[francisofascii]

An IPhone 14 base model in Nigeria costs $1,571.57 after taxes, where in the US, the cost is $881.64 ($799 + taxes). Why is the cost in Nigeria so much more? Tariffs? Taxes? Even with a US salary that would be pricy. Japan is the least expensive country, $831.43.

[whb07]

Typically taxes. As the good is "officially" imported by some company, tariffs are applied at the port.

So in such countries, the "official" big store price is $price + $tariff + $profit-margin. Or you do what most people in such a place do is either travel abroad and or get a friend etc to bring you one.

The gov gets wise to this and so they then begin saying things like "travelers can only have 1 used phone and 1 new phone on them".

Happened to me once when traveling abroad. I had taken like 2 xboxs to sell for marginal profit, when they opened my bags and confiscated one of them. Had to pay say $100, which for a $200-300 item is a STEEP tariff.

If i didn't pay it, i'd essentially relinquish the item altogether. Sweet life.

[bromuro]

Also in Latin America there are heavy taxes for importing iphones. Why it is so? I suspect a policy to keep the developing markets… developing forever.

[e-clinton]

That’s because they are considered luxury items. You can buy cheap android phones for next to nothing. But agree that gov’s are being short sighted and should strategically reduce taxes on certain items as an investment in education/workforce.

[frxx]

It might be an exchange rate topic? Since you're highlighting Japan, then yen is very weak compared with the dollar right now, so it seems way less expensive. Compared with the previous generations I think it's quite a bit more expensive.