In Louisiana, the iPhone 18 Pro Max costs about $1,431 once sales tax is added. In Oregon, it’s exactly $1,299. Same phone, same 256GB, a $132 difference, and it all comes down to where you live.
Apple lists the iPhone 18 Pro Max at $1,299, but that price never includes sales tax. Using the Tax Foundation’s average combined state and local rates as of July 1, 2026, here’s roughly what you’d pay at checkout, state by state.
How much is the iPhone 18 Pro Max with tax?
With tax, the base iPhone 18 Pro Max costs about $1,397 at the U.S. average combined sales tax rate of 7.53%, according to Tax Foundation data as of July 1, 2026. That’s roughly $98 on top of #Apple’s $1,299 starting price for the 256GB model, as listed by Apple.
The rates below are statewide averages. Your city or county can be higher or lower, so treat each total as a close estimate, not a receipt.
| State | Avg. combined sales tax | Tax on $1,299 | Approx. total |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 9.03% | $117 | $1,416 |
| Illinois | 8.98% | $117 | $1,416 |
| New York | 8.54% | $111 | $1,410 |
| Arizona | 8.54% | $111 | $1,410 |
| Nevada | 8.24% | $107 | $1,406 |
| Texas | 8.20% | $107 | $1,406 |
| Colorado | 7.89% | $102 | $1,401 |
| New Mexico | 7.68% | $100 | $1,399 |
| Georgia | 7.56% | $98 | $1,397 |
| Florida | 6.98% | $91 | $1,390 |
| New Jersey | 6.60% | $86 | $1,385 |
California and Texas, home to the two largest Latino communities in the country, both land above the national average. Florida and New Jersey come in a bit lower. If you’re the one in the familia buying the phone for mamá this holiday season, that extra $100 or so belongs in the budget too.
The 5 states where it costs the most
These five have the highest average combined sales tax in the country, based on the Tax Foundation’s midyear 2026 rankings.
- Louisiana: about $1,431 | At 10.13%, Louisiana tops the list. The tax alone is about $132, the biggest add-on of any state.
- Tennessee: about $1,424 | Tennessee has a 7% state rate, one of the highest in the country, plus local taxes that bring the average to 9.61%.
- Washington: about $1,423 | Washington’s 6.5% state rate plus local add-ons averages 9.57%, just behind Tennessee.
- Arkansas: about $1,422 | The average combined rate of 9.48% adds roughly $123 to the base price.
- Alabama: about $1,422 | Alabama’s state rate is only 4%, but local taxes average 5.46%, the highest local layer in the ranking.
Which states have no sales tax on an iPhone?
Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire and Oregon have no state or local sales tax, so the iPhone 18 Pro Max costs Apple’s listed $1,299 there, according to the Tax Foundation as of July 1, 2026. Alaska has no statewide sales tax, but some local governments charge one, averaging 1.82%.
In Alaska, that works out to about $1,323 on average.
What about the bigger models?
The higher the storage, the bigger the tax bill. MacRumors reports the 2TB iPhone 18 Pro Max at $2,499. In Louisiana, that’s about $253 in sales tax alone, for a total near $2,752.
Before you check out, it’s worth running the numbers with your own local rate. Your state’s department of revenue publishes the official rates for your area, and that’s the number that shows up on your receipt.
Same phone, different total: before you tap “Buy,” check the rate where you live.
