Turkey hunger limit reaches 38,698 lira in September

The Birleşik Kamu-İş Confederation, through its R&D unit KAMU-AR, has released its September 2026 findings regarding the hunger and poverty limits for a family of four in Turkey.

The hunger limit, representing the monthly food expenditure required for a balanced and healthy diet, rose by 380 lira to reach 38,698 lira. Meanwhile, the poverty line—which includes food plus non-food necessities—increased by 2,429 lira to a total of 123,465 lira.

The report highlights a significant gap between wages and living costs. The current minimum wage of 28,075 lira remains 10,623 lira below the hunger limit. According to the confederation, the minimum wage would require a 37.8 percent increase to meet the hunger threshold. Additionally, the lowest retiree pension of 23,552 lira is 15,146 lira below the hunger limit, covering only approximately 18 days of food expenses for a family of four.