Every month, hundreds of millions of people pay $8 for a Netflix subscription. It is just one monthly payment, something most people don’t give a second thought to, but around the world, that same $8 means so much more than unlimited TV. Many countries, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, have a significant portion of their population living on less than $8 a day.

To put this into perspective, the cost of a single month of Netflix surpasses what most people in many countries have to live on over three days. This is a stark reminder of the inequalities that still exist in the world today. What feels like a small subscription fee to many is three days of food, essential supplies and sanitation for others, meaning a large proportion of the world is priced out of access to what is increasingly treated as a basic part of modern digital life. To indicate this further, below is a list of what a Netflix subscription can buy around the world.

South Sudan

South Sudan is one of the poorest countries in Africa. More than 350,000 live below the global poverty line, according to the World Bank. Here, $8 is enough to feed a family of four for two or three days. With this amount of money, one could buy 1 kilogram of red beans, 1 kilogram of beef, tomatoes and onions, as well as 2 litres of diesel.

India

Over the past decade, poverty rates have fallen significantly in India. In 2011, 16.2% of the population was living in extreme poverty, but as of 2023, this figure had fallen to 2.3%. This is extraordinary; however, it still leaves around 30 million people surviving on less than $3 a day. For these people, and many others, a monthly Netflix subscription is unattainable as there is only enough money for necessities. $8 here could buy a week’s worth of groceries, 2 litres of milk, 2 kilograms of chicken, 1 kilogram of potatoes and rice and five bottles of water, a reminder that extra spending for many is never an option.

Madagascar

According to the World Bank, in 2023, Madagascar was one of the poorest countries in the world, with 75% of people living below the global poverty line. Here, $8 can buy you eight dozen eggs, six bottles of water and three beers. Almost the entire population have less money to spend every day than the cost of one monthly subscription.

Myanmar

Years of political instability and economic hardship have left much of Myanmar’s population living in poverty, with wages falling far below the global average. Here, $8 stretches far, equating to 30 hours of work, rather than just a single day in America. Individuals on minimum wage will have to work for three and a half days just to afford one month of Netflix.

Closing the gap

Price comparisons like these are not just meant to shock, but to highlight the severe global income and purchasing inequalities. $8 may mean little to many, but to some, it is a lifeline. While $8 a month may be manageable in wealthier countries, it can represent a significant portion of someone’s earnings in lower-income nations. In doing so, access to digital entertainment becomes yet another area where global inequality plays out, limiting participation based on geography and economic status.

However, as awareness of these disparities grows, a space opens for global companies to create pricing that reflects local realities. The value of technology and access must be understood to close this gap and lessen inequality.

– Niamh Trinder

Niamh is based in Leicester, UK and focuses on Technology and Solutions for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr