If you happen to’re shopping for an iPhone in Europe, how a lot does the worth differ from one nation to a different? VAT charges, import taxes and foreign money strengths range throughout Europe, and so do the prices of those telephones.
However, if we go away Turkey apart, variations in Europe aren’t as dramatic as in different elements of the world. Nevertheless, in case you think about hourly wages, affordability varies rather more broadly.
So, through which European nations are iPhone costs the very best and lowest? How do iPhone costs in Europe evaluate to these in different elements of the world, together with in the USA? And what number of hours do Europeans must work to afford one?
A report from Deutsche Financial institution Analysis Institute, titled “Mapping the World’s Costs”, compares iPhone 16 Professional (128GB) costs throughout 41 nations/markets. Greater than half of the studied markets are in Europe.
Turkey leads globally — a worth outlier in Europe
iPhone 16 Professional costs vary from round €903 in South Korea to roughly €1,854 in Turkey, the very best globally. Inside the EU, costs range from €1,107 in Greece to €1,231 in Sweden.
Brazil (€1,559) and Egypt (€1,296) observe Turkey on the prime of the iPhone worth record. The report warns: “Don’t drop or lose your iPhone in Turkey, Brazil, Egypt, India or the Nordic nations. It may price 30-100% greater than within the US to interchange.”
The Nordic nations prime the record throughout the EU
Within the EU, different Nordic nations observe Sweden, the place the iPhone 16 Professional is the costliest at €1,231. It prices €1,188 in Denmark and €1,175 in Finland. Norway, which isn’t an EU member, falls in between, with a worth of €1,182. Based on the report, VAT in these nations is round 25%, in comparison with 20% in lots of different European nations.
Most Western European nations cluster round €1,145–€1,170. They embrace Portugal (€1,166), Italy and Eire (each €1,157), in addition to France, Belgium, and the Netherlands (all €1,147).
Switzerland and the UK have the bottom iPhone costs
Amongst Europe’s 5 largest economies, the UK presents the most affordable iPhone 16 Professional at €1,095, adopted by Germany (€1,119) and Spain (€1,138). In the meantime, Switzerland —although not within the EU — has the bottom iPhone 16 Professional worth in Europe total, at €1,045.
South Korea the one nation cheaper than the US
Within the record, South Korea is the one nation the place the iPhone 16 Professional is cheaper than within the US, priced at €903 in comparison with €917 ($1,079). A number of Asian and Arab nations additionally provide decrease costs than many Western nations.
For example, the iPhone 16 Professional prices €1,226 in Saudi Arabia and €1,170 within the United Arab Emirates. In Japan, China, and Thailand, costs are even decrease than in these Gulf nations.
iPhone Worth Index: How different nations evaluate to the US
The iPhone Worth Index, which units the iPhone 16 Professional worth within the US as 100, exhibits how a lot roughly the machine prices in different nations relative to the US.
Turkey is the one nation the place the iPhone 16 Professional prices greater than double the US worth, with an index rating of 202.
In Sweden, iPhone costs are 34% dearer than within the US, whereas within the UK, they’re 19% larger. In most EU nations, the iPhone 16 Professional is priced at roughly 25% above the US degree.
Why is Turkey an outlier in iPhone pricing?
Turkey imposes a Particular Consumption Tax (ÖTV) of fifty% on smartphones, along with VAT and several other different charges. These mixed taxes considerably drive up the retail worth, making Turkey the costliest nation to purchase an iPhone 16 Professional on the record.
Based on a social media put up by tax knowledgeable Ozan Bingöl, a number of layered taxes and charges considerably inflate the worth of an iPhone in Turkey.
First, the Ministry of Tradition prices a 1% charge on the bottom worth, then there’s a a 12% “banderole” cost to help the general public broadcaster TRT. Then, a 50% Particular Consumption Tax (ÖTV) is utilized on prime of these quantities. Lastly, a 20% VAT is levied on the complete quantity — together with all earlier taxes and charges, not simply the cellphone.
In Bingöl’s instance from March 2024, the bottom (pre-tax) worth of an iPhone was 53,040 Turkish lira, however in any case taxes and charges, the ultimate retail worth reached 107,999 lira — greater than double the unique worth. This displays a complete efficient tax charge of 103.4%. This aligns with the 202% iPhone Worth Index relative to the US.
Affordability hole widens with revenue
After all, the retail worth of an iPhone, together with taxes, doesn’t mirror how reasonably priced it’s for customers. Affordability is dependent upon revenue ranges, which range considerably throughout Europe. For instance, Picodi.com’s iPhone Index 2024 estimates what number of days the typical particular person must work to afford an iPhone 16 Professional. The outcomes vary from simply 4 days in Switzerland to 72.9 days in Turkey. Inside the EU, the vary spans from 6.1 days in Luxembourg to 26.6 days in Greece.
Hourly wages and wage ranges additional present these disparities. Based on Eurostat, the typical hourly wage within the EU in 2024 was €25.20, starting from €9.20 in Bulgaria to €48.40 in Luxembourg, with Denmark shut behind at €43.60.