Burial Plots in Istanbul Cost Over 330,000 Lira as Cemeteries Fill Up

Burial plots in Istanbul have become a luxury, with prices in the city's historic and central cemeteries exceeding 330,000 Turkish Lira. Occupancy rates in these prime locations have reached over 90%, forcing new burials to be relocated to cemeteries in surrounding districts.

The Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality's (IBB) Cemetery Department has set the lowest burial plot fee at 10,728 Turkish Lira for 2026. However, in the "Group 1" cemeteries, which include historic sites like Zincirlikuyu, Karacaahmet, Aşiyan, and Ulus, the price for a plot can soar to 334,896 Turkish Lira. This stark price difference reflects the scarcity of space in the city's core.

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The cost of burial plots in Istanbul has surged, with prices in central cemeteries reaching over 330,000 Turkish Lira.

Several central cemeteries, including Aşiyan, Edirnekapı, Eyüpsultan, Karacaahmet, Nakkaştepe, Zincirlikuyu, and Avcılar Merkez, are at full capacity. Others, like Çekmeköy, Hekimbaşı, Ayazağa, Bahçeköy, Beylikdüzü, Yakuplu, Gürpınar, Büyükçekmece, Yeni Göktürk, Kemerburgaz, and Kurtköy, are nearing critical levels.

As a result, new burials are being directed to Kilyos and Silivri on the European side, and Çekmeköy and Pendik on the Anatolian side. The IBB also offers free services such as shrouding, coffins, and transportation for funerals outside the province. These services, combined with the difficulty of finding space within the city, are leading many residents to opt for burying their deceased in their hometowns rather than in Istanbul.

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The lowest burial plot fee for 2026 is 10,728 TL, while in central cemeteries, it can reach 334,896 TL.