By Hongkiat Lim. in Gadgets. Updated on.
We all know that the official prices of Apple products are pretty much fixed; they are as accurate as announced or whatever you see on the official Apple.com page. But did you know that, even if that’s the case, you can still purchase Apple products (iPad, iPhone, or even the Mac, for example) at a better bargain price depending on the country you visit?
Well, yes, you can.
In this post, we aim to show you the common Apple products and their prices in various countries in Asia. We’ll also compare to see if they are cheaper and, if so, by how much.
Can Apple Products Really Be Cheaper?
Short answer: Yes. But it depends greatly on what you are purchasing, the local currency exchange rate with the USD, and the amount of tax return you receive as a tourist.
Take the MacBook Air 13″ M1 as an example. Its official listed price is USD $999. Now, if you were to buy it in Thailand, for instance, it would cost you ฿34,900. If you convert that back to USD, it amounts to USD $961. As you can see, it’s already slightly cheaper.
Additionally, there’s the tax refund for tourists. In Thailand’s case, it’s 7%. So, with all these factors taken into consideration, the MacBook Air 13″ M1, originally priced at USD $999, can be as low as ฿32,457, or $894, giving you a potential discount of roughly 10%.
How Do We Compare?
Before we present you with all the tables, numbers, and comparisons, here’s an explanation of the factors we considered during the comparison.
First, we take the official price of the products from Apple.com, which is in USD, and compare it to the official price of the product in its local currency. Using the latest currency exchange rates, we then identify the differences. From this, you’ll already get an idea if you can secure a better deal based solely on the currency exchange rate.
Next, we factor in the tax rebate you might receive as a tourist and calculate the final price you would be paying. We also determine the percentage of savings/discount, assuming the product is indeed cheaper.
Currency Exchange Rates:
The exchange rate (in comparison to USD) is taken from Google Finance and is automatically updated every 20 minutes.
Where to Buy Apple Products in Asia?
Here’s a list of Apple products we are comparing against various places and countries in Asia, including Australia and New Zealand.
| 🇸🇬 Singapore | 🇲🇾 Malaysia | 🇹🇭 Thailand | 🇭🇰 Hong Kong | 🇹🇼 Taiwan |
| 🇨🇳 China | 🇯🇵 Japan | 🇰🇷 South Korea | 🇦🇺 Australia | 🇳🇿 New Zealand |
And here’s a brief explanation of what each column in the tables below represent:
- Apple Product
- Apple.com: The official price of the product from Apple.com or Apple.com/us/, in USD.
- Local: The official price of the product from its respective official Apple website of the country.
- Local to USD: The official local price, converted to USD using the latest currency exchange rate.
- Net: The price of the product after deducting the tax rebate. (if applicable).
- Net (USD): The final price, converted back to USD using the latest currency exchange rate.
- Saved: The percentage you can potentially save (if any).
All prices of Apple products listed in this post are derived from Apple.com or the official Apple website of their respective countries; the tax rebate numbers and related information are sourced from the respective countries’ government websites and are cited below.
🇸🇬 Singapore
Related Information and links:
- Singapore’s Official Apple Website
- Tax Refund in Singapore: Tourists in Singapore can get a refund on the 8% Goods and Services Tax (GST) for purchases over S$100 at certain shops. Learn more about the Tax Refund Scheme. To qualify, you must leave Singapore with your items within two months of buying and claim the refund within 12 hours of approval. Details here.
- Must-Have Travel Apps for Exploring Singapore
🇲🇾 Malaysia
Related Information and links:
- Malaysia’s Official Apple Website
- Tax Refund in Malaysia: Tourists can get a refund on the Goods and Services Tax (GST) they’ve paid on eligible items bought in Malaysia. This is part of the Tourist Refund Scheme (TRS). To get the refund, you must buy from an approved store and claim your refund when you leave Malaysia from a major airport. The maximum cash refund is MYR300. Read more about the scheme here and here.
- Must-Have Travel Apps for Exploring Malaysia
🇹🇭 Thailand
Related Information and links:
- Thailand’s Official Apple Website
- Tax Refund in Thailand: Tourists can get a 7% refund on the Value-Added Tax (VAT) they’ve paid on luxury items bought in Thailand. This is possible when shopping at stores that are part of the ‘VAT Refund for Tourists’ program. Learn more about this refund here.
- Must-Have Travel Apps for Exploring Thailand
🇭🇰 Hong Kong
Related Information and links:
- Hong Kong’s Official Apple Website
- Tax Refund in Hong Kong: Hong Kong is a tax-free port, meaning there are no sales taxes on any products.
🇹🇼 Taiwan
Related Information and links:
- Taiwan’s Official Apple Website
- Tax Refund in Taiwan: Tourists who stay in Taiwan for less than 183 days can apply for a 5% tax refund. Make sure to have a valid passport or travel document. Learn more about the refund process here.
- Must-Have Travel Apps for Exploring Taiwan
🇨🇳 China
Related Information and links:
- China’s Official Apple Website
- Tax Refund in China: Overseas tourists, including those from Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan, can get VAT refunds on items bought in mainland China if they stay for less than 183 days. Refund rates are 11% for items taxed at 13% and 8% for items taxed at 9%. A 2% commission is charged on the total invoice value. Refunds are in RMB. Amounts over RMB 10,000 are transferred to a bank, while amounts under RMB 10,000 can be cash or bank transfer, based on the tourist’s choice. Details here.
- Must-Have Travel Apps for Exploring China
🇰🇷 South Korea
Related Information and links:
- Korea’s Official Apple Website
- Tax Refund in South Korea: Your tax refund is based on your spending, the 10% VAT in Korea, and the refund agency’s service charge. After deductions, you’ll likely get back about 4-7%. Some duty-free shops offer instant tax refunds. For this, each purchase should be between 30,000 won and 500,000 won (700,000 won starting 2024), with your total trip spending under 2,500,000 won. Always show your passport when buying. Details here.
- Must-Have Travel Apps for Exploring South Korea
🇯🇵 Japan
Related Information and links:
- Japan’s Official Apple Website
- Tax Refund in Japan: In Japan, there’s a 10% standard VAT. Tourists can claim a tax refund at specific stores if they spend at least 5,000 yen. To qualify, visitors must be non-Japanese nationals staying for less than six months. Refund applications should be made in person on the purchase day during store hours. More information here.
- Must-Have Travel Apps for Exploring Japan
🇦🇺 Australia
Related Information and links:
- Australia’s Official Apple Website
- Tax Refund in Australia: In Australia, the Tourist Refund Scheme (TRS) offers both international visitors and Australians a 10% refund on many purchases. This includes the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and the Wine Equalisation Tax (WET) for items taken out of the country by plane or ship. To be eligible, you must buy the items within 60 days before departing and spend at least AUD 300. Details here.
🇳🇿 New Zealand
Related Information and links:
- New Zealand’s Official Apple Website
- Tax Refund in New Zealand: In New Zealand, tourists don’t get tax rebates. But, some shops might not charge GST if you show them your flight tickets. Usually, the prices already include the GST.
