Turkey's poverty line hits record as basic living costs soar above 80,000 lira monthly

The research arm of the Turkish Public‑Private Confederation (KAMU‑AR) released its July 2026 Food and Poverty Threshold study. It found that the monthly food expense required for a family of four rose by 220 lira to 38,216 lira. When housing, transport, education, health, clothing, energy and other mandatory items are added, total "basic needs" spending reached 80,836 lira, an increase of 1,011 lira from the previous month.

The official poverty line also increased, climbing 1,230 lira to 117,336 lira. This places basic‑needs costs at about 69 % of the average civil servant salary (81,023 lira) and roughly 60 % of the lowest civil servant wage (70,218 lira). The minimum wage remains at 28,075 lira, well below the food‑only threshold.

The report warns that around 10 million workers earning near‑minimum wage and 5.1 million pensioners face food‑insecurity risk. A four‑person household supported by a single minimum‑wage earner can afford only 22 days of food, while total household income stays 5,036 lira under the poverty line.