The fire in the kitchen continues: Hunger threshold increased by 450 TL in one month
According to TÜRK-İŞ's April data, the hunger threshold for a family of four has risen to 24,035 TL, and the poverty threshold to 78,291 TL. The cost of living for a single worker has exceeded 31,000 TL.
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TÜRK-İŞ has shared the April 2025 results of its "Hunger and Poverty Threshold Research," which it publishes regularly every month, with the public. The figures reveal that the living conditions of the working class in Turkey are becoming more difficult with each passing day.
HUNGER THRESHOLD ROSE BY 420 TL IN ONE MONTH
According to the TÜRK-İŞ research, the hunger threshold for a family of four—that is, the minimum food expenditure amount required for them to eat healthily and in a balanced manner—rose to 24,035 TL in April. This figure was 23,615 TL in March. In other words, there was an increase of 420 TL in just one month.
The poverty threshold increased by 1,369 TL in the same period, reaching 78,291 TL. In March, this figure was announced as 76,922 TL.
COST OF LIVING FOR A SINGLE WORKER EXCEEDED 31 THOUSAND
The cost of living for a single worker was also calculated in the TÜRK-İŞ research. In April, this cost reached 31,142 TL. This stands out as an amount well above the minimum wage.
The minimum expenditure amount that a family of four living in Ankara must make "for food" increased by 1.78% compared to the previous month. With this increase, the additional burden on kitchen expenses in the first four months of the year reached 1,904 TL.
The change rate for the last 12 months was 35.60%. The average annual increase in food prices was 51.58%. According to the research, food expenditures continue to be the largest burden on the budgets of workers.
''LIVING ON MINIMUM WAGE IS NOT POSSIBLE''
In its statement, TÜRK-İŞ drew attention to the difficulties faced especially by those working for minimum wage. The statement included the following expressions:
"It is observed that, especially among wage earners, the number of people working in the household is generally one, and other sources of income entering the household are very limited. It is not possible to provide for a family with a minimum wage that does not meet the basic needs of a single worker."