In the UK, the 5C is £469 SIM-free.
That's equivalent to $740.
Nothing against governments and taxes and politics , but since that's across the board towards all cell phones and what-have-nots, the bottom line remains true, iphone 5C is NOT cheap but is insistently advertised and promoted as such.
Those in Asia countries are in the same boat as you. The gov't taxes heavily on American products. But in Asia, tobacco is cheap as a soda. That's great for me, for I smoke all day.
Yea, for priorities!!