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[newexpat]

Hello! As this is my first post, please don't be (unnecessarily) defensive (or nasty) even if you don't like my question(s). Following a recent, interesting post on comparing North Cyprus with South Cyprus, my inquiry is as follows:

How does living in TRNC compare with living in Coastal Southwest Turkey? Apart from the resident visa, what do you consider as the main advantages and disadvantages. Are the locals as friendly and helpful (since many are immigrant Turks) as in the mainland?

To introduce myself, I love Turkey (and have briefly resided in Antalya) but dislike complicated visas and compulsory health insurance. I'm retired and sixty something.

I know some of you have also lived in Turkey. What (besides the visa) made you choose Cyprus and in what ways is it so different/similar to live in, say Fethiye or Kas and in TRNC?

I'm personally not into small-village living and need a larger town by the sea with plenty of international expats. And I dislike driving, bars, and touristy streets.

Thank you for sharing,
E.