How Many Work Days Are Required to Purchase an iPhone 17 Pro by Country
Buying the newest iPhone carries very different costs depending on where you live. In some countries, it is a manageable purchase. In others, it can equal nearly three months of income. Using average daily wages, a comparison looked at how many full workdays are needed to afford the iPhone 17 Pro (256 GB) across dozens of countries. The findings highlight major income gaps and show how global pricing often fails to reflect local earning power.
The comparison below offers a clear look at what a “luxury” phone really costs around the world.
Luxembourg and Switzerland Require the Fewest Days
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Workers in Luxembourg and Switzerland can purchase an iPhone 17 Pro after just three working days. High wages and steady pricing for electronics make that possible. Both countries rank near the top in terms of income per capita, and their consumer markets are stable enough to keep tech prices in check without added strain.
United States and Northern Europe Follow Closely
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In the U.S., Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Norway, it takes four full workdays to afford the phone. These countries benefit from high average wages and relatively stable consumer electronics pricing. For reference, the U.S. median daily income is approximately $300, aligning closely with the $1,099 price tag of the iPhone.
Five Days in Germany, Canada, and Australia
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It takes five workdays for residents of Germany, Canada, Australia, Finland, Austria, and Ireland to afford the device. Their wages support that pace, but the extra day compared to the U.S. might reflect steeper import costs or taxes.
France and Sweden at Six Days
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Buyers in France and Sweden face a six-day stretch. The wage difference from nearby Germany isn’t dramatic, but higher taxes and less competitive pricing can affect final retail costs. Luxury electronics like smartphones are often taxed at higher rates, which eats into local purchasing power even with stable incomes.
Seven Workdays in the UK and New Zealand
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British and New Zealand workers need, on average, seven working days to afford a phone. In the UK, flat wage growth and a weakened pound have reduced the affordability of imported tech. New Zealand faces similar pricing pressures due to import costs and a smaller market.
Three Countries Require Eight Days
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Singapore has a strong economy on paper, but wage inequality pulls down the national average, resulting in a longer workday. Italy’s relatively low average income and the UAE’s uneven wage distribution create a similar outcome. All three face structural wage disparities that widen the tech affordability gap.
Spain Slightly Below Double Digits
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The country shares a currency with richer northern neighbors, but wages haven’t caught up. It takes nine working days in Spain to buy a phone. Economic stagnation over the past decade has slowed income growth, meaning that even standardized tech prices hit Spanish consumers harder than those in other eurozone countries.
Czech Republic at Twelve Days
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Wages have increased in recent years, but not at a rate fast enough to close the affordability gap. An average Czech worker needs 12 days to afford an iPhone 17 Pro. As Apple keeps EU prices relatively consistent, countries with slower wage growth—like the Czech Republic—end up with longer timelines to afford one.
Poland Workers Need Over Two Weeks
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The iPhone takes 17 workdays in Poland, where rising wages still trail Western European levels. The standardized Apple pricing across the EU offers little relief. Even with a growing economy, the gap between consumer earnings and the prices of luxury electronics remains wide, placing a heavier burden on average Polish workers.
Portugal and Hungary Cross the Three-Week Mark
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Portugal’s average worker must work 24 days to afford the phone, while Hungary’s figure is 27. Both countries face similar economic conditions, with modest wages and a high cost of imported electronics. This combination makes luxury smartphones significantly less accessible to the average resident.
Chile Reaches 32 Workdays
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Although Chile’s GDP per capita is high for South America, the wage gap and regional pricing of imported electronics result in higher effective costs for premium products like the iPhone 17 Pro. Therefore, in Chile, the phone costs the equivalent of 32 days of labor.
Malaysia and Thailand Show a Wider Gap
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In Malaysia, the phone equals 45 working days. In Thailand, it rises to 61. Both countries face weaker currencies relative to the U.S. dollar and relatively low average wages. Retail pricing remains high due to tariffs and distributor markups, which further widens the affordability gap.
Brazil and Turkey Show High Cost Burden
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Local factors, like Brazil’s high electronics taxes and Turkey’s currency devaluation, make premium smartphones especially hard to afford. This means that Brazilian workers need 77 workdays, while in Turkey, that number jumps to 89. Even as wages climb in some sectors, inflation and unstable exchange rates continue to drive up the real cost.
Vietnam, the Philippines, and India Require the Most Days
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Vietnam comes in at 99 days, the Philippines at 101, and India tops the list with 160. These countries have some of the lowest average wages among those surveyed. Although Apple now manufactures in India, retail pricing hasn’t shifted much. This leaves the iPhone 17 Pro well beyond what most can earn in a month.