Global inequalities in the cost of meat

Meat prices vary dramatically between countries, but this does not take into account the average minimum wage. Affordability for meat is relative to the number of labour hours required, and the 2017 Meat Price Index from Caterwings outlines this.

Looking specifically at beef, chicken, fish, pork and lamb, Caterwings collected prices from full-priced items in grocery outlets to compare the cost of food items globally. They then cross-referenced meat prices with the minimum wage in that country and worked out the number of hours it would take to afford enough money to buy these products. Countries were ranked according to the average cost of meat by country and the percentage deviation of the local price from the world’s average.

Switzerland was an impressive 141.9% more expensive than the average cost worldwide. Although they ranked highest for the cost of meat with $63.13 for one kilo of tenderloin beef, it would only take a worker about three hours to earn the money to afford this. Ukraine came in at the lowest for meat prices, 52.32% below the average cost, but it would take about 10 hours to afford the same meat as workers in Switzerland.

This disparity is furthered by the fact that countries such as India has very low meat prices; however, it would take them 39.4 hours to afford one kilo of pork, while workers on minimum wage in Norway would merely have to work 0.8 hours.

Fish prices in Egypt may seem cheaper than Sweden at first glance, costing $8.22 compared to $13.15 for white fish, but it would take about a week (44.2 hours) to earn enough money to buy a kilo. Alternatively, workers in Sweden would only need to put in 1.1 hours of work to get the same product.

This suggests that the general cost of living may be higher in countries such as Switzerland, Norway and Hong Kong, but the minimum wage is also significantly higher to account for these costs. Affording meats in countries such as Vietnam, India and Ukraine is more difficult as it would take significantly longer for workers to earn the money on minimum wage.

“What began as a simple catering cost price index for market research has raised some important questions,” explained Caterwings CEO Alexander Brunst.

“It is clear that international inequality exists, and as the world begins to rethink the implications of globalisation, this study clearly demonstrates that food prices ought to be on the agenda.”