Trapped at Home: 77% of Turkish Graduates Still Live With Parents

A new report by Youthall has revealed just how hard soaring inflation and economic hardship have hit Turkey’s young people. The “Youthall Youth Expectations and Trends Survey” paints a grim picture: while graduates once looked forward to independence, today nearly 77% of young adults live with their parents, unable to afford rent or basic living costs.

Just a year earlier, the figure stood at 69.7%. Among students, the rate of living at home has also jumped — from 40.5% in 2024 to 44.2% this year. For many, the dream of moving out and building a life of their own has been crushed by economic realities.

Weekly Budgets Shrinking Below Survival Levels

The survey found that Turkey’s youth are surviving on shockingly small budgets. Around 20% of students manage on just TRY 1,000 or less per week — barely enough to cover meals, let alone rent, transportation, or social activities. Another 17.5% said they scrape by with TRY 750–1,000 per week.

Graduates looking for jobs are faring little better: over half (50.8%) report earning TRY 4,000 per month or less, a level that leaves many dependent on family assistance. Indeed, the majority of students still rely on regular financial support from their parents to stay afloat.

The Cost of Education Doubles

Adding to the burden, the cost of university education has soared. According to the report, the monthly expense of studying has doubled to reach nearly twice the minimum wage. Rising tuition, skyrocketing housing costs, and daily living expenses mean higher education has become an unaffordable luxury for many families.

Even at campus canteens, students say prices have “taken off like rockets.” A single meal is now considered a luxury purchase. One student noted that buying lunch on campus more than twice a week has become impossible.

Family Homes Become the Only Option

The increase in graduates living with their parents reflects a broader social trend. What was once a transitional stage has now become a long-term necessity. Economists warn that this has profound implications not only for young people’s personal development but also for the country’s housing market, labor mobility, and family dynamics.

Young Turks are postponing marriage, delaying moving out, and reducing participation in the economy — trends that risk shaping a “lost generation” of underemployed, financially dependent adults.

Happiness and Hope in Decline

Beyond financial hardship, the survey highlights a sharp decline in morale. Only 41.8% of students now believe they will find a job after graduation, compared with 61.5% last year. Among graduates, one in three fears losing their current job due to economic instability.

The mental toll is also evident. While 42.6% of students describe themselves as happy, the number falls to just 25.8% among graduates. Meanwhile, 28.3% of graduates identify as unhappy — nearly double the student rate. Anxiety about the future dominates, with almost half of graduates (49.1%) saying they feel deeply worried about what lies ahead.

A Generation Under Pressure

These statistics point to a growing crisis: young people struggling not only financially but also emotionally, caught between soaring costs of living, stagnant wages, and limited opportunities. The inability to secure independence is reshaping how young Turks view their future — and their place in society.

The Youthall report concludes that without urgent structural reforms, Turkey risks further alienating its younger generation, with long-term consequences for social stability, workforce productivity, and national morale.