Poverty line in Northern Cyprus exceeded 234,000 lira

KTAMS union chairman Güven Bengihan said that the cost of the minimum food basket for a family of four fell to 43,469 Turkish lira in June. According to him, this happened mainly due to a partial decline in the prices of vegetables and fruit.

At the same time, prices for meat, eggs, milk and dairy products continue to rise, so pressure on family budgets remains.

Bengihan also criticized the inflation calculation methodology used by the State Statistical Institute. In his view, the consumer basket based on the 2015 spending structure no longer reflects the real expenses of residents. He called for the work on updating it to be completed as soon as possible and for the public to be involved in this process.

According to official data from the Statistical Institute, inflation in June was 2.29%, while the cumulative increase in the cost of living for the first six months of 2026 reached 16.95%.

According to KTAMS calculations, if expenses include not only food but also housing rent, education, healthcare, electricity, fuel, communications, clothing, as well as cultural leisure and recreation, the poverty line for a family of four stands at 234,462 Turkish lira per month.

In conclusion, Bengihan said that the government's current economic policy is leading to further poverty growth. According to him, a family with two children now needs a monthly income of at least 234,462 lira, and the minimum wage level does not allow for a decent standard of living.