26th October 2022 – (Hong Kong) Picodi.com analysts checked the prices of the most popular entertainment subscription services in 60 countries and calculated what part of the average wage most people spend on monthly subscriptions.
Subscription prices worldwide
The ranking included the two most popular video streaming services (Netflix and Prime Video), one music streaming platform (Spotify), an internationally available e-book and audiobook platform (Scribd), and a gaming subscription (Microsoft’s Game Pass), which is available both on PC and on consoles and offers titles from some of the most well-known developers.
Among the countries included in the ranking, after conversion to dollars, the Swiss have to pay the highest price for the bundle of 5 subscriptions – US$64.21/month. The second most expensive country in the comparison is the USA (US$60.45), followed by the UK in the third place (US$51.29). Meanwhile, Hongkongers only need to spend around US$37.
However, after juxtaposing the price of the subscription services with the average net wage, the situation changes diametrically: the bundle of subscriptions will cost an average Swiss only 1.19% of their salary, an American – 1.50%, an average Brit – 2.22% and a Hongkongers – 1.80%
The citizens of India, Argentina, and Turkey can enjoy the lowest prices in the world. For the discussed subscription pack, Indians have to pay US$23.95, Argentinians – US$23.36, and Turkish– US$16.78.
This is how the prices of individual subscriptions from the discussed bundle look like in Hong Kong:
- Netflix – HK$78.00
- Prime Video – HK$47.02 (US$5.99)
- Spotify – HK$58.00
- Scribd – HK$78.42 (US$9.99)
- Xbox Game Pass – HK$29.00
The bundle of 5 subscriptions costs HK$290.44 or US$37.00/month, which is 1.6% of the average monthly wage (HK$16,138). This situates Hong Kong in the 47th place of the ranking in terms of subscription cost to average wage ratio (the lower the place, the lower the percentage of the salary). In terms of subscription prices, Hong Kong ranked 41st.
In the subscription cost to average wage comparison, the most favourable ratio can be found in UAE (0.89%), Australia (1.04%) and aforementioned Switzerland (1.19%). On the other hand, Nigerians, Pakistanis and Indonesians have to face the least favourable ratio – 22.22%, 19.49% and 16.24% respectively.
Where does digital entertainment cost the least?
The prices of subscription services can vary greatly, depending on the country. In the case of Netflix, there is a fivefold price difference between the cheapest and the most expensive country. Here’s the list of countries, where individual subscriptions are the cheapest:
Countries with the cheapest Netflix (US$)
- Pakistan ($3.59)
- Turkey ($3.77)
- Argentina ($5.35)
Countries with the cheapest Prime Video (US$)
- Turkey ($0.43)
- Egypt ($1.48)
- Hungary ($2.07)
Countries with the cheapest Spotify (US$)
- Turkey ($0.97)
- Pakistan ($1.34)
- India ($1.45)
Countries with the cheapest Xbox Game Pass (US$)
- Turkey ($1.62)
- UAE ($1.90)
- The Philippines ($2.02)