Why are price on Steam so different in Australia?

UK is 10% cheaper than US and Canada.
Russia is (usually) 50% cheaper than UK.
Europe is 33% more expensive than UK.

(could you guess i'm from the UK)

But yes, prices are screwed all over

Are you sure you are looking only at the base game price? Dishonored is U$20 for the base but around ~U$30 with all DLC, at least in my country (Brazil).

PS: BTW, most of the games in Brazil are about 10% cheaper than US.

Because Australian customers are used to paying more, so even though they are the same income as the US, companies can charge more. Aus. (and Europe) are used to paying more for things than Americans because in the US, economies of scale, massive higway/commercial railway network, cheap fuel and a large industrial base make the cost of physical goods incredibly cheap (especially in a developed country).

So as a result, digital good prices have to reflect retail prices or people will not buy them.

And then there's the situation where poorer countries have lower prices simply because nobody could afford the same price as developed nations pay. However, those lower priced countries alone could not actually fund game development so publishers have to sell at a higher price where possible to maintain profitability. This is also why most games you buy are heavily American/western European in their outlook and appeal -- those customers are the most lucrative.

Prices are different all over the globe. It's US$ 18.75 around here and US$ 27.13 with all the DLC.

because average income in Australia is bigger

It's not just steam games, it's everything. We pay more than the US for most things. I was having a conversation with someone about it the other day and he reckoned that we pay more here because we get better quality stuff, where the US pays less and gets not-as-good quality things, but I don't completely agree. You can buy the exact same products here a lot of the time at triple the cost.

It's simply because publishers have found Australians will pay more. If you know about the price gouging, you can just buy games imported or digitally at some online stores for more reasonable prices.

Activision is the worst. CoD/D3 launch price set in stone at $90. Even Ninty's only $68 max.

The big publishers and distributors charge more in Australia because they've learned they can get away with it

A while ago, Unreal Indie Bundle come at Brazil for $25.00 BRL, and in the USA it was $20.00 USD, $1.00 USD = $2.14 BRL
The prices change according to the region and it's purchasing power

The difference between all the different prices in each reason is because taxes, licensing, and the value of the currency.

We Eurofags have worst prices. Somehow Steam thinks 1 USD = 1€, which is NOT

I don't know, tell me why in NYC(Expensive as hell to live here might I add) I am getting paid 7.25 minimum wage an hour when in Australia its like 16 an hour? I would gladly trade you my lower game prices for your minimum wage in a heart beat.

:-)

I'm surprised by the lack of sweeping statements and stereotypes about Australia, so here's a template to help you.

+Because [insert comment about good weather, bbq, cute girls here]
Or
-Because [history of convicts, stealing, balancing things out]

Prices in Russia and Brazil are lower because of high piracy rates.

Prices in Australia are higher because the populace is too busy fighting off feral huntsman spiders and rabid eucalyptus leaves to realize how badly they're getting screwed over.

Is that better?

big compinies like too fuck australia

dark souls US=$40, dark souls AU/NZ=$70... or even worse... Lord of the Rings:war in the north US=$20, in AU/NZ=$74...

Because valve supports price gouging. Any other suggested reason is bullshit.

€ FTW!!! :/

Let's look at it in different way. I have to work circa 23 hours for a premiere game at full Steam price, with a salary typical for a low level public servant, half the average salary in my country and 1,3 of minimal wage.

How many working hours AAA class game costs you?

Oh, BTW, 16-18 out of 20 working days in month goes to paying the bills, which explains why I rarely buy games more expensive than a gallon of gas/90 minutes of work :P.

The kangaroo tax is to blame. According to Australian laws every game that doesn't feature a kangaroo (or at least 2 koalas) as either protagonist, NPC, race or weapon should pay additional taxes.

All steam is unfair.
Why countires like POLAND, CZECH REPUBLIK, HUNGARY must pay in EURO?, when they have own currency (PLN,CZK,HUF) they should pay in own currency or in dollars.
Why prizing in PL,CZ,HU Steam Shop is 4x highest than in local gameshops?.

Gabe is racist. I heard he got dumped by an Australian before.

Ebgames.