Your Rs 2.99 lakh iPhone Duo could pay for a week in Prague and Switzerland

Apple's first foldable iPhone, the iPhone Duo, has been priced at Rs 2,99,900 in India. Are you willing to use that kind of money for an international trip or get a new iPhone?There is a familiar ritual that follows every iPhone launch: Apple unveils a shiny new device, people gasp at the price and the internet starts calculating what else they could buy for the same money.This year's launch has taken that exercise to a rather expensive new level.Apple unveiled the iPhone Duo, its first foldable iPhone, on September 9. The device has a 7.6-inch inner display and a 5.4-inch outer screen, and starts at Rs 2,99,900 in India for the 256GB version. Pre-orders open on October 16, with the phone going on sale from October 23.And, almost immediately, the internet did its thing: turned the price into a meme. iPhone Duo starts at Rs. 3,00,000 in India!You can literally book a return flight to the USA, buy the iPhone Duo in Oregon/Delaware, come back to India AND still save Rs. 30,000.Will you do it? pic.twitter.com/JFhGCkByWR— Ishan Sharma (@Ishansharma7390) September 10, 2026Rs 3 lakh for an iPhone or a holiday? Social media users have been comparing the price of the foldable iPhone with everything from multiple phones to international holidays and to luxury bags as well. The usual kidney jokes have returned, but there is another calculation doing the rounds: if you are willing to spend nearly Rs 3 lakh on a phone, couldn't that money instead take you places?The answer, at least for a seven-night solo international holiday from New Delhi, is yes. And no, the only option isn't just a trip to the US (like the internet is saying, there’s much more).You could spend the same amount on a week in Prague, Athens or even notoriously expensive Zurich — including flights, accommodation, food, local transport and some sightseeing — provided you plan the trip sensibly.The calculations below assume one traveller flying from New Delhi from October 1 to October 8. Airfares are indicative and can change depending on availability.1. Prague: A week in Europe for around Rs 1.8 lakhIf you want the strongest argument against spending Rs 2,99,900 on a phone, Prague is probably it.A round-trip Delhi-Prague ticket for the dates can be budgeted at around Rs 64,000 based on the airfare considered for this calculation. Current airline listings can be higher or lower depending on availability.For seven nights, a decent budget hotel or private room outside the most expensive part of the Old Town can be budgeted at roughly Rs 60,000–75,000. Food need not be extravagant either: keeping aside around Rs 20,000–25,000 for the week gives you room for local meals, coffee and the occasional nicer meal.Add around Rs 12,000 for public transport, attractions and small miscellaneous expenses, and around Rs 12,000 as a buffer for the Schengen visa, travel insurance and related costs.That puts the entire eight-day Prague holiday at roughly Rs 1.88 lakh to Rs 2.30 lakh.A Schengen visa for an adult currently costs 90 euros, or about Rs 10,100, before any applicable service charges.What your week in Prague could look likeOctober 1: Fly from New Delhi to Prague and check in.October 2: Prague Old Town, Old Town Square, Astronomical Clock and Charles Bridge. Old Town Square, Prague. (Photo: Getty Images) October 3: Prague Castle, St Vitus Cathedral and Mala Strana.October 4: Explore the Jewish Quarter and spend the evening around the Vltava river.October 5: Take a relaxed day around Wenceslas Square, local cafes and neighbourhoods away from the tourist centre.October 6: Day trip to Kutna Hora or spend the day exploring more of Prague, maybe a little shopping.October 7: Shopping, cafes and a final walk through the Old Town.October 8: Fly back to New Delhi.In other words, even after paying for your flight and seven nights of accommodation, you could potentially have money left.2. Athens: Ancient Greece without spending Rs 3 lakhAthens makes an equally convincing case.Budget around Rs 75,000 for the round-trip New Delhi-Athens flight. A seven-night stay in a budget-to-mid-range hotel can be planned at roughly Rs 55,000–80,000, while Rs 20,000–28,000 can cover food for the week if you mix restaurants with cheaper local options.Add around Rs 12,000 for transport, attractions and miscellaneous expenses and another Rs 12,000 as a visa and insurance buffer.The total comes to approximately Rs 1.95 lakh to Rs 2.50 lakh.Athens' 2026 budget estimates put accommodation at around 20–45 euro a night at the lower end and food at roughly 15–25 euro a day, making it one of the easier European capitals to fit into this budget.Your Athens itineraryOctober 1: Fly from New Delhi, check in and explore Plaka in the evening.October 2: Acropolis, Parthenon and Acropolis Museum. Parthenon temple on the Acropolis of Athens, Greece. (Photo: Getty Images) October 3: Ancient Agora, Monastiraki and the central Athens neighbourhoods.October 4: Spend the day exploring the National Garden, Syntagma Square and nearby areas.October 5: Take a day trip to the Athenian Riviera or spend a slower day around the city's cafes and markets.October 6: Explore more archaeological sites and enjoy an evening in Plaka.October 7: Last-day shopping, food and sunset views.October 8: Fly back to New Delhi.3. Zurich: Yes, even Switzerland can fitThis is where the calculation gets more interesting.Zurich is not exactly the city you associate with the words "budget holiday". It is one of Europe's more expensive destinations, particularly when it comes to food and accommodation.But even here, Rs 2,99,900 can stretch surprisingly far.Using an airfare of around Rs 80,000 for a Delhi-Zurich return ticket, budget roughly Rs 75,000–1 lakh for seven nights in a budget hotel or hostel/private room. Food is the big variable, so setting aside Rs 35,000–45,000 gives you a reasonable cushion.Add around Rs 15,000 for public transport, sightseeing and other expenses, plus roughly Rs 12,000 for the Schengen visa and insurance.That gives you a total of around Rs 2.30 lakh to Rs 2.70 lakh.Zurich budget estimates put hostel accommodation at around CHF 45–60 a night and food at roughly CHF 30–40 a day, although costs can rise quickly if you eat out for every meal.Your Zurich weekOctober 1: Fly to Zurich and check in.October 2: Old Town, Grossmunster, Bahnhofstrasse and Lake Zurich.October 3: Explore Zurich's museums and neighbourhoods.October 4: Take a day trip to Lucerne. Canton of Lucerne (Photo: Getty Images) October 5: Spend the day around Lake Zurich and the city's cafes.October 6: Day trip to the Rhine Falls or another nearby Swiss destination.October 7: Explore Zurich's markets, shops and Old Town before your final evening.October 8: Fly back to New Delhi.So yes, Switzerland is the expensive option here, but even that holiday can be kept below the price of the iPhone Duo.4. Tokyo: Your iPhone could instead take you to JapanA return Delhi-Tokyo ticket can be budgeted at around Rs 62,000 for the calculation. Current airline fares for the exact dates vary considerably, so this is one route where travellers should check prices before booking.Seven nights in Tokyo can be planned for around Rs 50,000–65,000 if you choose a budget hotel, business hotel or capsule-style accommodation. Keep another Rs 22,000–28,000 aside for food, around Rs 15,000 for local transport and attractions, and roughly Rs 2,500 for the Japanese visa and VFS charges.That brings the estimated total to approximately Rs 1.70 lakh–2.00 lakh**.Japan's visa fee for Indian nationals is currently Rs 500, with a separate VFS service charge.A week in TokyoOctober 1: Fly from New Delhi to Narita and check in.October 2: Shibuya, Harajuku and Shinjuku.October 3: Asakusa, Senso-ji and Tokyo Skytree area.October 4: Akihabara, Ueno and the Tokyo National Museum.October 5: Meiji Shrine, Omotesando and Ginza.October 6: Day trip to Kamakura or spend the day exploring another Tokyo neighbourhood.October 7: Shopping, food and a final evening in Tokyo. Appetizers from a buffet spread in Japan. (Photo: Getty Images) October 8: Fly back to New Delhi.For that kind of money, you don't just have another phone to choose from.You have options: a week in Prague, a Greek holiday, a trip to Japan or, with some careful budgeting, even Switzerland or New York.So, are you giving up your kidney for an iPhone, or an international trip is your call.....just joking!- EndsPublished By: Tiasa Bhowal Published On: Sep 10, 2026 14:06 IST