Apple MacBook Prices Infographic
Let’s start the year off with an infographic, shall we? While busy searching for the best price for a MacBook, I became curious about the pricing for Apple hardware in other parts of the world. I navigated to all of Apple’s official sites and this is what came of it.
This infographic is a representation of the comparative price for the entry-level 13˝ MacBook Pro 2.26GHz notebook. I wish I could include information for all 31 countries that I researched. I believe that stripping down the data set to a handful of countries makes the information more digestible. [I don't think that I need to point it out but this isn't a strictly rational graph since it wasn't conceived to be mathematically correct]
I was conviced that South African prices were the highest in the world, owing to the lack of an official Apple presence in the country. Imagine my surprise when I discovered that Brazil’s prices were between US$300.00 and US$1,200.00 higher than here. This in a country with official Apple representation no less. [EDIT: In Apple's defence, I must say that from all of the feedback that the numerous postings of this image has received, this price appears to be the result of a high import duty applied to high-involvement purchases.]
Interestingly though, prices for certain MacBook Pro models are cheaper in Hong Kong than they are in the US. This could however be on account of fluctuation of the exchange rate. [EDIT: In fact, because of the tax implications relevant to the different nations, .hk prices are most likely to be cheaper than .us prices. The graphic has been updated to reflect feedback and to correct a major oversight on my part. Thank you for all of the attention, which for the most part has been positive. And to the special little coward , from the Lincoln Laboratory at MIT, thank you for your piqued insight.]
38 Comments
Since Jan 8 2010, In venezuela de 13″ cost $2558 (+tax 25%), the 17″ %5232 (+tax 25%). Before that it was the double.
Reference: http://www.macstorevenezuela.com/m.asp?p=18n
Since Jan 8 2010 the exchange rate of 1US$ is Bs4.3, befora that it was 1US$ to Bs2.15.
We have goverment exhange control.
Brazil has very high import duties. And if it wasn’t a computer, which even exempts Common External Tariff, it could be worse. I have a Brazilian friend who told me that 70% to 100% in import duties, CET, taxes and duties between states would be average…
I have to point out that there is a Linked Exchange Rate System between Hong Kong Dollar and US Dollar, the exchange rate MUST between 1 USD to 7.75 – 7.85 HKD… the FLUCTUATION OF THE EXCHANGE RATE as stated in your post can therefore be ignored. Normal practice to convert from HKD to USD is to divide HKD by 7.8.
It is also important to alert you that Hong Kong is TAX FREE, which means what you see in the price tag is what you pay, unlike the case in the States. For those who are living in US, it all depends on where you buy your Mac. Prices shown in Apple website are TAX EXCLUDED.
In conclusion, Hong Kong is the cheapest place for purchasing a Mac anyway.
You don’t know half of it. South Africa are up in arms – check out the ranting and raving about their distributor here – http://www.2oceansvibe.com/category/apple-mac/
THANK YOU for this. Sick and tired of Core’s tactics…
Hi,
Perhaps it would have been cool to explain why those prizes are so high in Brazil for instance.
Indeed, duties are up to 60% on imported computers as far as I can remember. In fact, import duties are so high in Brazil that Volkswagen, for instance, build south american models in this countries in order to propose cheap cars everyone can afford, especially in Brazil which is one huge market for the german brand.
Thus, they have the Gol, the nuevo Gol, the Fox and so forth which were specifically marketed for Brazil and built in the country. The Golf is a refreshed Golf Mark IV for exemple, so that they can keep the price “reasonably not high”. The Tiguan which is built in wolfsburg is damn expensive since duties are so high.
It’s the same with electronics. Sony has just announced the launch of the PS2 in Brazil and the price is just incredible (£279). Duties on video games are about 72% to the best of my knowledge.
Buy apple stuffs in brazil is very hard due the high prices. Belive that, I’m brazilian. Do you guys imagine what’s the price of the 3GS iPhone 16GB without mensal plans? More than $1.100 US dollars!! Yes, it’s crazy.
Everything in brazil have a higher price. The taxes are too high! But it’s not 100%. So apple Also gave fault in this case.
PS: In brazil a good TV package with HD channels (less than 20 HD channels) plus a 12Mb internet service costs $260 US dollars for month. We kinda get used to abusive prices…
have fault*
Things are not much different in Turkey..
An entry level 13″ 2.26 Macbook Pro is 1199 Euro plus 18% tax. Which comes out to 2055 dollars.
Damn!
The Government is the biggest responsible. We are charged in 60% for any imported product higher than $50, which amounts with other taxes and services. And after all, you get the seller gain over it.
Apple could help us a lot. The product goes from China to USA, where apple gain its profits, than it is exported to here (Brazil), and if it’s bought by the Apple Store, they gain it again!
If they handle it so we could import at the production price directly from China, with Apple’s profits being applied here, the price would drop about 30% at least, I believe.
Or better: Prices would be as low as in the UK if their products were produced here. Sony does it, Dell does it, HP does it, why not them?
In Hungary (EU) it is 319400 HUF or approx. 1741 USD for the entry model.
http://www.xms.hu/apple.php?tk=macbook_pro
and
http://www.google.com/search?q=319900+huf+in+usd
The prices indicated on the Eurpean Apple online stores include VAT taxes. The prices in the US stores do not indicate sales taxes. This is customary in the US. When I purchase my Mac online (USA) I do not see the price total until I am ready to checkout and pay for the item. A fair comparison for product pricing would be to compare prices excluding any taxes or government imposed import duties. Apple can not control those.
for Turkey 13.3 macbook pro costs nearly $2200 they give 22” LG lcd as gift. But it is still Mac Os 10.5. I had to buy my one overseas
You should try this comparison with our Mexico prices too. You’d think we in Mexico have NAFTA for something like this… No dice.
1,445 (usd) in New Zealand
Hey, good infographic.
Please add to the list prices in Russia. They’re very high too, almost as in Brazil.
Here’s the picture (in russian): http://dl.dropbox.com/u/137524/Permanent/russian%20apple%20prices%202009-10.png
Greece, like ZA doesn’t have an official Apple presence, unlike most other European common market countries. That same 13″ model costs the equivalent of US$1770 here (using the same Yahoo exchange rate). Most other electronic devices are the same or lower priced than in our neighboring EU countries.
THAT is a beautifully crafted graphic! Great job.
Great graphic!
I had to check where Mexico stood up and it turns up we’re not that bad… the entry line 13″ MacBook (2.26 GHz) is worth $15,799 Mexican Pesos, which at today’s (01/11/10) rate of 12.668 pesos per dollar, amounts to $1,247.15 US Dollars, the difference being just shy of $50 USD.
In Romania the price is like 30% more than US … the price is turned from US Dollars into Euro and then come the VAT which is 19% more … imagine … overall the price is 50% more … hmm
Great graph.
Poland: US$ 1,632.21 after rebates.
Really nice graphic, but you should have added Greece as well. Macbook Pro 13″ 2.26Ghz Entry Level is $1780 according to google’s exchange rates.
Taken from rainbow.gr (official apple retailer in Greece)
I can understand why Apple pricing differs in different markets due to import duties, consumer taxes and the cost of doing business.
At the same time it would be unreasonable to expect Apple to follow exchange rate variations all the time.
Don’t forget that at one time the US $ was strong where now it is weak. Apple does not know and neither do we what it will be worth to-morrow
In Croatia 10,069.00Kn = US$2,015.96
Thank you for nice work.
In Germany the MacBook is €899,- == $1,303.55 (incl. VAT). Without VAT its: €728.19 == $1,055.88.
Australia
$1599AUD= $1487.72 USD
including taxes
(0.93 exchange rate)
if a teacher
$1549AUD=$1441.20 USD
teacher union member
$1499 AUD=$1395 USD
brazil is full of bullshit.
government is corrupt as shit. everyone is.
im brazilian and I say brazil go to HELL!
oh, forgot mention that you need to add thailand too.
It is indeed quite reasonable in thailand.
Should be cheaper thou because tax is 0% here.
Macbook pro 13.3″
normal price: 47,000 baht = $1420 USD
Student discount (-10%) at apple shops installed in universities only.
= $1280 USD
So apple thailand is making lots of cash… bastards.
* 1USD = 33 Baht
LONG LIVE THE KING !!!
I’m Brazilian and for me this infogram is a shame for my country, because it shows how my country is rich, but it’s governed by cheaters. We need to pay 60% of taxes on every imported product, without the normal taxes, if we import some stuff the final value of it will be 98% more the original value with all taxes. Cosmetics and perfumes pays around 120% of taxes. We have the richest city in the world and we can’t pays fair prices on import products. I describe it with one word: shame!
This makes for an interesting thought: if most of the price ballooning is due to import duties and regional taxation (which are higher in developing territories to encourage local production and an export economy), would Apple computers be cheaper if manufactured (assembled) by a local plant?
If one looks at the motor industry, the answer is no. Both Brazil and South Africa have numerous car plants producing vehicles for export and local sale. But conventional wisdom still suggests the local prices are inflated when compared to the UK market. After one takes into account the exchange rate and percentage of disposable income after basic living expenses in the two countries.
Good to see that Australian prices have fallen. Must be a result of our strong aussie dollar. Before the latest updates most of our macs were alot more expensive.
because of this I don’t like to live in Brasil…
¬¬
I am so happy that I am living in the US. I recently got one from Abt only for $1199. I am in fact planning to gift a Mac to my cousin living in South Africa when she visits me.
Saudi Arabia, the price for that MBP model is 5690SR ($1517).
That’s why the brazilian government doesn’t care if 90% of the population buys pirated items.
The 10% paying their taxes make the profit and Paraguay can live of the “tourists” buying things in “duty free” stores close to our border.
Not to mention that people who go there and buy more than 500 bucks has the “choice” to pay the tax or are treated
the same way as drug dealers.
36,5% of my telephone,water, gas, eletric bills are TAX.
the best profitable company here aren’t Petrobras or Vale.
It’s the government itself.
but… every february has CARNAVAL and the “cleaver proud” people forget about everything else.
Sorry, but your alleged infographic looks hideously distorted to me.
Perhaps if you made the area, or at least the length, of each flag proportional to its associated dollar value, it would be a more truthful, and therefore more useful, visualization.
Loved the infographic! Nice to see the progress of the MacBook, check out another cool Apple infographic, this time on iPod, here http://www.digitalsurgeons.com/ipod-timeline-infographic/
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