and do not think about the rest.. there are really good residences in istanbul and their service is excellent..

Residences have extra services like;

• Complimentary open buffet breakfast
• Complimentary wellness center (Fitness equipment, Sauna, Jacuzzi/Hydro Massage)
• Complimentary wired and wireless broadband Internet connection around the property
• Complimentary daily newspaper
• Shopping service
• Mini market
• Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) system around the property
• 24 hour reception and concierge
• Cleaning services
• Laundry and dry cleaning
• Meeting room
• Airport transfer
• Pillow menu
• Massage service
• Technical service
• Generator

some residences in istanbul;

Gallery Residence in Nişantaşı Arena (European Side)

Mecidiyeköy Residence in Mecidiyeköy Area (European Side)

Galata Residence in Galata Taksim Area (European Side)

Gayrettepe Residence in Gayrettepe Area (European Side)

Global Residence in Içerenköy Area (Asian Side)

Park Residence in Fenerbahçe Area (Asian Side)

The Sofa Hotels and Residences in Nişantaşı Area (European Side)

Baran Residence in Bahçelievler Area (European Side)

Metrocity Millenium Residence Levent Area (European Side)

The Prices Of Residences

The price of 1+1 studio flat residence's rental is starting from 1200$ (for more month) up to 3000$-4000$(suit flats)

P.S: And if you need some knowledge about Istanbul city life&Turkish culture here is a link