Owning an iPhone 17 Could Take Nigerians 17 Months of Work
Apple launched its iPhone 17 series, including the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max, at the “Awe Dropping” event on September 9, 2025. While the base iPhone 17 is priced at $799 (₦1.2 million) internationally, the reality in Nigeria is far more challenging due to third-party reseller markups.
Nigeria: The Toughest Path to Affordability
With Nigeria’s minimum wage fixed at ₦70,000 ($46.22) per month, it would take at least 17 months (368 working days) of saving every kobo to afford the entry-level iPhone 17.
Considering that Nigerians also need to cover food, rent, transportation, and other living costs, the actual wait time to own the device becomes even longer.
Because Apple has no official stores in Nigeria, resellers dominate the market, adding extra costs. As a result, many Nigerians may turn to installment plans, BNPL services, or device financing platforms as alternatives.
South Africa: Just 2.9 Months of Work
South Africans on minimum wage earn ZAR 27.58 ($1.58) per hour. To purchase the iPhone 17, they would need 505.7 work hours, which equals 63 working days or roughly 2.88 months.
South Africa is home to the only official iStore in Africa, where buyers benefit from trade-in options (including Android devices), installment payments, and full warranties, making the iPhone 17 more accessible.
Kenya: 7.7 Months of Work
In Kenya, the minimum wage stands at KES 75.94 ($0.59) per hour. That means a worker would need 1 ,354 hours of labor, equal to 169 days or 7.73 months, to afford the iPhone 17.
Like Nigeria, Kenya also lacks an official Apple Store, leaving buyers to rely on authorized resellers, credit facilities, and BNPL services to purchase Apple devices.
