Another topic that hits home for me. When two couples decide to commit to each other, they will most likely decide to get married. In some countries, marriage is seen as a project, where the two parties share everything together. Marriage isn’t not only about sharing dog walks and taking out the garbage, but it’s also about sharing financial decisions that may impact the longevity of the marriage itself.
However, the process of marriage is very different from country to country, and its success is highly correlated to the economic stance of the country. The disparity in the marriage process and cost can be seen between western and middle eastern countries. For this short comparison, the USA and Egypt were chosen to show the large disparity in the process.
Those disparities include income, house ownership, and culture, with all of them being highly related to the economy.
Do you make enough?
The United States has one of the most advanced economies in the world, and a very respectable level of income. Per capita Income in the United States is equal to 77,950 USD(PPP) as of 2022, far surpassing the Average marriage costs in the country. To elaborate, the average Wedding cost in the USA is equal to 33,000 USD. This includes the venue, wedding dress, engagement ring, and the salary of the hired professionals (photographer, florist etc.). The average US citizen will be able to afford such high costs, as marriage is not as complicated as in other eastern countries.
On the other hand, Marriage in Egypt is a whole other story. Being a third world country, the marriage costs in Egypt are astronomical to say the least. Per capita Income in Egypt is equal to 14,600 USD(PPP), far lower than that of the USA. A proper respectable wedding in Egypt could cost well over 15,000 USD, which is higher than the countries Per capita income. Unfortunately, this leads to marriage being a very heavy topic in Egypt. The difficulty in marriage translates to high divorce rates, which is a problem faced by the country.
Even if an Egyptian citizen manages to successfully get married, they will get bombarded with financial difficulties post marriage. According to the central agency of mobility and statistics, Egypt has witnessed 1.8 marriages every minute, along side one divorce every 2 minutes (as of 2022). High divorce rates in the country are attributed to faults in partner selection, miscommunication, and most importantly, stressful economic conditions.
Rent or acquisition?
Another factor that affects marriage is residence of the partners. As of 2023, 33% of Americans rent their household instead of owning it. this is accredited to the high mobility of American citizens in switching their household. Even if they decide to buy their dream house, it wouldn’t take a substantial time before the couple save up for the purchase.
In Egypt though, it’s a whole different process. Due to cultural reasons, the groom is the one who is expected to buy the house. Of course, due to a struggling economy and low wages, this takes a substantial amount of time, at least several years to say the least. Even though the option of mortgage is available, the monthly cost of payments is way higher than the average salary. This has led newly marriage Egyptians to consider the possibility of renting. This shift in preference, alongside a wave of settlers from neighboring countries, has led rent prices to increase well over 50%.
The cultural dilemma.
Due to cultural norms, marriage costs in Egypt are substantially high in comparison to western countries and presents a high burden on both the bride and the groom. To start with, the groom is expected to bring gifts for his lovely wife to be. Those gifts may include gold, diamonds, or other precious metals. Moreover, most Egyptian households expect the groom to bear the costs of furnishing the house, adding more to the woos of the poor husband to be. For the bride, she is expected to purchase the electronic equipment that will be installed in the house (AC, fridge, etc,…). This puts a burden on not only the wife, but also her parents. In lower class families, the parents of the bride are likely to face jail for their failure to meet the installments.
Conclusion
The comparison between marriage processes and costs in the United States and Egypt highlights significant economic and cultural differences that impact the institution of marriage. In the United States, with its advanced economy and higher per capita income, the cost of marriage is relatively manageable for the average citizen. However, in Egypt, where income levels are lower and cultural norms place a heavy financial burden on both partners, getting married and sustaining a marriage financially can be challenging.
The disparity in income and housing ownership further complicates the situation, as American couples have more flexibility in terms of renting or buying a house compared to Egyptian couples who often face substantial challenges in acquiring a home. Additionally, cultural expectations around gifts and household furnishings in Egypt add to the financial strain on couples, contributing to higher divorce rates and economic stress within marriages. This comparison underscores how economic factors and cultural practices correlate to shape the experience and outcomes of marriage in different parts of the world.