Europe's iPhone price gap: Where you'll pay the most and least
But, if we leave Turkey aside, differences in Europe aren't as dramatic as in other parts of the world. However, if you consider hourly wages, affordability varies much more widely.
So, in which European countries are iPhone prices the highest and lowest? How do iPhone prices in Europe compare to those in other parts of the world, including in the United States? And how many hours do Europeans need to work to afford one?
A report from Deutsche Bank Research Institute, titled "Mapping the World's Prices", compares iPhone 16 Pro (128GB) prices across 41 countries/markets. More than half of the studied markets are in Europe.
Turkey leads globally — a price outlier in Europe
iPhone 16 Pro prices range from around €903 in South Korea to roughly €1,854 in Turkey, the highest globally. Within the EU, prices vary from €1,107 in Greece to €1,231 in Sweden.
Brazil (€1,559) and Egypt (€1,296) follow Turkey at the top of the iPhone price list. The report warns: 'Don't drop or lose your iPhone in Turkey, Brazil, Egypt, India or the Nordic countries. It could cost 30-100% more than in the US to replace.'
The Nordic countries top the list within the EU
In the EU, other Nordic countries follow Sweden, where the iPhone 16 Pro is the most expensive at €1,231. It costs €1,188 in Denmark and €1,175 in Finland. Norway, which is not an EU member, falls in between, with a price of €1,182. According to the report, VAT in these countries is around 25%, compared to 20% in many other European nations.
Most Western European countries cluster around €1,145–€1,170. They include Portugal (€1,166), Italy and Ireland (both €1,157), as well as France, Belgium, and the Netherlands (all €1,147).
Switzerland and the UK have the lowest iPhone prices
Among Europe's five largest economies, the UK offers the cheapest iPhone 16 Pro at €1,095, followed by Germany (€1,119) and Spain (€1,138). Meanwhile, Switzerland —though not in the EU — has the lowest iPhone 16 Pro price in Europe overall, at €1,045.
South Korea the only country cheaper than the US
In the list, South Korea is the only country where the iPhone 16 Pro is cheaper than in the US, priced at €903 compared to €917 ($1,079). Several Asian and Arab countries also offer lower prices than many Western nations.
To illustrate, the iPhone 16 Pro costs €1,226 in Saudi Arabia and €1,170 in the United Arab Emirates. In Japan, China, and Thailand, prices are even lower than in those Gulf countries.
iPhone Price Index: How other countries compare to the US
The iPhone Price Index, which sets the iPhone 16 Pro price in the US as 100, shows how much more or less the device costs in other countries relative to the US.
Turkey is the only country where the iPhone 16 Pro costs more than double the US price, with an index score of 202.
In Sweden, iPhone prices are 34% more expensive than in the US, while in the UK, they are 19% higher. In most EU countries, the iPhone 16 Pro is priced at roughly 25% above the US level.
Why is Turkey an outlier in iPhone pricing?
Turkey imposes a Special Consumption Tax (ÖTV) of 50% on smartphones, in addition to VAT and several other fees. These combined taxes significantly drive up the retail price, making Turkey the most expensive country to buy an iPhone 16 Pro on the list.
According to a social media post by tax expert Ozan Bingöl, several layered taxes and fees significantly inflate the price of an iPhone in Turkey.
First, the Ministry of Culture charges a 1% fee on the base price, then there is a a 12% "banderole" charge to support the public broadcaster TRT. Then, a 50% Special Consumption Tax (ÖTV) is applied on top of those amounts. Finally, a 20% VAT is levied on the entire amount — including all previous taxes and fees, not just the phone.
In Bingöl's example from March 2024, the base (pre-tax) price of an iPhone was 53,040 Turkish lira, but after all taxes and fees, the final retail price reached 107,999 lira — more than double the original price. This reflects a total effective tax rate of 103.4%. This aligns with the 202% iPhone Price Index relative to the US.
Affordability gap widens with income
Of course, the retail price of an iPhone, including taxes, does not reflect how affordable it is for consumers. Affordability depends on income levels, which vary significantly across Europe. For example, Picodi.com's iPhone Index 2024 estimates how many days the average person needs to work to afford an iPhone 16 Pro. The results range from just 4 days in Switzerland to 72.9 days in Turkey. Within the EU, the range spans from 6.1 days in Luxembourg to 26.6 days in Greece.
Hourly wages and salary levels further show these disparities. According to Eurostat, the average hourly wage in the EU in 2024 was €25.20, ranging from €9.20 in Bulgaria to €48.40 in Luxembourg, with Denmark close behind at €43.60.
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