How Long Do I Have to Work to Purchase a Beer?

The average cost of a pint (473 ml) of beer worldwide was about $1.55 US Dollars (USD) in 2011. Given average worldwide wages, the typical worker would have to work for 20 minutes to be able to purchase a beer. At average US wages, the time needed to earn enough money to purchase a beer would be about five minutes. Workers in India, on the other hand, would need to toil 55 minutes to buy a beer.

More about the cost of beer and other foods:

• As of 2011, the average cost of a pint (473 ml) of beer in Japan was $4.15 USD. The same beer would cost $0.54 USD in Nigeria.


• On average, Germans consume 26.4 gallons (100 L) of beer per person each year.


• The average worker in Nairobi must work 84 minutes to earn enough for a McDonald's Big Mac. In Zurich, Swizterland, the average worker would need to work for 13 minutes to earn enough for the burger.