The question of how many months an average worker earning the minimum wage needs to work to buy a car, especially a model like the Volkswagen Golf, can be compared both within Turkey and globally, taking into account the significant differences in wages and car prices.
In recent years, with the increase in exchange rates, rising taxes, and inflation, the ability to purchase new cars has become significantly harder for salaried workers, particularly in Turkey. The increasing interest rates, part of efforts to combat inflation, have also made car loans more difficult to obtain, making buying a new car almost out of reach for many.
Here’s a comparison of how many months an average worker needs to work to buy a Volkswagen Golf (the entry-level model) in various countries:
- Turkey: A minimum wage earner needs to work 72 months (6 years) to afford the Golf, priced at 1,585,200 TL.
- United States: The Golf costs 31,965 USD, and a minimum wage earner needs to work 28 months (a little over 2 years) to afford it.
- Germany: The Golf costs 28,330 EUR, and a minimum wage earner needs to work 14 months to afford it.
- Italy: The Golf costs 29,000 EUR, and a minimum wage earner needs to work 20 months to afford it.
- China: The Golf costs 129,000 yuan, and a minimum wage earner needs to work 48 months (4 years) to afford it.
- Bulgaria: The Golf costs 51,152 leva, and a minimum wage earner needs to work 47 months (almost 4 years) to afford it.
When considering these comparisons, Turkey stands out as the country where a minimum wage earner needs to work the longest to afford this car, with 6 years of salary going towards purchasing the Golf.
The global comparison highlights the disparity in wages, costs, and economic conditions, with workers in countries like Germany or the US able to purchase such a vehicle far more quickly than those in Turkey or China, where wages are relatively lower compared to the price of the car.
