Workers in Northern and Western Europe can afford Grand Theft Auto VI after just a few hours of work, while employees in parts of Eastern Europe may need more than a full working week, highlighting the continent's wide wage disparities.

A map published by The World in Maps and Maven Mapping estimates the number of work hours required to purchase Rockstar Games' upcoming title by comparing average hourly earnings with the retail price of the game. The calculation is based on a mathematical formula using national wage data and the game's standard retail price.

The lowest work requirements are found in Northern Europe.

Denmark leads the ranking at 1.61 hours, followed by Iceland (1.70), Norway (1.77) and the Netherlands (1.61). Workers in Germany require 2.32 hours, while France needs 2.67 hours and Sweden 2.78 hours.

The figures reflect the region's high average wages and purchasing power. Eurostat data consistently show that Northern and Western European economies record some of Europe's highest earnings, supported by strong labour markets and high productivity.

The contrast becomes more pronounced further east.

The study estimates that workers in Ukraine need 31.12 hours of work to buy GTA VI, the highest figure on the map. Belarus follows with 19.9 hours, while Russia stands at 16.23 hours. Several Balkan countries also require considerably longer working times than Western Europe, including North Macedonia (25.15 hours), Albania (20.62 hours) and Bosnia and Herzegovina (18.56 hours).

These differences reflect substantial wage gaps across Europe despite increasing economic convergence in recent years.

GTA VI launch adds to industry pricing debate

The affordability comparison comes as Rockstar Games prepares to launch Grand Theft Auto VI on 19 November 2026 for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S.

Rockstar has confirmed a standard edition price of US$79.99, ending months of speculation that the game could become the first major AAA release to exceed US$100.

Although the game's price is broadly consistent across many developed markets after currency adjustments, the number of hours required to earn that amount varies dramatically because of differences in wages, living standards and purchasing power.

The comparison illustrates that the cost of a global entertainment product can differ significantly in practical terms depending on where consumers live and work. Even with similar retail prices, purchasing power remains one of the clearest indicators of economic inequality across Europe.