How Many Days of Work Does It Take to Buy an iPhone 18 Pro in Colombia?

In Colombia, a worker earning the 2026 minimum wage would need approximately 120 to 130 days of wages to purchase an iPhone 18 Pro, while the more premium model, the iPhone 18 Pro Max, would require about 137 to 154 days of wages. This puts Colombia among countries where it takes a significant amount of time to earn the cost of an iPhone.

However, when comparing countries, the calculation for wages and prices used can greatly impact the results. For example, in Switzerland and Luxembourg, workers needed only about three workdays to afford an iPhone 17 Pro, while in India, the figure was around 160 days. In Colombia, the minimum monthly wage is 1.75 million Colombian pesos (approximately US$484), which breaks down to around 58,363 pesos (about US$16) per day.

This calculation does not include the 249,095 peso (about US$69) monthly transportation allowance, as it is meant for commuting costs rather than general expenses. Apple has not yet announced the official Colombian retail price for the iPhone 18 Pro or Pro Max models. Estimates suggest the iPhone 18 Pro could range from 7 to 7.6 million pesos (US$1,934 to US$2,100) while the Pro Max could be between 8 to 9 million pesos (US$2,210 to US$2,486).

These estimates take into account taxes, distribution costs, and local pricing strategies, but they do not reflect how realistically a worker could save the daily wage, as food, housing, and other living expenses are not considered. When compared to other countries using Tenscope's 2025 iPhone Affordability Index, Switzerland and Luxembourg rank among the top, requiring just three workdays, whereas the United States needed just under four.

In contrast, lower-income markets like India, the Philippines, and Vietnam required between 99 and 160 workdays. Even within Latin America, there's a significant difference, with Chile needing about 32 workdays and Brazil needing around 77 days to afford an iPhone 17 Pro. This discrepancy highlights how the choice of wage measure used in the calculations can affect the outcome.

The Colombian calculation uses the minimum wage, while Brazil's figure uses the average wage. Similarly, international rankings can be misleading if based on average wages rather than minimum wages. The Colombian estimate remains tentative until Apple releases the official local retail price, as this final figure could vary based on taxes, distributor margins, and local pricing decisions.