Many of us think nothing of treating ourselves to a Big Mac every so often. The cost of a Big Mac is actually a good indicator of the cost of living in a country, because it's made exactly the same way everywhere. And, depending on the average household disposable income, the Big Mac can actually be more of an occasional indulgence than a regular quick bite. Click ahead to find out how much a Big Mac REALLY costs around the world.

A Big Mac may only cost $1.89 (£1.51) in South Africa, but with a household’s average disposable income only $8,712 (£6,973) a year, even this cheap burger is something of a luxury. You could buy 4,609 Big Macs with that money.

Big Macs in Russia only cost $2.15 (£1.72). Though the average disposable household income is well below the OECD average at $17,006 (£13,610), the Golden Arches are very popular. The first restaurant was only opened in 1990; since then 585 more have popped up all over Russia.

Big Macs in Mexico cost $2.23 (£1.78) – significantly less than for their American neighbors to the north. However, the annual household disposal income is similarly lower, at $12,806 (£10,249), so a Big Mac in Mexico will be more of a rare treat than the common snack it is in the US.

Citizens of Turkey have some of the cheapest Big Macs in the world at just $2.75 (£2.20), dollar-for-dollar, but with an annual household income of $13,471 (£10,781) these burgers are a bit on the pricey side for a Turkish family. However, McDonald's is still very popular there with over 285 restaurants in the country.

A Big Mac costs ¥380 in Japan, roughly $3.20 (£2.60). With an average household disposable income of $27,323 (£21,800) per year, Japanese families can splurge on the special sauce every so often. In fact, an average worker in Tokyo would need to work only 10 minutes before they can afford to grab one.

A Big Mac in Chile is not cheap at $3.64 (£2.91), but it is considerably cheaper than in some other South American countries that feature in this list. Chile has an average annual household income of $15,094 (£12,080), which is also above average for the region, so a Big Mac meal is probably within reach of the average Chilean family.

At $3.68 (£2.95), Big Macs are pretty affordable in South Korea, where the average household disposable income is $19,372 (£15,504) a year. McDonald's is super-popular in South Korea, with over 430 restaurants servicing a population of just 50 million.

An average British family has a disposable annual income of $26,687 (£21,350), which might not sound like that much. But at $3.73 (£3.09) a Big Mac is actually fairly cheap compared to other developed countries like Australia. Residents of London only have to work 12 minutes to be able to afford a burger.

French households are amongst the wealthiest in the Eurozone, with an annual disposable income of $29,759 (£23,800), but their Big Macs are also on the more expensive side at $4.06 (£3.25), making it a bit more of a luxury snack. Better stick to baguettes!

A family in New Zealand has a post-tax disposable income of $23,213 (£18,500), so at $4.19 (£3.35) their Big Macs are some of the priciest in the world.

A Big Mac is relatively expensive in Australia at $4.28 (£3.43). But an average family has an annual post-tax disposable income of $33,138 (£26,500), putting a couple of outings to the Golden Arches well within reach of most families.

Big Macs are fairly expensive in Israel, where they cost $4.38 (£3.51). The average household there earns around $22,116 (£17,700) a year, significantly below the OECD average, so the occasional trip to McDonald's would not be out of the question but might be considered a special indulgence.

Big Macs in Canada cost $4.51 (£3.61), considerably less dollar-for-dollar than in the US to the south. However, Canadians are less wealthy too, with an average household income of $30,474 (£24,389) after tax, so the actual value of the Big Mac is on a par with the US.

The USA is the spiritual home of the Big Mac, where it's been on the menu continuously since 1967. They might not be the cheapest, at $5.06 (£4.05), but Americans can definitely afford it with an average household income of $41,071(£32,870) after tax. And they certainly love it, there are 14,267 McDonald's outlets in the USA – 250 in New York City alone!

A Big Mac is a luxury item in Brazil, where the average household earns $11,487 (£9,193) a year after tax, and each Big Mac costs an exorbitant $5.12 (£4.10). Big Macs are considered ‘aspirational’ in Brazil, with middle-class workers splurging on ‘foreign’ fast food for lunch, while less affluent workers will stick to local cheaper food.

Big Macs in Sweden cost $5.26 (£4.21), and while their annual household income is lower than the OECD average, at $28,859 (£23,097), they can probably afford to splurge on a pricey burger every so often.

Norwegians are not big fans of Big Macs; there are only 78 McDonald’s outlets in the whole country. The burgers come with what many of us outside Scandinavia would say is a hefty price tag of $5.67 (£4.54), but with the average household income at $33,393 (£26,726) per year, Norwegians can afford them. They just choose not to.

Citizens of Switzerland have the most expensive Big Macs in the world at $6.35 (£5.08). But with an average annual household income of $35,952 (£28,774) after tax, it’s not a huge extravagance for the average Swiss family. Overall, the cost of living in Switzerland is one of the highest in the world, as the price of a Big Mac here proves. Yet that average income would buy 5,661 Big Macs – over 1,000 more than in South Africa, the country with the cheapest burgers.