The Big Mac index throws up some interesting data

So called Big Mac index introduced by The Economist measures the level of economic development in countries which have McDonalds restaurants. On current figures the price of a Big Mac in Georgia is approximately 90% of the overall global price. In 1998 the Big Mac cost 58% of the overall world price here, in 2002 78%, in 2007 80%.

There are certain price indices which do not present Georgia as 98% as prosperous as the rest of the world. For instance the price of an egg in Georgia is currently around 11% higher than it is in the US. Milk is more expensive by 30%, petrol by around 40% and chicken meat also by around 40%. This is happening while the average salary in Georgia is 300 USD and more than USD 3,000 in the USA. So, average Georgian salary is 10 times less than American, but he has to pay these significantly higher prices for goods, including the components of a Big Mac.

The Big Mac index also measures how long it you have to work in each listed country to be able to buy a Big Mac. The average Japanese worker earns a Big Mac in 10 minutes, an American in 11-13 minutes. Georgians have to work 1 hour and 45 minutes to earn enough to buy a Big Mac.

Here's a challenge for our readers. We pay almost 11 cents for 1 kilowatt hour of electricity, how much do you pay in your countries?