When a new iPhone launches, it often sparks a wave of jokes and memes online about its affordability, with many people humorously lamenting just how pricey these phones have become. The iPhone 16 is no exception, as social media fills with comments about the hefty price tags attached to the latest models.
To put these sentiments into perspective, a recent index has calculated just how many days of work individuals in various countries would need to afford the new iPhone, revealing some surprising statistics about the financial commitment required to buy one of Apple’s flagship devices.
In the latest iPhone Index by Picodi.com, Switzerland ranks highest, where an average worker only needs 4 man-days to buy the iPhone 16 Pro. In comparison, an American needs about 5.1 days, while Australians and Singaporeans work for around 5.7 days. These numbers reflect the stark contrast in purchasing iPhone across different countries.
However, for Indian consumers, the picture is far less rosy. According to the index, it takes approximately 47.6 days of work to afford the iPhone 16. This places India in a challenging position compared to its global counterparts, reflecting the financial burden that high-end devices can impose on average wage earners.
The disparities continue with countries like Turkey, where an average worker needs an astonishing 72.9 days to afford the iPhone, followed closely by the Philippines and Brazil at 68.8 and 68.6 days, respectively.
The iPhone Index 2024 was calculated using the official price of the iPhone 16 Pro (128 GB) from local Apple stores or authorised sellers. Average wages were obtained from official government statistics and updated for the iPhone’s release. Net wages were determined using salary calculators. Monthly wages were divided by 21 (the average working days per month), while in countries with weekly wage data, wages were divided by 5.
