How do the prices of high-end cars compare around the world?

Cars have long been much more than just a way of getting from A to B, acting as a status symbol for those who can afford the very best on four wheels.

Offering extreme comfort on the inside, a smooth ride, and adept performance, these vehicles are the best of the best.

It goes without saying that they’re not cheap to buy nor insure, but did you know that the price you pay for a car changes quite a lot depending on where in the world you live?

We’ve compared five luxury vehicles on their recommended retail price in over 30 markets around the world to see how the cost stacks up.

The most expensive countries to buy a luxury car

1. Israel

Mercedes-Benz S-Class – $335,757
Range Rover – $368,101
Audi e-tron Quattro – $161,943
Tesla Model S – $147,689
BMW X7 – $274,150

By far the most expensive of the countries that we looked at was Israel, coming out as the most expensive nation for each of the five models of luxury cars.

In Israel, a new Range Rover will set you back an incredible $368,101, with the Mercedes-Benz S-Class not far behind on $335,757.

So, why are cars so expensive here? It all comes down to tax, with locals having to pay around 80% of the value of the vehicle in purchase tax, with VAT and sometimes import charges on top of this.

2. Denmark

Mercedes-Benz S-Class – $281,384
Range Rover – $326,333
Audi e-tron Quattro – $89,222
Tesla Model S – $132,374

In second was Denmark, which was the second-most expensive country for three of the vehicles we looked at (note that prices were unavailable for the BMW X5 in Denmark).

Again, taxes are a large part of the reason luxury cars are so expensive here, although Denmark is known as a country with a fairly high cost of living too.

3. Finland

Mercedes-Benz S-Class – $186,209
Range Rover – $163,765
Audi e-tron Quattro – $92,164
Tesla Model S – $108,734
BMW X7 – $154,778

Some way behind Israel and Denmark, Finland takes third place with an average price across all five vehicles of $141,130.

While slightly more affordable than those two countries, a luxury car in Finland certainly won’t come cheap, with drivers paying $186,209 for a Mercedes S-Class, $163,765 for a Range Rover, and $154,778 for a BMW X7.

The cheapest countries to buy a luxury car

1. United States

Mercedes-Benz S-Class – $94,250
Range Rover – $92,000
Audi e-tron Quattro – $65,900
Tesla Model S – $79,990
BMW X7 – $74,900

It might come as a surprise to some, but the cheapest country in which to buy a luxury car is actually the United States.

As with those countries at the top end of the scale, the reason once again comes down to taxes, but also the fact that the US has a much bigger population and driving is much more popular than taking public transport, therefore there’s a bigger demand for cars and thus, manufacturers have to lower their prices to stay ahead of the competition.

2. Canada

Mercedes-Benz S-Class – $100,476
Range Rover – $100,151
Audi e-tron Quattro – $69,642
Tesla Model S – $93,553
BMW X7 – $83,716

With the US coming out as the cheapest location for buying a luxury car, perhaps it’s no surprise that neighboring Canada takes second place.

The reasons are largely similar to those in the States, but with a smaller, sparser population, it stands to reason that prices in Canada would be slightly higher than across the border.

3. Japan

Mercedes-Benz S-Class – $116,755
Range Rover – $134,814
Audi e-tron Quattro – $84,248
Tesla Model S – $97,512
BMW X7 – $100,591

Another major automotive producing nation comes in third place, with the average price across our five models standing at $106,784 in Japan.

Like the US, Japan has one of the largest economies in the world, and therefore lots of people who are looking to buy cars, often buying the newest models as soon as they come out.

Methodology

All prices were sourced from the local websites of Mercedes-Benz, Land Rover, Audi, Tesla, and BMW and refer to the ‘on the road’ price as displayed on the website, including any additional taxes and fees.

Note that we looked at OECD member countries, excluding those for which prices were unavailable for the majority of the five vehicles.

A handful of countries either didn’t sell the vehicles we chose to look at, or pricing wasn’t readily available on the manufacturers’ websites.