The beautiful European country that’s the cheapest to retire at just £422 per month

A could be the perfect retirement destination for Britons, with costs as low as £422 a month.

Full of ancient sites, bustling cities and world-famous cuisine, the pensioner-friendly country was once the centre point of the Ottoman Empire.

Nowadays, is a popular holiday destination with a growing expat community, meaning those who make the move out are unlikely to be lonely.

The country, and sits as a geographical and geopolitical conduit linking and , has a staggering 34,000 Brits living there, making it one of the most desirable retirement destinations.

One major city, , lies on the Bosphorus River – the boundary between the two continents – and is a melting pot of history, culture and amazing landmarks, where ‘the East meets the West’.

Among its remarkable landmarks are the incredible Blue Mosque, while the Grand Bazaar is an endless maze of fascination.

has long been a with long-time favourites such as and continuing to be busy despite the rise in popularity of quaint villages such as Kalkan.

But it’s perhaps the cheapness of and its remarkable cities that is the main draw for British retirees.

At an average of just £422 a month for in the country, a UK pension would go at least four times further than in Britain – where the equivalent would be £1,652.

The average price for a 100 square metre property in Istanbul – the most expensive city in the country – is about £54,000.

Crime is comparatively lower than in England, with just 214 records of theft per 100,000 people compared to the UK, which has 280.

Naturally, the weather is an attractive proposition for those considering the move, with the country enjoying hot summers and mild winters.

As pensioners across the UK come to terms with Labour’s decision to remove the , alter inheritance tax rules and uncertainty over the future of free pensioner bus passes, it is unlikely that the lure of retirement in Turkey will lessen anytime soon.