Show HN: We priced basic needs in work hours (global ranking and CSVs)

Summary

Published on October 16, 2025 | Prices Last Reviewed for Freshness: October 2025 Written by Alec Pow - Economic & Pricing Investigator | Content Reviewed by CFA Alexander PopinkerEducational content; not financial advice. Prices are estimates; confirm current rates, fees, taxes, and terms with providers or official sources. Reported cost: $10.94 per hour · — No prices given by community members Which Countries make you work the least (and the most) to cover basic needs? And where does the U.S. stand? Plain-English promise: We priced the same monthly starter basket everywhere, rent for a modest apartment, utilities (electricity + gas), basic groceries, getting around, and everyday essentials, then ranked countries by how many hours a typical worker must work to pay for it. We highlight where you need the least and the most hours—and exactly where the U.S. sits in between. Lower hours = better. TL;DR — winners on top Jump to sections Winners (fewest hours): Bolivia ~80 h, Nicaragua ~81 h, Romania ~84 h, Turkey ~90 h, Zambia ~106 h — roughly 10–13 workdays a month to cover the basics. Strugglers (most hours, press window 80–220): Antigua & Barbuda ~219 h, Portugal ~219 h, Ghana ~211 h, Finland ~205 h, Sweden ~203 h — 25–27 workdays. United States: 140.0 h/month (~17.5 workdays). Better than ~74% of countries in our publishable set, but only #11 of 42 globally. In the OECD-only table, the U.S. is #5 of 38 (only Turkey, Lithuania, Poland, Slovenia need fewer hours). Extremes (OECD, out-of-window): Mexico 323.2 h (highest), Israel 288.8 h; also Japan 259.6, Greece 258.7, Ireland 243.9, New Zealand 235.3, Slovakia 232.0, Estonia 221.0 — see “Extremes” below & OECD CSV. Best vs. Worst Countries — hours per month to afford essentials (WTEI 2025). Worst are mirrored to the left; winners on the right. Lower is better; U.S. highlighted. What WTEI measures (and what those hours actually mean) We hold the basket constant to keep the comparison fair. Then two forces decide your pl...