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The cost of living in Istanbul rose sharply in September, with average monthly expenses for a family of four reaching ₺102,045 ($2,447.72), according to data from the Istanbul Planning Agency (IPA).
The figure represents a 42.8% increase compared with the same month last year, when the cost stood at ₺71,431.
On a monthly basis, household living costs in the city climbed by 3.35%, equivalent to an additional ₺3,310 compared with August. The IPA report noted that the rise has been consistent, pushing family budgets to new highs.
High inflation continues to weigh on household budgets, with other indicators showing similar results to IPA’s findings. The Confederation of Turkish Trade Unions (Turk-Is) reported that the minimum food expenditure required for a family of four to maintain a healthy and balanced diet—known as the "hunger threshold"—rose to ₺27,970 in September.
Türkiye’s net monthly minimum wage, which most workers are estimated to earn close to, remains at ₺22,104, standing 21% below this level. The broader "poverty threshold," which includes essential expenses such as food, clothing, housing, transport, education, and health care, was calculated at ₺91,109.
Turk-Is also reported that food inflation alone was 3.17% month-on-month and 41.05% year-over-year. The Istanbul Chamber of Commerce measured citywide retail inflation at 3.19% in September, lifting the annual rate to 40.7%.
Nationwide, the Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat) stated that consumer prices rose 3.19% on a monthly basis, bringing annual inflation to 33.29%. The development ended 15 consecutive months of disinflation, raising questions about the sustainability of Türkiye’s year-end inflation projection of around 29%.
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