Hunger Threshold in Northern Cyprus Surpasses 28,000 TL in February

The Cyprus Turkish Civil Servants Union (KTAMS) has reported that as of February 28, 2025, the hunger threshold in Northern Cyprus has reached 28,242 TL. This is the minimum monthly amount a family of four needs to afford a healthy, balanced diet.

KTAMS President Güven Bengihan emphasized that the official inflation rate does not fully reflect the financial struggles people are facing.

According to the union’s research, the daily cost of maintaining a nutritious diet is as follows:

• Adult male – 251.74 TL per day / 7,552.2 TL per month
• Adult female – 241.14 TL per day / 7,234.2 TL per month
• Teenager (15–19 years old) – 268.17 TL per day / 8,045.1 TL per month
• Young child (4–6 years old) – 180.34 TL per day / 5,410.2 TL per month

The report was compiled by the Department of Inpatient Treatment Services under the TRNC Ministry of Health. The calculations were based on the nutritional needs of a four-person household, with food prices analyzed by the TRNC Statistical Institute.

For context, official inflation data from the Statistical Institute shows that prices in Northern Cyprus rose by 2.02% in January and 2.16% in February, bringing the total increase over two months to 4.21%. The annual inflation rate currently stands at 47.10%.