İzmir Metropolitan Mayor Cemil Tugay said on Thursday that the city is preparing to cut drinking water prices and will not raise public transport fares next year, in his first major pledges on household bills since joining the ruling AK Party.
Tugay made the remarks during a visit to the İzmir Union of Chambers of Craftsmen and Tradesmen, where he met the heads and managers of 128 chambers, according to the daily Sabah and Anadolu Agency.
Water tariff cut to go to council
"We are currently working to lower water prices," Tugay said, according to Sabah. He said the change will be put to the next session of the metropolitan council. Anadolu Agency quoted him as saying he expects the reduction to noticeably lower water bills.
No percentage or start date has been announced yet, and it is not clear which tariff groups will be covered. Water in İzmir is supplied by İZSU, the metropolitan municipality’s water and sewerage utility, so the council vote will decide the new rates.
No fare rise planned for 2027
On public transport, Tugay said İzmir already has the cheapest system in Türkiye, pointing to its single-ticket fare and 90-minute transfer system. He said there will be no fare increase next year and that the city may offer a wider range of discounts. He did not give specific fares.
For residents, this matters because public transport and utility bills are among the costs that have risen fastest in Turkish cities in recent years. Our cost of living in Turkey 2026 guide compares typical monthly bills.
Political background
Tugay was elected mayor in 2024 as the candidate of the main opposition CHP, winning 48.9% of the vote. He resigned from the CHP on 18 June 2026 and joined the AK Party on 7 October, when President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan pinned on his party badge. On Thursday he said he had not changed as a person and had defended İzmir’s interests during political disputes. He also said he is talking with ministers in Ankara to find lasting solutions to the city’s long-standing problems.
İzmir, Türkiye’s third-largest city, is popular with foreign residents for its lower costs compared with Istanbul and its Aegean lifestyle. See our guide to living in İzmir and our moving to Turkey checklist for more.
Sources
- Cemil Tugay müjdeyi verdi! Su ve ulaşımda indirim (Sabah)
- Cemil Tugay, AK Parti’ye geçiş sürecini anlattı (Milliyet/AA)
- Cemil Tugay AKP’ye geçti (Medyascope)
Photo: Doğan Alpaslan DEMİR / Unsplash License, via Unsplash
