Hunger threshold surpassed minimum wage in June 2025

DİSK/United Metal-Workers' Union Class Research Center (BİSAM) has published its hunger and poverty threshold report for June 2025. According to the report, the monthly expenditure required for a family of four to maintain a healthy and balanced diet has been determined as 25,811 TL. While this amount covers only food expenses, the poverty threshold has risen to 89,282 TL. The poverty threshold also includes basic needs such as education, housing, and transportation.

The data was calculated using TurkStat expenditure groups, Istanbul Public Bread (Halk Ekmek) and chain market prices, and the BİSAM Nutritional Pattern. The monthly food expenditure for an adult male was determined to be 7,265 TL, for an adult female 6,923 TL, for a youth aged 15-18 7,161 TL, and for a child aged 4-6 4,462 TL.

POVERTY THRESHOLD FOR SINGLE-PERSON HOUSEHOLDS

The total monthly expenditure required for an individual living alone to maintain a healthy diet and meet basic needs was calculated as 41,857 TL. This figure includes housing, transportation, health, and other mandatory expenses in addition to food.

FRUIT AND VEGETABLES LEAD FOOD EXPENDITURES

In June 2025, the highest cost in daily expenditures was allocated to fruit and vegetables at 288.4 TL. Expenditures were 207.79 TL for milk and dairy products, 161.83 TL for the meat-chicken-fish group, and 71.43 TL for bread. It was stated that 41.02 TL per day should be spent on solid and liquid fats, 13.12 TL for eggs, and 19.42 TL for sugar and its derivatives.

The proportions of food groups within the total are also noteworthy. Fruit and vegetables rank first at 33.5 percent, while meat, eggs, and legumes account for 24.9 percent, and milk and dairy products account for 24.2 percent. Bread and cereal products are at 10.43 percent, and other food expenditures are at the 7 percent level.

NUTRITIONAL COSTS BY AGE AND GENDER

Caloric and nutritional requirements vary according to individuals' gender and age groups. This situation is also reflected in food expenditure amounts. For example, while dairy product consumption is higher in the 10-18 age group, egg consumption is seen as more critical for the 4-6 age group.

CALCULATION METHODS

Hunger and poverty threshold calculations were prepared based on the Turkey-Specific Nutritional Pattern created by BİSAM, the Ministry of Health, and Hacettepe University. While TurkStat 2003 item prices were taken as the basis for food prices, Istanbul Public Bread prices were used for bread, and chain market internet prices were used for vegetables and fruit. Furthermore, the hunger threshold for a family of four is determined based solely on food expenditures. The poverty threshold is derived by calculating this data according to the consumption patterns of the lowest income group as defined by TurkStat. For single-person households, TurkStat's single-person expenditure data is used as a basis.