[folkrav]

Eh, even just “countries that are not the US” would be a correct statement. US tech salaries are just in an entire different ballpark to what most companies outside the US can offer. I’m in Canada, I make good money (as far as Canadian salaries go), but nowhere near “buy an expensive laptop whenever” money.

[simonw]

It's not uncommon for professionals to spend many thousands of dollars on the tools and equipment they need for their trade.

Try telling a plumber that $2,000 for a laptop is a financial burden for a software engineer.

[folkrav]

Comparing my problems to other people’s problems don’t make mine go away. A single purchase hitting a unit of percentage or more of anyone’s income is a large purchase regardless of what they’re making. Professionals being expected to shell out their own money to make their boss money is another problem entirely. A decent laptop is a big expense for me, their tools are an even bigger one for them, and none of these statements are contradictory.

[lblume]

It may also come down to laptops being produced and sold mostly by US companies, which means that the general fact of most items (e.g. produce) being much more expensive in the US compared to, say, Europe doesn't really apply.

[folkrav]

Sure, maybe. In the end, what makes an expense big or not is which proportion of their income goes towards it. Most of the rest of the world has (much) lower salaries, and as you pointed out, often higher cost for equipment. Therefore, the purchase is/feels larger.