Meanwhile from Mediterranean Greek islands just a few kilometers away, their fellow Turks boast they’re paying far less than prices at home.
“There’s a huge difference between the service and product quality, as well as prices here and there,” said Murat Yavuz, a retired Turkish banker who regularly visits Greece.
“Restaurants here have used inflation as a pretext to push up prices.”.
Restaurant and hotel prices rose by an average 91% in June from a year earlier, topping already eye-watering headline inflation of 71.6%.
Tourists from around the world have flocked there in such large numbers that the country is now considering imposing restrictions on cruise ships.
The lira’s real effective exchange rate, a measure of its value against foreign currencies, is at its highest level since late 2021.
“The cost of living is a factor, but rumors on social media about Greece being cheaper also play a big role,” he said. »
