Turkey's hunger threshold surpasses 23,000 liras in February, soars above minimum wage

Turkey’s hunger threshold for a family of four exceeded 23,000 Turkish liras in February 2024, whereas the poverty threshold surpassed 75,000 liras, according to the research of the Confederation of Turkish Trade Unions (Türk-İş). A minimum wage earner gets paid 22,104 liras ($605) net.

Friday February 28 2025 04:17 pm

Duvar English

The monthly food expenditure amount that a family of four living in the capital Ankara should make to have a healthy and balanced diet (hunger threshold) increased to 23,324 Turkish liras ($638), according to the Confederation of Turkish Trade Unions’ (Türk-İş) research for February 2025.

This figure was 22,131 liras ($606) in January according to the Türk-İş, indicating a 5.39 percent increase in one month. The annual increase was 57.73 percent.

The total amount of food expenditures and other compulsory monthly expenditures for clothing, housing (rent, electricity, water, fuel), transport, education, health, and similar needs (poverty threshold) increased to 75,973 liras ($2080).

The cost of living for a single employee increased to 30,206 liras ($827) per month.

Turkey set the minimum wage to 22,104 Turkish liras ($605) net for 2025, with a hike that is below the annual inflation rate.

Turkey's official statistical authority, the Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK), reported the annual inflation rate as 42.12 percent for January 2025, while the independent inflation group ENAG put the figure at 81.02 percent.