The Burrow
Sep 22, 2026
If you’re planning on upgrading your phone with the newly released iPhone Duo or iPhone 18 Pro, where you buy it could make a surprising difference to your wallet. From fluctuating exchange rates to regional taxes and import duties, the price of an iPhone isn’t as straightforward as it might seem.
With this in mind, the home and contents insurance comparison experts at Compare the Market created the iPhone price comparison index for 2026 to break down the cost of buying the newest iPhone Duo, iPhone 18 Pro and other iPhone models across multiple countries – including Australia, the USA, the UK, Canada, Germany, and many more, revealing how much prices can vary.
Whether you’re shopping locally or considering a purchase abroad, this guide offers valuable insights into some of the best countries to buy an iPhone in 2026 and how Australia compares.
Based on our research, it’s clear that iPhone prices vary widely across the globe and in storage size. Here are prices for the iPhone Duo 2TB, from most to least expensive across 26 countries. All costs have been converted to Australian dollars.
Australia sits around the middle of the pack when comparing iPhone prices in 2026, based on the average cost across models including the iPhone 18, iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Duo. As expected, prices rise steadily as storage sizes increase, with larger-capacity devices attracting some of the most significant prices, the new iPhone 18 Pro 2TB is $2,400 more expensive than the iPhone 18 Pro with 256GB of storage in Australia. The rise of on-device AI features is also increasing storage demands, with some smartphone manufacturers now requiring several gigabytes of local storage to support AI models and functionality alone.1
The study found substantial differences in iPhone pricing, with the United States remaining the cheapest country to buy Apple’s premium devices, while Türkiye was consistently the most expensive market.
For Apple’s newest foldable model, the iPhone Duo 2TB, consumers would pay the equivalent of $4,828.40 in the United States compared to $9,599.80 in Türkiye, a difference of $4,771.40. In percentage terms, the device is 98.8% more expensive in Türkiye than in the US. Meanwhile, Australia sits closer to the middle of the rankings, with the same device costing $5,899.00, which is 22.2% more expensive than in the United States.
Australia ranked in the middle of the pack across most models. The iPhone 18 Pro 256GB cost $2,099 in Australia, making it 16% more expensive than the United States, where the same model cost $1,809.
Aussies heading overseas may want to think twice before upgrading their iPhone at home. With prices varying dramatically between countries, purchasing a new device while travelling could deliver substantial savings. The United States offers the cheapest iPhone pricing in the study, while nearby destinations including Hong Kong, Japan and Singapore also rank among the most affordable markets with prices for the iPhone Duo 2TB all remaining below $5,300. New Zealand consistently offered lower prices. For Apple’s new iPhone Duo 2TB, Australians are paying an extra $551 than their neighbour, making the device roughly 10% more expensive than in New Zealand.
Between 25 August and Apple’s September launch event, prices on several existing models rose by between 5% and 19%. The steepest increase was for the iPhone Air 1TB, which jumped $500, from $2,599 to $3,099, making it 19% more expensive.
Chris Ford, Compare the Market, 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 data was then converted from the native currency to AUD using currency conversion rates from XE Currency Converter (accessed 10 September 2026).
Tax calculations:
All data is correct as of 10/09/2026.
To see our iPhone study from 2025, here and our 2024 study, here.
1Apple Intelligence Storage Requirements: Implications for iPhone Users – AppleMagazine