The Burrow
Aug 14, 2025
If you’re planning on upgrading your phone this year, where you buy it could make a surprising difference to your wallet – and we don’t just mean whether you choose to buy your iPhone online or in-store.
As it turns out, the country you buy your iPhone in can really make a difference in how much it costs. From fluctuating exchange rates to regional taxes and import duties, the price of an iPhone isn’t as straightforward as it might seem. So, where is the cheapest iPhone country this year? And which destinations top the list as the most expensive?
To find out, the home and contents comparison experts at Compare the Market created this iPhone price comparison index for 2025 to break down the cost of buying various iPhone models across multiple countries – including Australia, the USA, the UK, Canada, Germany, and many more, revealing just how much prices can vary around the world. Because while some countries offer more affordable options, others are charging hundreds more for the same model!
Whether you’re shopping locally or considering a purchase abroad, this guide offers valuable insights into the best countries to buy an iPhone in 2025. But before you hit the checkout, make sure to see how Australia compares and whether it might just pay to shop internationally.
To see our 2024 study, click here.
Based on our initial research, it’s clear that iPhone prices vary widely across the globe. Here’s how iPhone prices look in general, from the most to the least expensive countries:
Australia consistently ranks decently in the iPhone price comparison 2025, with an average cost of US$995.97 across all models. And here, the latest iPhone 16 Pro isn’t the most expensive device ($1,437.48), as the iPhone 15 Pro costs $30+ more ($1,469.98). Meanwhile, the iPhone 5c is the most affordable option at $522.60.
Meanwhile, France stands out in our data due to it having the highest average iPhone pricing overall at $1,267.31. Spain and Italy are close behind, with average costs of $1,259.46 and $1,256.99, respectively, with premium models such as the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro being particularly high-priced in these regions.
So, when it comes to the best countries to buy an iPhone in general, the USA benefits from lower taxes and import duties as well as favourable exchange rates. These factors contribute to significantly lower costs for a wide range of models.
This means that for budget-conscious buyers, the USA is a great place to buy an iPhone, with the average price being $934.36. However, Canada beats the USA in price and takes the title of cheapest iPhone country, with an average cost of $917.62.
As for specific models, the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro are the most expensive. These two models share the same price with each other in every country except for Australia, where the iPhone 15 Pro is priced slightly higher than the iPhone 16 Pro.
And, despite not being the most expensive country overall, Italy has the highest cost for an iPhone 16 Pro at $1,767.84, which is $330 higher than in Australia.
If you’re looking to upgrade your device, understanding global price trends can help you make a more cost-effective purchase, especially if you’re travelling or considering importing. For example, markets like Canada and the USA consistently offer lower prices due to reduced taxes and favourable exchange rates, making them the best countries of those compared to buy an iPhone.
Meanwhile, investors and businesses reliant on smartphone sales can use this data to gauge consumer behaviour, forecast regional demand and identify price-sensitive markets. For instance, high-cost regions may see slower upgrade cycles or shifts toward mid-range alternatives, while more affordable markets could drive higher sales volumes.
Whether you’re a buyer, investor or retailer, staying informed on international pricing trends provides valuable context for smarter decisions.
Adrian Taylor, Executive General Manager of General Insurance notes that contents insurance with portable item cover can offer valuable protection for your tech and other essentials.
“With many smartphones now costing well over $1,000, replacing or repairing one after an accident can be a significant expense,” Mr Taylor said.
“From cracked screens to theft or loss, the risk of damage to your device is higher than ever, especially when you’re on the move.
“Accidental damage or loss can be costly and inconvenient, but the right insurance can help ease this burden.
“A home and contents policy that includes portable contents cover can provide a level of peace of mind, especially for items regularly taken outside the home, such as your mobile phone.
“However, not all insurers automatically cover phones away from home, so it’s essential to check the policy wording for specific inclusions and exclusions.”
Before purchasing, always read the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) and Target Market Determination (TMD) to understand exactly what’s covered, including any limits or exclusions. Taking a few extra steps now could save you a major headache later.
Data on all iPhone models and their storage variants were collected from Apple.com for each of the target countries. This was done using the Wayback Machine for each year the model came out in each target country.
This data was then converted from the native currency to USD using currency conversion rates from XE Currency Converter (accessed July 19, 2025).
The different VAT rates for each year were collected for all target countries, and the price minus VAT was calculated, as well as the amount of VAT per model – the USA was excluded as prices collected did not include VAT/Sales Tax.
The average percentage increase in storage tier cost was then calculated for each model compared to the base model price.
The average cost of models for each year was plotted against the year of release for each country, for both pro and non-pro models, and this was then paired with a graph of global inflation for the same time periods to see if there was a matching trend.
The average price of an iPhone was compared for 2023 vs 2024 for each country. A breakdown of iPhone models by country was also plotted. This was also done for 2024 vs 2025.
A stacked bar graph was created using Python to show the price to VAT ratio for each of the 2023, 2024, and 2025 base models, by country, where the top of the bar is VAT, the bottom of the bar is Price minus VAT, and the total of the bar is the total Price.
Notes:
All data is correct as of 22/07/25