The ipad costs more outside of the US, Reuters said, citing an Australian CommSec study.
Prices of the iPads were the cheapest in the US, while prices in Europe, especially the UK, were the highest – almost a quarter of the price higher.
Apple iPad prices varies worldwide
The prices of the entry level 16 GB WiFi only iPad and the top end 64 GB WiFi + 3G version were both collated and converted to the equivalent US Dollars.
The tablet device is targeted at the niche between a laptop and a smartphone, with a form factor suited for surfing the web, watching movies and reading electronic books. It can also run apps designed for the iPhone as well as apps specially customised for it.
The detailed data is tabulated below.
| iPad Prices(31 May 2010) | 16GB WiFi | 64GB 3G | 16GB WiFi | 64GB 3G |
| Converted to USD | Premium over US prices | |||
| USA | $499 | $829 | – | – |
| Canada | $521 | $834 | 4% | 1% |
| Australia | $532 | $887 | 7% | 7% |
| Japan | $535 | $897 | 7% | 8% |
| Switzerland | $560 | $906 | 12% | 9% |
| Spain | $588 | $957 | 18% | 15% |
| France, Italy, Germany | $613 | $981 | 23% | 18% |
| UK | $620 | $1,011 | 24% | 22% |
Do the rates include tax? The UK VAT was just raised to 20%, versus 6-8% sales tax in the US. And then there may be distribution costs or other import duties…
All the rates for the iPad in Apple’s online store include tax – except for the prices for US and Canada. This is because the tax varies within the US and Canada depending on which state or province the iPad is being shipped to. The tax to be added in the US and Canada is only displayed upon checkout of the shopping cart after the customer has entered the shipping address.
In the US, tax ranges from zero in some states (such as Oregon, New Hampshire and Delaware) to 9.25% (California). In Canada, tax varies from 5% (Alberta) to 15.5% (Prince Edward Island). Free delivery is included for all countries.
Making the comparison using price before taxes, the iPad prices are actually quite comparable, with a variance of up to a maximum of 6% (in the UK), based on exchange rates on 31 May. Australia prices before tax was 3% cheaper. With the weakening of the US dollar since then, the difference in equivalent USD prices before tax has increased. The prices of iPads in Switzerland and UK (before tax and after converting to USD) are now 14% and 11% higher respectively.
The UK VAT was last raised from 15% to 17.5% on 1 Jan 2010 and will be raised again to 20% come 4 Jan 2011. In the meantime, Apple’s online store charges the UK VAT at 17.5%.