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Türkiye’s hunger threshold, representing the monthly cost of food for a family of four in Ankara, surpassed ?20,000 ($584.06), according to data released by the Turkish Trade Union (Turk-Is).
October figures show the threshold has risen from ?19,830 to ?20,431, while the poverty line for a family’s essential monthly expenses climbed to ?66,553. The minimum wage in Türkiye is ?20,003 gross and ?17,002 net with an increase of 49% as of Jan. 1, 2024.
Türkiye’s minimum wage remains set at ?17,002, creating a gap of ?3,429 between the wage and the hunger threshold.
Turk-Is data indicates that this gap has continued to widen as inflation rates persistently affect household budgets, highlighting economic pressure on low-income earners.
Defined as the total cost of necessary monthly expenses – including housing, food, transportation, education, and health care – the poverty line increased from ?64,595 to ?66,553 in October.
The average monthly living cost for a single worker also rose from ?25,706 to ?26,527.
Food inflation saw a 3.03% rise in October alone, with a 12-month increase of 49.3%. The sustained inflation rate is pushing basic food costs higher, impacting household budgets nationwide and contributing to the persistent gap between income and essential living expenses.
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