The release of a new iPhone always captures global attention, and the iPhone 15 is no exception.
However, beyond the advanced features and high-end aesthetics, an important question arises: How affordable is the iPhone 15 across different regions?
In this study, we present an affordability index, providing crucial insights into the economic capability of consumers across diverse geographical landscapes to acquire the iPhone 15. This report includes a comparative analysis that spans various countries internationally, US states, and cities in the United Kingdom.
Our index offers a unique perspective by translating the retail price of the iPhone 15 into ‘work hours needed’. This accounts for all iPhone 15 models: the base iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, and iPhone 15 Pro Max
How Many Work Hours Does Each Country Need to Afford an iPhone 15?
Top 5 Countries Where iPhone 15 Models Are Least Affordable
Türkiye
Topping the list, Türkiye has citizens who need to work the longest to afford iPhone 15 devices. Turks would need to work approximately 758.77 hours (or about 95 full 8-hour working days) to afford the base model of the iPhone 15. Upgrading to the iPhone 15 Plus requires longer, about 865 hours (or approximately 108 working days). The high-end iPhone 15 Pro Max demands a considerable increase to a staggering 1,168.51 hours (around 146 working days).
Philippines
The Philippines takes the second spot. To buy an iPhone 15, Filipinos would have to work approximately 499.45 hours (or roughly 62 working days). The working hours increase to 560.79 (or around 70 working days) for the iPhone 15 Plus. For the pricier iPhone 15 Pro, it stretches to 622.14 hours (or about 78 working days).
Brazil
Brazilians would need to work around 464.98 hours (or about 58 working days) to afford the basic iPhone 15 model. For the premium iPhone 15 Pro Max, this figure increases dramatically to approximately 700.69 hours (or around 88 working days).
Vietnam
Vietnamese citizens would need to work for about 355.92 hours (or around 44 working days) to afford an iPhone 15. If they consider the iPhone 15 Plus, this figure increases to approximately 402.34 hours (or about 50 working days).
Thailand
Thais would need to work roughly 283.87 hours (or around 35 working days) to afford an iPhone 15. However, going for the more advanced iPhone 15 Pro demands considerably more work, specifically around 361.53 hours (or approximately 45 working days).
Top 5 Countries Where iPhone 15 Models Are Most Affordable
Switzerland
Switzerland is where the iPhone 15 models are most affordable. Swiss citizens need to work just about 26.24 hours (or approximately 3 full 8-hour working days) to buy an iPhone 15 and about 40.15 hours (or around 5 working days) for the top-tier iPhone 15 Pro Max.
United States
Americans need to put in about 30.01 hours (nearly 4 working days) of work to afford an iPhone 15. The working hours increase to 33.76 hours (or around 4 full working days) for the iPhone 15 Plus.
Luxembourg
In Luxembourg, residents would need to clock in approximately 40.96 hours (or about 5 working days) of work to afford the base iPhone 15 model. For the iPhone 15 Pro, they need to work around 51.95 hours (or about 6 working days).
Singapore
Singaporeans need to work about 42.41 hours (or approximately 5 working days) for the iPhone 15 base model. For the premium iPhone 15 Pro Max, this figure jumps to approximately 65.26 hours (or around 8 working days).
United Arab Emirates (UAE)
Wrapping up the top 5, UAE locals would have to work for about 42.91 hours (or around 5 working days) to buy an iPhone 15. For the iPhone 15 Pro, working hours rise to about 54.27 hours (or roughly 7 working days).
How Many Work Hours Does Each US States Need to Afford an iPhone 15?
Top 5 US States Where iPhone 15 Models are Least Affordable
Indiana
Indiana is the state where iPhone 15 models are the least affordable. Hoosiers need to work about 42.02 hours (or approximately 5 full 8-hour working days) to buy the base model of the iPhone 15 and up to 84.09 hours (or about 10 working days) for the premium model, the iPhone 15 Pro Max.
Mississippi
At the second spot, Mississippi residents would need to work approximately 39.16 hours (nearly 5 working days) to purchase the base model of the iPhone 15. For the top-tier iPhone 15 Pro Max, the working hours increase significantly to 78.36 hours (or around 10 working days).
Arkansas
In Arkansas, citizens would need to work around 36.42 hours (or about 4 full working days) to afford the base iPhone 15 model. For the iPhone 15 Pro Max, this count goes up to approximately 72.89 hours (or about 9 working days).
Hawaii
Hawaiians need to work roughly 36.42 hours (or approximately 4 working days) to afford the base model of an iPhone 15. For the premium iPhone 15 Pro Max, this figure jumps to about 72.89 hours (or around 9 working days).
West Virginia
Rounding out the top 5, West Virginians would have to work for about 35.98 hours (or around 4 working days) to buy an iPhone 15. For the premium iPhone 15 Pro Max, the working hours rise to approximately 72 hours (or around 9 working days).
Top 5 US States Where iPhone 15 Models are Most Affordable
Massachusetts
Massachusetts is the state where iPhone 15 models are most affordable. Residents need to work just about 23.09 hours (or approximately 3 full 8-hour working days) to buy the base model of the iPhone 15, and about 34.65 hours (or around 4 working days) for the high-end iPhone 15 Pro Max.
New York
New Yorkers would need to put in about 23.62 hours (nearly 3 working days) to afford the base model of the iPhone 15. The working hours increase to 35.45 hours (or about 4 full working days) for the iPhone 15 Pro Max.
California
In California, residents would need to work approximately 24.16 hours (or about 3 working days) to afford the base iPhone 15 model. For the iPhone 15 Pro Max, this extends to around 36.26 hours (or about 5 working days).
Washington
Residents of Washington would need to work about 24.45 hours (or approximately 3 working days) for the base model of the iPhone 15. For the iPhone 15 Pro Max, this figure jumps to 36.68 hours (or around 5 working days).
New Jersey
New Jersey locals would have to work for about 24.95 hours (or around 3 working days) to buy the base model of an iPhone 15. For the iPhone 15 Pro Max, working hours increase to about 37.45 hours (or roughly 5 working days).
How Many Work Hours Does Each UK City Need to Afford an iPhone 15?
Top 5 UK Cities Where iPhone 15 Models are Least Affordable
Salford
Salford in UK is the city where iPhone 15 models are least affordable. Residents need to work about 105.28 hours (or approximately 13 full 8-hour working days) to buy the base model of the iPhone 15 and a staggering 157.99 hours (or around 20 working days) for the iPhone 15 Pro Max.
Perth
In Perth, locals would need to work approximately 103.26 hours (or nearly 13 working days) to purchase the base model of the iPhone 15. The working hours increase substantially to 154.95 hours (or about 19 full working days) for the iPhone 15 Pro Max.
Plymouth
Plymouth residents would need to clock in around 101.52 hours (or about 13 working days) of work to afford the base iPhone 15 model. For the premium iPhone 15 Pro Max, they need to work around 152.34 hours (or approximately 19 working days).
Dunfermline
Dunfermline locals need to work approximately 91.53 hours (or around 11 working days) to afford the base model of the iPhone 15. For the premium iPhone 15 Pro Max, this figure jumps to 137.36 hours (or around 17 working days).
Armagh
Rounding out the top 5, locals in Armagh would have to work for about 91.00 hours (or approximately 11 working days) to buy the base model of the iPhone 15. For the iPhone 15 Pro Max, working hours rise substantially to 136.56 hours (or roughly 17 working days).
Top 5 UK Cities Where iPhone 15 Models are Most Affordable
Salisbury
Salisbury tops the list as the UK city where iPhone 15 models are most affordable. Residents need to work just about 38.27 hours (or approximately 5 full working days) to buy the base model of the iPhone 15, and about 57.43 hours (or around 7 working days) for the iPhone 15 Pro Max.
London
People living in London need to work approximately 38.87 hours (nearly 5 working days) to afford the base model of the iPhone 15. The working hours increase to 58.33 hours (or about 7 full working days) for the iPhone 15 Pro Max.
Lichfield
In Lichfield, residents need to clock in around 39.48 hours (or around 5 working days) to afford the base iPhone 15 model. For the iPhone 15 Pro Max, this extends to approximately 59.24 hours (or about 7 working days).
York
York is the fourth in UK cities where iPhone 15 models are most affordable. Residents require about 43.39 hours (or approximately 5 working days) for the base model of the iPhone 15. For the premium iPhone 15 Pro Max, this figure jumps to approximately 65.11 hours (or around 8 working days).
Milton Keynes
Milton Keynes locals would have to work for about 43.95 hours (or around 5 working days) to buy the base model of the iPhone 15. For the iPhone 15 Pro Max, working hours rise to about 65.96 hours (or roughly 8 working days).
Why Do iPhones Have Different Prices Per Region?
The pricing of iPhones, like any other consumer product, varies across regions due to several factors. Here are some of the key reasons:
1. Import Duties and Taxes
Import duties, sales taxes, and VAT significantly affect the final price of iPhones. Countries with high tax rates tend to have more expensive iPhones. For instance, countries in the European Union apply VAT, which can be as high as 25%, and this tax is typically included in the price of the product.
2. Currency Fluctuations
Apple’s home currency is the US dollar. Hence, the company has to adjust its prices in foreign markets to account for fluctuations in exchange rates. A stronger US dollar often means higher iPhone prices in other countries.
3. Cost of Doing Business
Operational costs such as transportation, logistics, regulatory costs, and the cost of establishing and running retail stores can differ vastly from one country to another. These costs get added to the final price of the product.
4. Market Dynamics
Prices are sometimes adjusted to fit the economic conditions and buying power of consumers in a particular country. In countries with lower average incomes, Apple might reduce its profit margins to make products more affordable.
5. Competition
The local competitive landscape can also influence iPhone prices. In countries with a strong presence of rival brands offering cheaper smartphones, Apple may adjust its pricing strategy to gain or maintain its market share.
Final thoughts
The stark differences observed in the affordability of the iPhone 15 between various countries, states in the US, and different cities in the UK, highlight the vast economic disparities that exist globally. While in some regions, consumers can afford the phone with just a few days of work, in others, it demands substantial financial commitment, amounting to weeks of labor.
What this study ultimately underscores is the importance of considering local economic contexts when evaluating the accessibility of globally marketed products like the iPhone 15. Not all consumers experience the launch of a new product in the same way, and the ‘affordability index’ is a stark reminder of these economic disparities.
It’s important to remember that while technological advancements are spectacular, their true magic lies in their ability to reach consumers far and wide. The more accessible these products are, the greater their impact on connecting and enriching the lives of people everywhere.
Methodology
The iPhone 15 Affordability Index is calculated by sourcing the prices of iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, and iPhone 15 Pro Max directly from each country’s Apple website in their local currency unit. We used Numbeo and several official statistics office websites to get the up-to-date average wages of the different countries, US states, and UK cities. All calculations assume an 8-hour work day.
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