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Where the iPhone 13 Series Is Cheapest—and Most Expensive by Region

The U.S. appears among the cheapest reported markets for a 128GB iPhone 13, while Brazil is among the most expensive—but taxes, stock, condition and import costs can change the result.
From TheFinanceBase Team7 min to read
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Short answer: For a 128GB, unlocked iPhone 13 in reported 2026 listings, the United States appears among the cheapest markets, while Brazil appears among the most expensive. Turkey, Hungary and other high-tax markets can also be costly. This is not a definitive global ranking: the iPhone 13, 13 mini, 13 Pro and 13 Pro Max are no longer uniformly stocked as current Apple Store products, and prices vary by condition, seller, tax treatment, storage and exchange rate.

The comparison below uses the latest reported figures available on August 18, 2026, separates historical launch prices from current reseller prices, and shows why the cheapest shelf price may not be the cheapest imported phone.

What counts as the iPhone 13 series?

The family includes four different phones:

  • iPhone 13
  • iPhone 13 mini
  • iPhone 13 Pro
  • iPhone 13 Pro Max

They had different launch prices, storage options and supply. A country that is cheapest for an iPhone 13 may not be cheapest for a Pro Max. Any fair comparison must also match storage, condition, unlock status, seller type, tax basis and exchange-rate date.

Why there is no single worldwide “cheapest country”

Apple’s current stores primarily promote newer generations. The iPhone 13 is now generally remaining inventory, a retailer item, refurbished stock or a used phone rather than a consistently listed current Apple product. Apple’s refurbished storefront advertises one-year warranty coverage, full functional testing and savings of up to 15%, but its current listings do not establish a live, uniform iPhone 13 price: Apple Certified Refurbished.

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“Price” can mean several different things:

  • Official Apple list price
  • New old-stock retailer price
  • Carrier-subsidized or bill-credit price
  • Certified-refurbished price
  • Used, unlocked-market price
  • Tourist price after an eligible tax refund
  • Landed import cost after shipping, customs and local tax

A $499 United States listing is not directly comparable with a tax-inclusive Indian listing unless both phones are the same model and storage, equally new, unlocked, warranty-supported and measured on the same tax basis.

Reported 128GB iPhone 13 prices by market

The following figures come from a 2026 secondary comparison. They are approximate converted prices, not a synchronized Apple Store survey. The source does not establish that every listing was simultaneously available, new, unlocked, tax-inclusive or sold by an authorized Apple channel.

Market Reported local price Approximate comparison What it suggests
United States $499 ₹41,916 Lowest reported figure, but U.S. sales tax may be extra
India ₹43,499 ₹43,499 Close to the reported U.S. figure before U.S. tax
UAE AED 1,899 ₹46,200 Low-tax market, but travel and warranty costs still matter
Canada C$749 ₹46,438 Tax treatment and provincial sales tax vary
Australia A$849 ₹47,544 Reported retailer price
Hungary HUF 189,900 ₹50,200 Higher-tax European example
Turkey TRY 25,000 ₹52,700 High reported local price; import and registration rules add risk
Thailand ฿19,900 ₹55,200 Reported retailer-market figure
Japan ¥98,800 ₹57,200 Ranking can move with yen and Apple price revisions
China CNY 4,999 ₹62,900 Reported local-market figure
Brazil BRL 4,999 ₹83,700 Highest figure in this comparison

Source: Cashify’s country comparison. Because conditions and seller types are not standardized, this table indicates a market pattern rather than proving a permanent ranking.

Which regions are usually cheapest?

United States

The United States is a strong low-price candidate for new old stock, retailer-refurbished and used unlocked units. The main trap is tax: advertised prices normally exclude state and local sales tax. A $499 sticker can therefore be materially higher at checkout. Carrier promotions may also require a new line, trade-in or monthly bill credits, so they should not be treated as an outright phone price.

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Japan and East Asian markets

Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong and Taiwan have often been competitive in Apple price comparisons. Exchange rates and local Apple revisions can quickly change that position. A 2026 report documented a July price increase in Japan for newer iPhones, so an old claim that Japan is always cheapest is unsafe: current 2026 regional comparison.

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Japanese-market devices may have region-specific camera-shutter behavior, different model numbers and different cellular-band combinations. Confirm compatibility before buying.

United Arab Emirates

The UAE often benefits from relatively low VAT and competitive electronics retail. It is not automatically cheaper after airfare, foreign-exchange spreads, baggage or courier costs. Confirm that a retailer is selling UAE stock rather than an imported gray-market unit, and check warranty and return terms.

Which regions are usually most expensive?

Brazil

Brazil is frequently near the expensive end of Apple price comparisons. Import duties, local taxes, distribution costs, currency movements and regional pricing policy can create a large gap versus U.S. equivalents. The reported 128GB figure above was the highest in the cited iPhone 13 comparison, although a major sale or used-market listing can be cheaper than official or old-stock pricing.

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Turkey

Turkey also regularly ranks among the most expensive official Apple markets. Taxes, import costs, currency volatility and regulatory requirements all contribute. Registration and network rules can materially change the cost of an imported phone, so the local shelf price should not be described as pure Apple markup.

Hungary, Egypt and other high-tax markets

International comparisons for newer iPhones frequently place Hungary and Egypt near the expensive end as well. Those results provide context about tax and pricing structures, not proof that every iPhone 13 configuration has the same ranking. The Indian Express analysis specifically notes that Turkey, Brazil and Egypt can exceed India for newer iPhones.

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India is not automatically the most expensive

India can be more expensive than the United States or UAE for an iPhone 13 when stock is scarce, but it should not be labeled the world’s costliest market without model-specific evidence. Compare India’s historical MRP with the actual discounted retailer price, and determine whether the phone is new, open-box, refurbished or used. GST treatment, Indian warranty eligibility and replacement policy also affect the real value. Apple’s India storefront is at Apple India.

Model-by-model comparison: what can be established

Publicly reported 2026 figures are concentrated on the standard 128GB iPhone 13. Comparable, simultaneous prices for the mini, Pro and Pro Max were not established in the available data, so assigning them a cheapest or most expensive country would create false precision.

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Model baseline Cheapest observed market Local price USD equivalent Most expensive observed market Local price USD equivalent Tax/condition basis
iPhone 13, 128GB United States (reported) $499 $499 before possible sales tax Brazil (reported) BRL 4,999 Approx. ₹83,700 conversion Secondary reseller comparison; standardization not established
iPhone 13 mini, 128GB Not stated Not stated Not stated Not stated Not stated Not stated No comparable 2026 set established
iPhone 13 Pro, 128GB Not stated Not stated Not stated Not stated Not stated Not stated No comparable 2026 set established
iPhone 13 Pro Max, 128GB Not stated Not stated Not stated Not stated Not stated Not stated No comparable 2026 set established

For historical context only, Apple’s U.S. launch prices were $699 for the mini, $799 for the iPhone 13, $999 for the Pro and $1,099 for the Pro Max. Apple’s Canadian launch prices were C$949, C$1,099, C$1,399 and C$1,549 respectively. These 2022 figures are not current prices: Apple’s U.S. announcement and Canadian announcement.

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How to calculate the price you will actually pay

Use this formula rather than comparing foreign stickers:

Purchase price + local sales tax or VAT − eligible tax refund + currency-conversion fees + shipping or baggage + customs duty + import VAT/GST + registration fees + expected warranty or service cost = effective cost.

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  1. Match model, storage and physical condition.
  2. Confirm the phone is unlocked, not activation-locked and not dependent on a carrier promotion.
  3. Convert currencies using the same-day rate and include your card or exchange-house spread.
  4. Check whether displayed tax is included. U.S. prices commonly exclude sales tax; many other markets display VAT-inclusive prices.
  5. Ask customs or the carrier about duty, import VAT, registration and brokerage before purchase.
  6. Verify warranty service, return rights, battery health and cellular-band compatibility in your home country.

Regional checks before buying abroad

  • United States: add state and local sales tax; distinguish unlocked retail stock from carrier-financed offers; check SIM and eSIM configuration.
  • Japan: confirm camera-shutter behavior, model number and bands; do not rely on an old “Japan is cheapest” ranking.
  • UAE: verify VAT treatment, tourist-refund eligibility and whether the unit is UAE stock.
  • India: compare MRP with the actual sale price and verify Indian warranty and replacement eligibility.
  • Brazil and Turkey: account for local taxes, scarcity, registration and import rules before treating a foreign purchase as a bargain.

Apple warranty service should not be assumed to be automatically worldwide. Service can depend on local product availability, repair parts, regional model differences and applicable law. Check the current terms for the exact device before paying.

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Is importing worthwhile?

Importing can make sense when the foreign phone is genuinely unlocked, the tax-adjusted price remains lower, and the buyer already has a low-cost trip or reliable shipping route. It is usually poor value when savings depend on a pre-tax U.S. sticker, a carrier bill credit, an uncertain refurbisher or an undocumented tax refund. A domestic refurbished phone with a clear return policy may cost slightly more while eliminating customs, compatibility and warranty risks.

For high-trust purchases, compare Apple Certified Refurbished inventory first, then major retailer open-box or refurbished stock, followed by verified unlocked marketplaces. Apple’s current refurbished inventory does not prove that an iPhone 13 is available, so check the live listing rather than assuming it is.

Bottom-line regional verdict

On the reported 128GB iPhone 13 listings available for August 18, 2026, the United States appears among the cheapest and Brazil among the most expensive. Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan and the UAE are plausible low-price markets in broader Apple comparisons, while Turkey, Hungary and Egypt often sit toward the high end. Those are market tendencies, not a permanent ranking for every iPhone 13 model.

The defensible buying decision comes from comparing the same model, storage, condition, unlock status, seller, tax-inclusive price, warranty and landed cost on the same date.

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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

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