What Legos Tell Us About World Economics

If you thought Legos were expensive in the U.S., wait till you find out how much they cost in Ecuador.

What Legos Tell Us About World Economics

If Lego builds it, people will buy it — and for good reason. Not only are they fun to build, but Lego sets increase in value by about 12 percent each year. That's a pretty solid return on investment. But depending on where you live, the average price of a Lego set varies, sometimes wildly.

TheToyZone conducted a worldwide study to find which countries had the cheapest and the most expensive Lego sets, and it found a price disparity of 700 percent between the most and least expensive markets.

These are the most and least expensive places to buy Lego sets in the world, from least to most expensive. We've also included some country-specific Lego sets and custom creations that represent (more or less) each country.

30. Hong Kong

Population: 7.45 million

Average annual income: $50,840

How much they pay for a Lego set on average:$111.12

Bottom line: Hong Kong pays the least amount for Legos, about $111 per Lego set.

The picture here is an art installation made with Lego characters by a protester during the country's 2014 pro-democracy protests.

It became known as the Umbrella Movement because protesters used yellow umbrellas to shield themselves from pepper spray and teargas canisters.

29. Denmark

Population: 5.8 million

Average annual income: $63,240

How much they pay for a Lego set on average: $115.65

Bottom line: Denmark is the second-cheapest place in the world to buy Legos, which makes sense, because that's where Lego is headquartered.

Pictured is the Lego House in Billund, a 12,000-square-meter building made to look like it's made of Legos and stuffed with awesome Lego attractions.

28. Germany

Population: 83 million

Average annual income: $48,520

How much they pay for a Lego set on average: $116.13

Bottom line: The Germans don't pay too much for their Legos, either.

The company has a design office in Germany, and there's a Legoland amusement park in Günzburg.

Pictured is the Berlin set from Lego's Architecture series.

27. Netherlands

Population: 17.28 million

Average annual income: $53,200

How much they pay for a Lego set on average: $116.34

Bottom line: Lego's store in Amsterdam (pictured here) opened up in November 2019.

The store was designed to honor Dutch culture and features unique sculptures, like the two-seater bicycle with wicker baskets and canal houses.

There's also a build-a-boat corner and dynamic lighting which allows the store to mimic Dutch weather.

26. France

Population: 66.99 million

Average annual income: $42,400

How much they pay for a Lego set on average: $116.69

Bottom line: What's more iconic about France than the Eiffel Tower? Profiteroles, you say?

Possibly, but they haven't made a Lego set-sized sculpture of that famous French pastry.

25. United Kingdom

Population: 66.65 million

Average annual income: $42,370

How much they pay for a Lego set on average: $124.18

Bottom line: Lego has some cool London sets, but this custom Westminster Abbey with Saint Margaret's and the palace is phenomenal.

It was built by Rocco Buttliere — check out the full album on Flickr.

24. Australia

Population: 24.99 million

Average annual income: $54,910

How much they pay for a Lego set on average: $129.20

Bottom line: The Land Down Under has some cheaper Legos, and the country even has a Lego Architecture set. This fantastic build above is the Sydney Opera House.

Also, somebody recreated Men At Work's "Down Under" music video with Legos, so that's worth watching.

23. United States

Population: 328.2 million

Average annual income: $65,760

How much they pay for a Lego set on average: $129.56

Bottom line: You probably expected the United States to be higher up on this list, but it turns out that Americans don't pay exorbitant prices for Legos.

This is a good fact to pull out whenever your wife/husband/partner/mom/dad scold you for spending too much money on Legos.

22. Russia

Population: 144.5 million

Average annual income: $11,260

How much they pay for a Lego set on average: $129.82

Bottom line: Despite their horrible average annual income, Russians pay pretty much the same amount that Americans pay for Lego sets.

Has someone come up with a disinformation campaign for a Lego idea yet? We at least need a shirtless Putin riding a horse.

21. Romania

Population: 19.41 million

Average annual income: $12,630

How much they pay for a Lego set on average: $130.38

Bottom line: So we chose the closest thing to Dracula's castle to represent Romania, and it's the Bran Castle, which someone reconstructed out of Legos.

There's also a Vampyre Castle from the Monster Fighters series. They're discontinued but can be found for less than $200 on eBay.

20. Spain

Santiago de Compostela Cathedral lego by Jessica Farrell

Population: 46.94 million

Average annual income: $30,390

How much they pay for a Lego set on average: $130.40

Bottom line: This custom build is of the Santiago de Compostela Cathedral in Galcia, Spain.

It was done by Lego artist by Jessica Farrell, who built it for an Irish travel agency. She only had eight days to build it, too.

See the full gallery on DeviantArt.

19. Canada

Population: 37.59 million

Average annual income: $46,370

How much they pay for a Lego set on average: $130.51

Bottom line: America's hat pays about $1 more than than the United States.

Lego hasn't given the country's denizens their own architecture set, either.

This Toronto skyline one was dreamed up by Lego fan nbeyerle on the Lego Ideas site.

18. Switzerland

Population: 8.545 million

Average annual income: $85,500

How much they pay for a Lego set on average: $134.98

Bottom line: Switzerland can afford to pay more than they actually do for their Lego sets.

The country, known for its secretive banking laws for overseas billionaires, pays $135 per Lego set.

Most of the superrich who bank in Switzerland have much bigger houses than a Swiss chalet (pictured), which Lego released in 1971.

17. Ireland

Carney Castle made of Legos by Robert Carney

Population: 4.904 million

Average annual income: $62,210

How much they pay for a Lego set on average: $135.06

Bottom line: This custom Lego set is of the 850-year-old Trim Castle made by Robert Carney, who makes all kinds of castles out of Legos.

Trim Castle is located in County Meath, Ireland, and belongs to the Irish government. It was used in "Braveheart," where it represented the town of York.

16. Italy

Population: 60.36 million

Average annual income: $34,460

How much they pay for a Lego set on average: $136.49

Bottom line: Lego announced in 2020 that they were dropping a massive new Creator set, the Roman Colosseum. It will retail for $550 and has 9,036 pieces.

They even recreated the hypogeum, the Colosseum's substructure, which housed trapdoors for hidden beasts to surprise the audience.

15. Mexico

Population: 126.2 million

Average annual income: $9,430

How much they pay for a Lego set on average: $132.84

Bottom line: These custom Day of the Dead figurines are from Minifigs. We're surprised that Lego hasn't done a Day of the Dead set yet.

It's an amazing Mexican tradition and would make an incredible Lego set.

14. Singapore

Population: 5.639 million

Average annual income: $59,590

How much they pay for a Lego set on average: $138.10

Bottom line: Singapore has some nice structures. Look at the detailed Lego building showing a day in the life of the country.

Lego also recreated Singapore's Marina Bay Sands for their Architecture series in 2013. The set has since been retired, and if you want to buy it, you'll be paying a hell of a lot more than Singaporeans do for a regular Lego set.

These sell on eBay for around $1,000.

13. Norway

Population: 5.328 million

Average annual income: $82,500

How much they pay for a Lego set on average: $142.08

Bottom line: This Lego set is a custom build of the iconic Oslo Opera House.

It was created by Justin Marx, who built the impressive piece and showed it off at BrickCon 2016.

See even more of it on YouTube.

12. United Arab Emirates

Population: 9.63 million

Average annual income: $43,470

How much they pay for a Lego set on average: $153.21

Bottom line: Lego made an Architecture set for the Dubai skyline, which features the Burj Al Arab Jumeirah hotel, the Jumeirah Emirates Towers Hotel, The Dubai Fountain and the Dubai Frame.

It's an inexpensive set at only $60 (at least for those in the United States).

11. Greece

Acropolis made out of Legos by Ryan McNaught

Population: 10.72 million

Average annual income: $20,320

How much they pay for a Lego set on average: $154.87

Bottom line: This incredible custom Lego set of the Acropolis was created by Ryan McNaught.

It was put on display in the Acropolis Museum in 2014 and remained there for four years. McNaught spent over 300 hours on this masterpiece and used 120,000 bricks to build it.

Lego should take note.

10. New Zealand

Population: 4.88 million

Average annual income: $42,670

How much they pay for a Lego set on average: $158.53

Bottom line: Probably the biggest thing that New Zealand is known for is being the place where Peter Jackson's "The Lord of the Rings" took place, so of course we're displaying one of the LOTR Lego sets here.

While some are still being minted, several of these sets have been discontinued. Sets like The Battle of Helm's Deep and The Tower of Orthanc go for several hundred dollars on eBay.

9. Japan

Population: 126.5 million

Average annual income: $41,690

How much they pay for a Lego set on average: $161.10

Bottom line: Another Architecture set, this one features scale models of Tokyo Skytree, Tokyo Tower, Mode Gakuen Cocoon Tower, Tokyo Big Sight, Chidorigafuchi Park and Shibuya Crossing.

8. India

Population: 1.353 billion

Average annual income: $2,130

How much they pay for a Lego set on average: $170.38

Bottom line: The 10189 Taj Mahal Lego set is one of the most expensive Lego sets in the world, with vintage sets going for over $1,000 on eBay.

Lego brought back the 2008 model with their modern Creator line in 2017, allowing anyone (at least, anyone with $370 to spare) to build this fantastic set.

It features 5,923 pieces and sits 20.5 inches wide and stands nearly 17 inches tall.

7. Taiwan

Population: 23.78 million

Average annual income: $14,331

How much they pay for a Lego set on average: $171.48

Bottom line: While there are no official Lego sets of Taiwan's landmarks, there are a number of third-party Lego-building businesses that create custom sets.

This custom build of the 1,671-foot Taipei 101 tower in Taiwan is pretty cool. It was sold by the Taiwanese-based company Outside Brick.

But the beautiful Taiwanese temple above is a stunning model built by delayice.

6. South Korea

Population: 51.64 million

Average annual income: $33,720

How much they pay for a Lego set on average: $185.53

Bottom line: Like shopping? Then you'll love the Lego city (pictured) of the Lotte World Mall in Seoul, South Korea. The huge shopping center is 26,000 square meters, or 279,861 square feet, in real life.

Lego also released a set of Sungnyemun in 2016. The tiny recreation of the 14th-century Great Southern Gate to Seoul has been discontinued, but you can find sets on eBay for around $300.

5. Egypt

Lego Pyramid of Giza at the Museum of Science and Industry in 2016

Population: 98.42 million

Average annual income: $2,690

How much they pay for a Lego set on average: $217.38

Bottom line: There are quite a few Lego sets with mummies and treasure hunters, but the fantastic display of the Great Pyramid of Giza from construction to completion deserves special attention.

This was displayed at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago in 2016. It was built by Adam Reed Tucker, who created the Lego Architecture line. See more of it on YouTube.

Egypt is also where Lego prices really start to get noticeably different. Sets are, on average, about $100 more expensive than those in the United States.

4. Colombia

Population: 49.65 million

Average annual income: $6,510

How much they pay for a Lego set on average: $330.93

Bottom line: Colombian Lego sets are even more expensive than Egypt, averaging out at about $331 per set. That's $200 more expensive than Legos bought in the United States.

For Colombia, we chose this vintage Lego set from 1996. It features men running away with piles of cash and a biplane. Sort of like they were trying to smuggle white something out of the country.

3. Venezuela

Population: 28.87 million

Average annual income: $13,080

How much they pay for a Lego set on average: $412.13

Bottom line: Venezuela is known primarily for its oil industry and a humanitarian crisis, but to keep it light, we're using this cute Lego set on an oil rig from their Cars line.

There are no human struggles in the world of Cars.

2. Argentina

Population: 44.49 million

Average annual income: $11,200

How much they pay for a Lego set on average: $608.62

Bottom line: It sucks to be a Lego fanatic in Argentina, where it costs nearly $609 to purchase a Lego set. That's an insane amount of money, and we're guessing Lego isn't too popular there given the country's low annual income rates.

The set pictured is the closest thing we could find of a winery or vineyard, since Argentina is famous for its fine wines.

No, we don't think that's how Argentinians make wine.

1. Ecuador

Population: 17.08 million

Average annual income: $6,080

How much they pay for a Lego set on average: $672

Bottom line: The worst place in the world to buy Legos is Ecuador, where you'll need to pay a ridiculous $672 for a Lego set. That's insanely pricey, and at that rate, 10 Lego sets would be equivalent to a full year's salary for many Ecuadorians.

The set pictured is a Lego Idea of the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador's most famous destination.

If you want to learn more about Legos or see which ones you can and can't afford, check our article on the most expensive Lego sets in the world.