Affordability of food items: wage levels and spending habits in Kazakhstan, Japan, USA, and various other nations
Revised Article:
Taking a closer look at the living standards of different populations, the average salary and cost of basic food products come into play. For a clearer insight, let's examine the cost of food in various countries like Kazakhstan, Japan, USA, UK, and Australia.
An intriguing study compared the cost of a common food basket against the average income in these nations, revealing some striking differences.
Yerlan Karimov, an independent economist, conducted this analysis and reported his findings on the website of Economy.kz. According to him, countries were deliberately chosen among the world's most developed economies, offering a high standard of living and wages.
A Closer Look at Food Prices
The food basket for assessment comprised the top-10 most socially significant goods as of April 9, 2025, including milk, butter, rice, oil, sugar, potatoes, onions, chicken, beef, and flour.
Indeed, the total cost of a 10-item food basket was as follows:
- Kazakhstan - 11,954 tenge
- Japan - 24,160 tenge
- USA - 22,252.5 tenge
- UK - 14,005 tenge
- Australia - 13,363.3 tenge
Wage Differences Across Nations
To achieve a complete picture, it's essential to consider these food cost indicators in relation to the average wage in each country. Therefore, let's have a look at the ratio of average salaries to the cost of the corresponding local food basket.
Notably:
- Kazakhstan - 252,296 tenge, providing purchases for approximately 21 food baskets.
- Japan - 1,293,890.7 tenge, amounting to 54 baskets.
- USA - 2,188,243.9 tenge, enough for 99 baskets.
- UK - 1,497,883.4 tenge, allowing for 107 baskets.
- Australia - 1,805,881 tenge, affording 135 baskets.
As per the latest statistical data for Kazakhstan from the fourth quarter of 2024, the average monthly wage in tenge was 434,982 tenge, whereas consumer prices decreased from 308,717 tenge.
Findings of the Study
The expert's findings indicate that the average salary in developed countries can buy significantly more food baskets compared to Kazakhstan. Yerlan Karimov further explains that, while Kazakhstan's food prices are comparable to those of other countries for some items, the buying power of the average Kazakh salary remains lower in relation to basic food products.
Earlier, Karimov stated that, despite an increase in wages, Kazakh citizens continue to spend a considerable amount on food.
In another report, we explored which EAEU country experiences higher inflation than Kazakhstan.
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Insights from Research:
In 2025, specific data on the cost of a food basket and average income in those countries isn’t yet available. However, from existing information, we can provide some general insights:
- USA: Food-at-home price growth is expected to be around 3.2% in 2025, above the 20-year historical average of 2.6%. Grocery prices have significantly increased over the last few years[1][4].
- UK and Australia: Both countries tend to follow similar economic trends in regards to food prices due to external impact factors.
- Japan: Known for its high food prices, Japan frequently faces inflationary pressures due to food costs.
- Kazakhstan: This nation faces its own set of challenges impacting food prices differently compared to developed economies.
Scrutinizing the cost of food and average wages in 2025 for these countries would require gathering specific data, as it's not readily available based on the research provided. Here's how such a comparison might shape up:
Comparative Analysis
| Country | Average Wage (approx.) | Food Basket Cost (approx.) | Ratio (Wage/Basket) ||-----------|------------------------|---------------------------|--------------------|| USA | | | || Japan | | | || UK | | | || Australia | | | || Kazakhstan| | | |
To compare these countries, it is essential to:
- Obtain the latest monthly wage figures.
- Estimate the cost of a typical food basket in each country.
- Calculate the ratio of average wage to the cost of the food basket.
This framework can guide focused research aimed at gathering the necessary data for a more detailed analysis.
[1] https://www.bis.gov/publ/wpfseu27.htm[4] https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/food-price-outlook/2021/april/food-at-home-prices/can-consumers-afford-to-eat-healthier-in-2021/
- The study conducted by Yerlan Karimov revealed that, compared to Kazakhstan, the average wage in developed countries like the USA, Japan, UK, and Australia can purchase significantly more food baskets.
- Despite an increase in wages, Kazakh citizens still spend a considerable amount on food, indicating a lower buying power of the average Kazakh salary in relation to basic food products.
- In 2025, it is expected that food-at-home price growth in the USA will be around 3.2%, above its 20-year historical average of 2.6%.
- Both the UK and Australia tend to follow similar economic trends regarding food prices due to external impact factors. Japan, known for its high food prices, frequently faces inflationary pressures due to food costs, while Kazakhstan deals with its own unique challenges impacting food prices differently from developed economies.
