No, cars are generally much more expensive in Australia than in the USA, often 30% to 70% more expensive for the exact same model. There are several reasons for this. First, Australia is a right-hand drive market with a relatively small population of 27 million, so manufacturers have lower economies of scale and higher compliance and shipping costs. Second, Australia applies a 5% import duty on most cars, plus 10% GST, and for cars over the Luxury Car Tax threshold, which in 2025-2026 is around $91,387 for fuel-efficient cars and $80,567 for other cars, an additional 33% Luxury Car Tax on the amount above the threshold. Third, the US market is extremely competitive with huge volumes and lower taxes. For example, a Toyota Camry that costs around $28,000 USD in the US costs around $39,000-$42,000 AUD drive-away in Australia, and a BMW 3 Series that is $46,000 USD in the US is $85,000-$95,000 AUD here. Even after currency conversion, Australians pay more. The only exception is some Japanese-built pickup trucks and small SUVs where pricing is closer due to local manufacturing history and competition.
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