Worldwide Pizza Economics: A Unique Approach to Determining Minimum Net Wages

As a globetrotter, I've developed an unconventional method for understanding the appropriate minimum net salary for individuals in each country.

My strategy involves seeking out authentic Italian pizzerias, or among the most genuine ones frequented by locals, and examining the cost of a medium Margherita pizza.

I specifically focus on private pizzerias, steering clear of international chains like Domino's, Pizza Hut, Papa John's, Chicago Pizza, etc.

According to my experience, these are not true pizzerias but rather distributors of cholesterol and diabetes, suitable only after consuming copious amounts of alcoholic beverages!

A little extra. While travelling across 44 countries, I've consistently encountered three types of restaurants: Italian, Chinese, and Indian. These culinary traditions seem to be present everywhere in the world, or at least two out of the three.

Consequently, I believe a similar analysis can be applied to other cuisines, utilising food such as Butter Chicken and Rice for Indian or Stir-Fried Noodles with Chicken for Chinese.

Let's delve into some examples from places I've lived:

Naples, Italy

(Official Minimum Wage: N/A), a decent Margherita pizza costs around 6 euros.

Copenhagen, Denmark

(Official Minimum Wage: 17.23 euros/hour), demands a heartier budget, with a Margherita setting you back 90 DKK (12 euros).

Brisbane, Australia

(Official Minimum Wage: 14.62 euros/hour), falls between 18 and 23 AUD (10-14 euros).

Utrecht, Netherlands

(Official Minimum Wage: 10.20 euros/hour), values a Margherita at 13 euros.

Vancouver, Canada

(Official Minimum Wage: 9.77 euros/hour), fluctuates between 18 and 23 CAD (12-15 euros).

Alicante, Spain

(Official Minimum Wage: 7.14 euros/hour), offers a taste of Italy for around 10 euros.

Manchester, England

(Official Minimum Wage: 9.26 euros/hour), keeps it affordable at 8 pounds (9 euros).

Düsseldorf, Germany

(Official Minimum Wage: 9.60 euros/hour), values a Margherita at 10 euros.

Why Choose Authentic Margherita Pizza to Equate Cost of Living and Minimum Wage?

To determine the food cost of a dish, numerous factors come into play.

Labour, the cost of individual ingredients and their quantities, necessary preparation, completion time, fixed and variable costs, expenses for reaching customers, acquiring and retaining customers, waste, and more.

Moreover, crafting an authentic pizza requires high-quality, genuine ingredients that reflect the standard of quality a household should invest in when grocery shopping. In conclusion, the simplicity of the ingredients – flour, water, salt, yeast, tomato, and mozzarella – dispels any doubts about why pizza is the ideal food for comparison.

This unique method provides a flavourful perspective on the cost of living, offering a slice of life from various corners of the globe.

I also utilise this method to budget the spending per day for food and accommodation when travelling for pleasure.

For example, if the price of a Margerita for that place is 10 euros, this will be my maximum budget for a meal, then try local food, unless I am in Naples!!!

For the accommodation instead, I will try to stay a maximum of twice the cost of a Margherita, so in this case 20 euros per day. It might not seem a lot, but as a solo traveller, you can find boutique hostels that are better than hotels, or exquisite private rooms on apps like Airbnb.

So, whether you're savouring pizza in Naples or enjoying the culinary diversity of Copenhagen, the price of a Margherita might just reveal more than you think about the economic landscape.

I am wondering which countries I also took in consideration, this is the list:

Australia

Austria

Belgium

Cambodia

Croatia

Canada

Denmark

Estonia

Philippines

Finland

Germany

Greece

Hong Kong

Hungary

Indonesia

England

Ireland

Italy

Macedonia

Malta

Netherlands

Poland

Portugal

Czech Republic

Romania

Russia

Scotland

Singapore

Slovakia

South Korea

Spain

Sweden

Thailand

Turkey

U.S.A.

Vatican City

Vietnam

Norway

Switzerland

France

Lithuania

Cyprus

Gibraltar

India

What do you think about my unique comparison method?