Newsletters
The Confederation of Turkish Trade Unions (Turk-Is) announced that the hunger threshold in Türkiye has surpassed the new minimum wage, reaching ₺22,131.06 ($617) in January 2025.
The report also highlighted that the poverty threshold rose to ₺72,088.14, while the monthly cost of living for a single worker increased to ₺28,756.29.
The findings reflect ongoing economic challenges as high inflation continues to impact workers and retirees, despite wage increases.
According to Turk-Is, a four-person household in Ankara requires at least ₺22,131.06 per month for adequate and balanced nutrition. This figure, known as the hunger threshold, represents the minimum cost of food expenditures.
Meanwhile, the poverty threshold, which includes housing, transportation, education, health, and other essential expenses, has been calculated at ₺72,088.14.
For single workers, the monthly cost of living has reached ₺28,756.29, emphasizing the increasing difficulty of making ends meet.
The report detailed significant inflationary pressures on food prices:
Turk-Is emphasized that economic hardships remain a key issue for workers, "Living conditions continue to be the primary concern for workers. Despite wage increases, minimum-wage earners and retirees living below this level have not seen an improvement in their quality of life."
The organization regularly conducts cost-of-living research to assess how price fluctuations in basic goods affect household budgets.
The findings raise concerns about the real purchasing power of workers, as the minimum wage fails to keep pace with rising expenses. With food and living costs increasing at double-digit rates, economists warn of further financial strain on low- and middle-income families.
1 min read
