Poverty threshold in TRNC exceeded 229 thousand Turkish Liras

KTAMS reported a new increase in the hunger and poverty thresholds in the country. According to the union, as of the end of April 2026, a family of four requires at least 42,553 Turkish Liras just for adequate nutrition, while 229,522 liras per month is needed for a decent standard of living.

The head of the organization, Güven Bengihan, stated that families living on minimum wage are effectively below the poverty line. According to him, the rapid rise in prices for food, housing, electricity, fuel, education, and medical services continues to worsen the financial situation of citizens.

KTAMS calculations are based on data from the Ministry of Health and TRNC statistical authorities. According to the study, daily food expenses amount to 368.49 liras for an adult woman, 384.51 liras for a man, 402.76 liras for a teenager, and 262.68 liras for a young child.

The union also criticized the current consumer basket used to calculate the consumer price index. KTAMS believes it is outdated and does not reflect the actual expenses of the population, so the authorities should update the inflation calculation methodology as soon as possible.

According to official data, inflation in April was 4.62%, and the total increase in the cost of living for the first four months of 2026 reached 12.02%. The union is confident that the government's economic policy is increasing social pressure on families and raising poverty levels.