Moldovans pay two monthly wages for iPhone 17 Pro, study shows
Moldova ranks among the world's ten most expensive countries for Apple's iPhone 17 Pro, where consumers pay roughly two monthly salaries for the flagship device, a 2026 comparative study showed.
A 256 GB iPhone 17 Pro retails in Moldova for about $1,580 (approx. 27,000 MDL), placing the country tenth out of 41 surveyed markets, according to an analysis based on Deutsche Bank data. The price exceeds retail levels in several European Union member states, including Finland, Portugal, Greece, and Italy.
Turkey tops the global ranking at $2,592—more than $1,400 above the $1,181 price tag in the United States—followed by Brazil at $2,260 and Egypt at $1,872. At the other end of the spectrum, Japan recorded the lowest retail price at $1,121.
The pricing divide highlights how import tariffs, local distribution costs, and taxation affect final shelf prices. Value Added Tax (VAT) rates vary widely across Europe, ranging from just over 8% in Switzerland to 27% in Hungary, with Moldova levying a standard 20% VAT.
In Moldova, purchasing the device requires roughly two net average monthly salaries, with the country's average net monthly wage standing at approximately 13,900 MDL ($805) against a gross monthly average of 17,400 MDL.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
