Economic maps

What Your Salary Buys in Transportation Around the World

How does your purchasing power for transportation vary depending on where you live? This analysis reveals striking disparities across Europe, where a day’s salary in Russia lets you travel 93 kilometers (58 miles) by taxi, while in the UK it covers just 20 kilometers (12.4 miles). Even more dramatic are the differences in fuel purchasing power: a Swiss monthly salary buys 3,240 liters (856 gallons) of gasoline, while Moldova’s average wage gets just 233 liters (62 gallons). Through three detailed maps, we explore these transportation inequalities and their implications for daily mobility across different regions. The data reveals fascinating patterns of North-South divides and the lasting economic impact of historical boundaries, while recent changes in global fuel prices continue to reshape the transportation landscape.

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Cultural cartography

Floor Counting Around the World

Floor numbering conventions vary significantly worldwide. In the United States and Canada, the ground floor is typically labeled as the “first floor,” with subsequent levels incrementing numerically (i.e., “second floor,” “third floor,” and so forth). Some buildings in these regions may designate the ground floor as the “lobby” instead.

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