Türkiye: cost of living

How fast are food prices rising in Turkey?

Food and non-alcoholic beverage prices in Turkey were 27.62% higher in September 2026 than a year earlier, according to TurkStat. They fell 0.20% from August. Overall consumer prices rose 29.73% over the year and 1.84% over the month. Food contributed 6.73 percentage points to annual inflation, the most of any group.

Annual inflation was 33.29% in September 2025. The Consumer Price Index uses 2025 as its base year. TurkStat's next release is due on 3 November 2026.

Official sources: TurkStat: Consumer Price Index, September 2026

How fast are housing and utility costs rising in Turkey?

Prices for housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels in Turkey were 39.99% higher in September 2026 than a year earlier, according to TurkStat, the fastest rise of the three largest expenditure groups. They rose 2.71% from August. The group contributed 4.84 percentage points to annual inflation of 29.73%.

The group includes rents, utility bills and home maintenance. Housing and rent took 29.3% of household consumption spending in 2025, the largest share of any category, and 38.7% for the lowest-income fifth of households, according to the Household Budget Survey.

Official sources: TurkStat: Consumer Price Index, September 2026 · TurkStat: Household Consumption Expenditures, 2025

How fast are transport costs rising in Turkey?

Transport prices in Turkey were 35.10% higher in September 2026 than a year earlier, according to TurkStat. They rose 2.79% from August, adding 0.49 percentage points to monthly inflation of 1.84%. Transport contributed 5.96 percentage points to annual inflation of 29.73%.

Transport covers vehicle purchases, fuel, maintenance and transport services. It was the second-largest category of household spending in 2025, at 20.5%, and the highest-income fifth of households spent 25% of their budget on it, against 8.6% for the lowest-income fifth, the Household Budget Survey shows.

Official sources: TurkStat: Consumer Price Index, September 2026 · TurkStat: Household Consumption Expenditures, 2025

What is core inflation in Turkey?

Turkey's core inflation, measured by the B index, was 29.00% in September 2026, according to TurkStat. The index excludes unprocessed food, energy, alcoholic beverages, tobacco and gold. It rose 2.01% from August. The narrower C index, which also excludes processed food, was 28.70%. Headline inflation was 29.73%.

Core measures remove the most volatile prices to show underlying inflation. The Central Bank of the Republic of Türkiye follows these indicators when setting interest rates. Over 12-month averages, the B index rose 30.80%.

Official sources: TurkStat: Consumer Price Index, September 2026 · Central Bank of the Republic of Türkiye

What do Turkish households spend their money on?

Housing and rent took 29.3% of Turkish households' consumption spending in 2025, transport 20.5% and food and non-alcoholic beverages 17.3%, according to TurkStat's Household Budget Survey. The smallest shares went to insurance and financial services (0.8%), education (1.8%) and health (2.2%).

Spending patterns differ by income. The lowest-income fifth of households spent 38.7% on housing and 29.2% on food, while the highest-income fifth spent 25.7% on housing and 12.4% on food. One-person households spent 41% on housing and rent. The survey weights are used in the Consumer Price Index.

Official sources: TurkStat: Household Consumption Expenditures, 2025

What is the average household income in Turkey?

The mean annual disposable income of Turkish households was TRY 662,414 according to the 2025 Income and Living Conditions Survey, which measures income in 2024, up 76.7% from the previous survey, TurkStat reports. The richest fifth of the population received 48.0% of total equivalised income and the poorest fifth 6.4%. The Gini coefficient was 0.410.

The Gini coefficient measures inequality from 0, complete equality, to 1, complete inequality. Income figures are in nominal lira, so the rise largely reflects inflation. The S80/S20 ratio, comparing the incomes of the richest and poorest fifths, was 7.5.

Official sources: TurkStat: Income Distribution Statistics, 2025

How fast are prices rising in Türkiye?

The IMF puts consumer price inflation in Türkiye at 34.9% in 2025. The peak was 72.3% in 2022 and the low 6.3% in 2009. Europe & Central Asia median: 3.7%; Türkiye is 1st highest of 48. Of 165 countries with 2025 data, 2nd highest.

What is household spending per person in Türkiye?

In 2025, household consumption per person in Türkiye was $10,915, according to the World Bank. That is the highest since at least 2005. Across Europe & Central Asia the middle value was $11,266, and Türkiye placed 26th highest of 44. World rank, highest first: 34th of 124.

What share of people in Türkiye live in extreme poverty?

In 2023, the share of people living on less than $3.00 a day in Türkiye was 0.2%, according to the World Bank. It is the bottom of the series, which starts in 2005. It is 21st highest of 34 in Europe & Central Asia, where the median is 0.4%. World rank, highest first: 44th of 59.

What share of Türkiye lives below the poverty line?

13.0%: that is the share of people below the national poverty line in Türkiye for 2024, according to the World Bank. No year since 2005 has been lower. It is 9th highest of 14 in Europe & Central Asia, where the median is 15.8%. Worldwide: 24th of 31.

How unequal are incomes in Türkiye?

43.7: that is the Gini index in Türkiye for 2023, according to the World Bank. Its high point since 2005 was 2022, at 44.5; its low point was 2007, at 38.4. Europe & Central Asia median: 31.5; Türkiye is 1st highest of 34. World rank, highest first: 9th of 59.