Hunger Line Breaks ₺30,000 as Cost-of-Living Crisis Deepens in Turkey

Turkey’s cost-of-living crisis reached a new milestone in December 2025, as fresh data revealed that basic survival thresholds have moved far beyond the reach of millions of workers. According to the latest monthly bulletin published by Türkiye İşçi Sendikaları Konfederasyonu (TÜRK-İŞ), the hunger line for a four-person household has officially exceeded ₺30,000, while the poverty line is approaching six figures.

The figures, released as part of TÜRK-İŞ’s long-running “Hunger and Poverty Line” research, underline the growing gap between wages and living expenses. The study, conducted continuously for 38 years and now entering its 39th year, is considered one of the most consistent indicators of household affordability in Turkey.

Hunger and Poverty Lines Reach Historic Levels

TÜRK-İŞ’s December 2025 assessment shows that a family of four living in Ankara must now spend at least ₺30,143.75 per month on food alone to maintain a healthy, balanced, and adequate diet. This amount defines the official hunger line and represents the minimum nutritional cost required for survival.

When essential non-food expenses are added—such as housing, rent, electricity, water, heating, transportation, education, healthcare, and clothing—the total monthly cost rises sharply. The poverty line, which reflects these combined necessities, climbed to ₺98,188.11 in December.

For single workers, the situation is equally stark. TÜRK-İŞ calculated that the monthly cost of living for an unmarried employee reached ₺39,123.08, a level that significantly exceeds the income of many wage earners.

Kitchen Inflation Continues to Bite

One of the most closely watched indicators in the report is so-called “kitchen inflation,” which tracks changes in food prices and their direct impact on household budgets. In December 2025, food costs for a four-person family in Ankara increased 1.06% compared to the previous month.

On an annual basis, the rise was far more dramatic. The 12-month increase reached 42.97%, while the yearly average rise stood at 40.15%. These figures highlight how persistent food inflation continues to erode purchasing power, even when headline inflation rates fluctuate.

Minimum Wage Falls Below the Hunger Line

TÜRK-İŞ used unusually strong language in its December bulletin, stressing that workers’ expectations had once again not been met. The confederation pointed out that the newly announced minimum wage for 2026 was set below the hunger line, despite rising costs across all basic needs.

According to the report, the minimum wage is ₺2,068.75 lower than the hunger threshold, meaning that even full-time workers earning the statutory minimum cannot afford the most basic level of nutrition for a family. TÜRK-İŞ emphasized that this decision was taken during a wage-setting meeting in which the confederation itself did not participate.

Social State Principles Under Strain

The bulletin also framed the issue within a broader legal and social context. TÜRK-İŞ argued that the minimum wage should be treated as a genuine “living wage,” in line with social state principles and the constitutional right to a humane standard of living.

The confederation warned that current wage levels fall short not only of covering food expenses but also of meeting unavoidable costs such as housing, transportation, healthcare, and education. As a result, access to even basic necessities is becoming increasingly difficult for wage earners.

The report underlined that declining purchasing power is not an abstract economic concept but a daily reality for millions of households. Reduced income in real terms forces families to cut back on food quality, healthcare spending, and education-related expenses, deepening long-term social risks.

A Long-Running Indicator of Economic Stress

TÜRK-İŞ’s hunger and poverty line research has long served as a benchmark for understanding economic pressure on working households. By focusing on real market prices rather than projections, the study offers a ground-level view of how inflation translates into everyday life.

As the data for December 2025 shows, the disconnect between wages and living costs continues to widen. With food inflation remaining high and essential expenses climbing steadily, the thresholds that define basic survival are moving further out of reach for large segments of the workforce.