Or alternatively, if you live in Canada, you get a $20 price drop. Most bundles are now $429.99 instead of $449.99. Wowee. Yay for the Canadian dollar.
I actually wanted to discuss this (rationally...) with someone as I see it pop up on forums all the time with the price difference between Canada and the US, and there are other factors I am genuinely curious if they have an overall economic effect. So here goes.
Example for me, in the US factoring in taxes and income deductions.
Right now, a PlayStation 4 system costs $399.99 plus tax. The current tax rate in my area is 8%. So total cost is
$431.98My last paycheck was $1,297.50.
$277.83 was withheld for various taxes and health insurance premiums. If I have to go to the doctor, I have to pay $50 out of pocket. An ER visit costs me $100 out of pocket. Prescriptions (with my insurance) costs $8 for generic, $35 for brand-name (of which many medications have no generic alternative in the US yet) and if they consider it non-formulary (ie a newer medicine they don't want to pay for even if it is the best medicine for your ailment or condition), they have the option of charging you up to $100 per prescription or not covering it at all. Wonderful American health care system at work!
So basically, as an American I am taxed/billed/charged
21.4% of my pay right off the top. This doesn't include actually
going to a doctor which is more or filling a prescription which is outrageous.
I'm genuinely curious how this compares to standard of living in Canada, Europe and elsewhere.