Diyarbakir, a city reportTurkey , population 1.1 million , index 5.4 of 10

Diyarbakir in 200 words.

Diyarbakir scored 5.4 on the everycity index in 2026. The headline numbers: rent on a central one bedroom runs 12,000 lira, the monthly all in lands at 560 dollars for a single resident, the income tax position tops out at 40 percent, and the safety score is 6.2 on the 10 point scale we apply to Istanbul, Ankara, and Izmir. The currency runs at 42 lira to the dollar.

Diyarbakir is the largest city in southeastern Anatolia, the historic capital of the Kurdish southeast, a market and government centre on the banks of the Tigris ringed by some of the most complete medieval city walls in the world, a metropolitan area of 1.1 million people. The case for and against living here is built on the data below, not on a brochure. For the comparison view, start with Berlin vs Istanbul or Athens vs Istanbul, and for the headline figure with custom weights the city score generator returns the index in 30 seconds.

The data feeding this report comes from our methodology page, with primary sources at the bottom. Numbers are May 2026 unless stated. The country level table places Diyarbakir on the national field at Turkey, the regional view sits at Asia. The next refresh ships in August 2026.

Set expectations before any move. Diyarbakir is a working Asia city of real scale rather than a postcard, and its profile is the combination of a specific local economy and a cost base the jobs and cost sections detail in full. Read the verdict at the foot of the page first if you want the short answer, then work back through the numbers with the relocation score tool.

The index of 5.4 is a weighted blend of the twelve axes that follow, with cost of living, safety, and the job market carrying the heaviest weight. Diyarbakir earns its 5.4 on deep history, a low cost base, and a strong regional role, and gives ground on the job market, the summer heat, and the security history of the southeast. Treat the figure as a starting point and reweight it for your own priorities with the city score generator, then read the verdict for the short version.

A 10 point read on streets, day and night.

Diyarbakir scored 6.2 overall on the everycity safety scale.

Diyarbakir at 6.2 sits where the data puts it on the same scale that places Singapore near the top. Crime is low and the streets are walkable after dark, the norm across much of the country; the realistic daily hazard is the dense traffic of a fast growing city rather than crime. The safest cities ranking places the city on the global table. the southeast carries real seismic risk and the wider region was shaken by the February 2023 earthquakes further west; the Sur district was heavily damaged during urban clashes in 2015 and 2016 and has been partly rebuilt since.

Practical notes for new arrivals: carry an international policy from SafetyWing or Cigna Global for the first six months, and read the local texture before picking a district. The solo female safety ranking and the family safety ranking show how Diyarbakir compares against the field.

The district level spread matters more than the citywide average. The central and upmarket wards listed in the neighborhoods section read above the citywide 6.2, while the busiest market streets and the transport interchanges pull the figure down. Walk the area at the hour you will actually use it before you sign a lease, and weight the after dark number of 5.7 if your routine runs late.

Who pays, and how much the tax takes back.

Salary medians are May 2026, sourced from Glassdoor, the national statistics office, and OECD and World Bank wage data.

The major employers in Diyarbakir are the public sector and regional administration, the agriculture and livestock economy of the upper Tigris, the construction and trade that serve a young growing population, and the small industry and food processing of the southeast. The income tax position tops out at 40 percent, and social and pension contributions are additional. Read the visa and tax guide before assuming the headline is the take home, and run a real offer through the tax calculator tool.

The highest paying cities ranking and the cities for tech jobs ranking cover where the strongest salaries sit. For the dual income household, the spouse work right depends on the visa class; the spouse visa guide covers the rules.

The depth of the job market is the other half of the salary story. Diyarbakir draws on the sectors above, and the larger cities within rail and road reach widen the practical market well beyond the city limits. Career mobility favors the resident who can commute or relocate within the region rather than betting on one local employer.

The system, the cost, the wait.

Healthcare scored 5.9 on a 10 point scale. The methodology weights access, cost, and outcomes equally.

In Diyarbakir, Dicle University runs the main teaching hospital and the city is the medical hub for the southeast, though the depth of specialist care still trails the big western cities. The picture is set out plainly here rather than dressed up, because health access is the line that most often decides a move.

For new arrivals, pick up an interim policy from SafetyWing or Cigna Global for the gap between arrival and local registration. The expat insurance guide covers the trade off, the best healthcare ranking places Diyarbakir on the table, and the expat mental health guide covers access to counselling and specialist care.

Dental, vision, and mental health often sit outside the basic public package, so budget for private cover or out of pocket spending on those lines. The nearest tertiary hospital is the practical backstop for anything serious, which is why many residents register locally for routine care and travel for the complex cases. A score of 5.9 reflects exactly where the system sits on access, cost, and outcomes.

Walk, ride, or drive.

Walkability 6.0, transit 5.7, bike 4.9. Car needed: Sometimes.

On the ground, the city runs a workable bus network, the airport connects Istanbul and Ankara with frequent flights, and a car helps for the wider southeast, though the historic core is best walked. For scouting trips and the surrounding country, a rental from Discover Cars covers what the transit network does not reach.

The cities with the best public transport ranking places Diyarbakir where its network earns, and the nearby hubs of Istanbul and Ankara widen the practical reach for work and weekends.

The daily commute texture is what the scores translate to on the ground. Live near where you work if you can; with a walk score of 6.0 and a transit score of 5.7, the city rewards a short commute more than a prestige address.

Internet, visas, and where to plug in.

Median internet speed 48 Mbps. Coworking density: 3 spaces. Nomad visa status below.

The remote work rating reflects a median fixed speed of 48 Mbps, a coworking layer of 3 spaces, and the local business demand that sustains it. For a privacy layer on local networks, NordVPN remains the cleanest option we have tested. The best cities for remote work ranking covers the full table.

On visas, the nomad visa guide tracks the eligibility and the tax triggers across the cities that offer a pathway, and the best cities for digital nomads ranking keeps the macro view. Arrange the right status before arrival.

For the practical remote setup, pair the fixed line with a mobile data backup, since reliability matters more than the peak. The coworking layer of 3 spaces gives a fallback desk and a social base, and the time zone fit decides whether the city works for a given employer more than the raw speed does.