I recently came across a data comparison: the global pricing of the iPhone 17 Pro is generally around $1099, but the amount of work needed to afford it varies wildly across different regions.

In the US, workers can buy one after just 4 days of work. Luxembourg and Switzerland are even more extreme—just over a day's wages are enough. But in India? People need to work 160 consecutive 8-hour days to afford it, which is 40 times more than in the US.

What does this reality behind the numbers tell us? The average monthly salary in India is only $310, with an hourly wage of less than $2.. In places like the US, Australia, and Singapore, the iPhone is like a daily necessity; swapping for a new one every two years is normal. In India, however, it almost becomes a status symbol rather than a basic need.

The situation in other countries also reveals the pattern—buying an iPhone 14 Pro takes 22 days in China, 11.9 days in South Korea, 10.5 days in Japan, and between 5 to 13 days in Australia and Singapore. These numbers clearly show that global salary disparities are directly reflected in purchasing power. The same phone is a fast-moving consumer good in some places, but an unattainable luxury in others. Economic inequality is thus quantified into a certain number of workdays.