His family originates from Mardin. After receiving his BA degree from the Faculty of Letters and Drama department at Ankara University, he worked as a dramaturg before devoting all his time to write poetry, plays, short stories, novels, film scenarios and songs. His first collection of poems, Osmanl?ya Dair Hikayat (Stories about Ottomans) was published in 1980, making Mungan an overnight success.

His output remained prolific and various poetry books followed, notably Yaz Gecer (Summer Passes) and Metal. He has written four theatre plays, which earned him wider success. Mahmud ile Yezida, Taziye are two of the most staged plays of the modern Turkish theatre.

His short stories were compiled in successful volumes such as K?rk Oda (Forty Rooms) and Paran?n Cinleri (Genies of Money). His screenplay Da??n?k Yatak (Messy Bed) was later filmed by director At?f Y?lmaz in 1986 starring Turkish actress Müjde Ar.

Mungan also wrote lyrics to some of Yeni Türkü's songs, and for pop singers such as Nükhet Duru.

In 2006, Murathan Mungan supervised the production of a music album by Turkish arabesk singer Müslüm Gürses, featuring cover versions of popular songs such as Alexandra Leaving by Leonard Cohen, Mr. Tambourine Man by Bob Dylan, and I'm Deranged by David Bowie, all of which were selected by Mungan.

Openly gay, Mungan has been often associated with the Turkish gay movement as a gay icon.