Istanbul Rent Crisis Deepens: Minimum Wage Falls Short of Even the Cheapest Districts

As Istanbul’s average rent climbs to TL 30,000, workers earning the minimum wage of TL 22,000 find themselves increasingly priced out of the city. In many central and coastal districts, rent alone now doubles or even triples a full-time worker’s income, making adequate housing virtually unattainable for low-income residents.

Minimum Wage No Longer Covers Rent in Most Districts

Set at TL 22,000 for 2025, Türkiye’s minimum wage is rapidly losing its real value in the face of soaring housing costs. According to Istanbul Real Estate Valuation, the city’s average rental price hit TL 30,000 in June, and projections suggest it could reach TL 32,500 by August—an amount 36% higher than the minimum wage.

This surge in housing expenses is at the heart of Istanbul’s growing affordability crisis, forcing low-income families to make painful trade-offs between shelter, food, and transportation.

District-Wise Breakdown: Where Rents Have Soared

Rental prices vary sharply across Istanbul’s districts, with central and waterfront neighborhoods experiencing the most dramatic increases. Average monthly rents now stand at:

• Kadıköy / Sarıyer: TL 55,000

• Beşiktaş: TL 50,000

• Üsküdar: TL 36,000

• Maltepe / Ataşehir / Şile / Beykoz / Başakşehir: TL 35,000

• Beyoğlu / Şişli: TL 31,000 – 32,000

In these areas, a minimum wage earner would need 2 to 3 full monthly salaries just to afford rent—leaving basic survival costs uncovered.

Only Option for Low-Income Families: Peripheral Districts

Even in Istanbul’s more affordable neighborhoods, the situation is far from manageable. Districts like Esenyurt (TL 17,000), Bağcılar (TL 19,000), and Sultangazi or Arnavutköy (TL 20,000) offer lower rents, but still consume nearly an entire month’s income—leaving no room for utilities, groceries, or transportation.

Other borderline districts such as Fatih, Silivri, and Sultanbeyli offer rents around TL 22,000, fully absorbing the minimum monthly wage.

A City Becoming Unlivable for the Working Class

The data underscores a widening housing affordability gap, particularly for minimum wage earners, who now face the impossible choice between housing and basic survival. The lack of affordable rental options—even in outer districts—signals a systemic urban crisis.

Without immediate policy interventions, including rent controls, affordable housing projects, or wage adjustments, Istanbul risks becoming uninhabitable for millions of workers, essential to the city’s economic and social fabric.