Poverty Line in Turkey Rises Sharply as Inflation Outpaces Wages

A new study by KAMU-AR, the research unit of the United Public Workers Union Confederation (Birleşik Kamu-İş), reveals alarming figures for July 2025: the hunger threshold for a family of four surged to ₺27,670, while the poverty line climbed to ₺85,344. These figures underscore the widening gap between household expenses and income levels in Turkey, as rising prices continue to outpace wage increases.

The hunger line now stands ₺5,566 above the net minimum wage, which remains at ₺22,104, exceeding it by over 25%. KAMU-AR highlights that this minimum wage can only cover 24 days of food expenses for a family of four. Meanwhile, retirees relying on the lowest pension of ₺16,881 can only afford 18 days of basic nutrition. The July pension adjustment was so limited that it could only finance two additional days of food.

The findings also show that civil servant salaries fall far short of poverty benchmarks. Even after a 15.57% increase, the lowest public employee salary now stands at ₺50,534, covering just 59% of the poverty threshold. To match the poverty line, the average civil servant salary of ₺57,310 would need to rise by at least 49%.

Food Costs Continue Climbing

In July, a family needed ₺27,670 to afford a nutritionally balanced diet, reflecting an annual increase of ₺6,894.

• Meat, fish, and eggs fell by ₺31 monthly, yet rose by ₺2,566 year-on-year.

• Fruit expenses jumped ₺342 in a single month to ₺3,571.

• Vegetables dropped ₺94 in July but rose ₺646 over the year.

• Dairy products fell slightly by ₺36 but still posted a ₺806 annual increase.

Other staples saw notable price shifts:

• Baked goods cost ₺2,222,

• Rice and bulgur hit ₺1,064,

• Oil expenses reached ₺613,

• Sugar, jam, and honey dropped to ₺1,953, down ₺83 in a month.

A breakdown of individual nutritional needs in July showed:

• Adult male: ₺8,079

• Adult female: ₺6,342

• Child: ₺4,604

• Teenager: ₺8,644

Non-Food Essentials Top ₺57,000

Monthly non-food expenditures surged by ₺1,230, totaling ₺57,673. Key components included:

• Housing (including rent): ₺16,332

• Transportation: ₺15,901

• Household goods: ₺6,885

• Healthcare: ₺2,363

• Clothing and shoes: ₺2,227

• Education: ₺1,591

• Communication: ₺1,559

• Recreation and culture: ₺1,578

• Vacations and hotels: ₺6,194

Poverty Threshold Rises ₺23,000 in One Year

According to KAMU-AR, for a family to maintain a dignified standard of living, total monthly expenses now exceed ₺85,000. Since January 2025, poverty expenses have increased by ₺14,296, and over the past 12 months, the poverty line has risen ₺23,042.

This steep climb signals the growing pressure on low- and middle-income households, as rising food and utility costs continue to outstrip salary adjustments across both the public and private sectors.