Same thing over here (UK). I've seen technology type items for sale where the price in pounds is almost the same as the price in (US) dollars.We pay more for everything.
It is a rip-off.
It certainly isn't to do with shipping costs or any of that nonsense - it pretty much applies to any software.
For example: Final Draft Software: $249 USD (= $283 AUD)
But if you buy it from the authorised local reseller it is:
Their claimed "Market Price" = $425 AUD (Almost double!!)
They claim that their special 'discount' price is $349 AUD.
They just rip us off. Most of us respond by simply buying from overseas directly via silly tricks to avoid being bounced back automatically to the 'authorised' local distributor.
But they don't care.
Mac