The estimated price of Apple’s highly anticipated new flagship, the iPhone 17 Pro Max, has reignited global debates about affordability. While it hasn’t been officially released yet, the $1,199 starting price, which has been rumored in tech circles, presents a striking comparison with average salaries in different countries.
How much work is required for the iPhone 17 Pro Max?
A study has revealed the working hours required to purchase a new iPhone 17 Pro Max, given average net salaries in various countries. This time is limited to a few days in developed economies, while it can reach months in developing countries. This situation further highlights the global inequality in access to technology.
According to the study, Switzerland is the country with the fewest hours of work required to purchase an iPhone 17 Pro Max. Known for its high average salary, it takes approximately 3.3 days of work to acquire this cutting-edge technology. Luxembourg comes in second with 3.9 days, followed by Singapore with 4.1 days. In the United States, this time is calculated as an average of 4.4 days.
At the other end of the list, the situation in Turkey is striking. With average net wages in Turkey, purchasing a $1,199 iPhone 17 Pro Max requires working approximately 83.8 days (approximately 4 months).
This shows that Turkey lags behind many countries in terms of purchasing power. Similarly, in Nigeria, this time is as high as 177.3 days (approximately 8 months), and in Egypt, it is as high as 265.8 days (approximately 12 months).
The table below shows the average monthly net wages in selected countries and the approximate number of working days required to own the iPhone 17 Pro Max, based on the estimated US price of $1,199. The calculation assumes an average number of working days per month of 22.
| Country | Average Monthly Net Salary (USD) | Required Working Days |
| Switzerland | 8,055 | 3.3 |
| Luxembourg | 6,645 | 3.9 |
| Singapore | 6,368 | 4.1 |
| USA | 5,998 | 4.4 |
| Australia | 5,348 | 4.9 |
| Norway | 5,224 | 5.0 |
| Denmark | 4,948 | 5.3 |
| Canada | 4,769 | 5.5 |
| Germany | 4,078 | 6.5 |
| United Kingdom | 3,965 | 6.6 |
| France | 3,459 | 7.6 |
| Japan | 3,212 | 8.2 |
| South Korea | 3,098 | 8.5 |
| Spain | 2,475 | 10.6 |
| Italy | 2,174 | 12.1 |
| China | 1,189 | 22.1 |
| Brazil | 796 | 33.1 |
| Russia | 754 | 35.0 |
| Türkiye | 315 | 83.8 |
| Nigeria | 149 | 177.3 |
| Egypt | 99 | 265.8 |
