How much does it cost to open a cafe or restaurant in Turkey?

2026 prices for fit-out, equipment, furniture, deposit, key money, licences and working capital, with three worked budgets.

10 min read · Updated 2026-09-05

Investment lines

The opening cost is not one number but the sum of eight lines. 2026 estimates (Istanbul, mid-market):

Line	Cafe 80 m²	Restaurant 150 m²	Patisserie 100 m²
Fit-out (fitted takeover)	₺1.2-1.6m	₺3.0-3.5m	₺1.9-2.2m
Kitchen / bar equipment	₺0.7-1.0m	₺1.8-2.4m	₺2.2-2.8m
Furniture and decor	₺0.5-0.7m	₺1.0-1.4m	₺0.4-0.5m
POS, fiscal register, IT	₺120k	₺150k	₺120k
Signage, brand, menus	₺150-200k	₺200-300k	₺150-200k
Licences, incorporation, project	₺200-300k	₺300-450k	₺250-350k
Deposit (3 months) + key money	₺350-600k	₺0.7-1.2m	₺0.4-0.7m
Opening stock and marketing	₺250-350k	₺500-700k	₺300-400k

Starting from a bare shell multiplies the fit-out line by 1.5-2.5.

Three forgotten lines

Working capital. The first months lose money; do not open without 3-6 months of fixed costs (rent, payroll, energy, accounting) in the bank. ₺2-3 million for an 80 m² cafe.
Input VAT on the investment. The 20% VAT on fit-out and equipment invoices is paid upfront and offset against sales VAT over 6-14 months. It belongs in the cash plan.
Contingency. Fit-out overruns are normal in Turkey; reserve 10-15%.

Three worked budgets (total)

60 m², tier-3 district, takeover cafe: ₺4.5-6m.
150 m², tier-2 district, table-service restaurant: ₺13-18m.
100 m² patisserie with production: ₺8-11m.

Monthly running costs and the 30/30/10 rule

In a healthy venue ingredients take ~30% of net revenue, staff ~30%, rent ~10%; the remaining 30% covers energy, marketing, commissions, accounting and profit. If those three ("prime cost plus rent") exceed 75%, the model does not work.

Where beginners under-budget

Staff: use employer cost (gross × 1.3), not net wages.
Rent: 20% withholding, and mall service charges (₺250-500/m²).
Energy: cafe ₺350/m², restaurant ₺550/m², patisserie ₺600/m² per month.
Delivery: 25-33% commission + 4% packaging + 3% ads.

Inflation and FX note

Much of the equipment is EUR-priced; every 10% lira drop between plan and purchase raises equipment cost ~7%. Get quotes and fix prices. Rent rises with annual CPI and the minimum wage in January; a 36-month projection must include both.

Add this step to your feasibility.

Answer the questions; get your 36-month projection and investor deck.

Start free