Yes, a pair of Nike shoes are cheaper in the USA than in other countries. One pair of Nike in the US could cost you about $120 on average, which is cheaper than the cost in other countries.
Nike is an American multinational corporation engaged in the design, development, manufacturing, and worldwide marketing and sales of footwear, apparel, equipment, accessories, and services. However, Nike shoes are the major attraction of this big-time corporation.
But the question is, are Nike shoes cheaper in the US than in other countries? If so, why is it like that?
We will also discuss the factors responsible for Nike being cheaper in the US than in other countries, along with comparing prices and explaining why Nike products are expensive despite being outsourced from third-world countries.
I will not go a lot into the technicalities and will try to keep it as short as possible. So, let’s dive into this topic and try to figure out if Nike is cheaper in the USA or not.
Is Nike Cheaper In The US Than Other Countries?
Yes, Nike is comparatively cheaper in US stores than in stores in other countries.
It is not very shocking to know that an American multinational corporation sells its products for cheaper in its home country than overseas.
Despite where their shoes are manufactured and delivered from, the company knowingly makes its customers pay for shipping and customs charges by adding them to the product’s price.
So, if you see a major difference, (more than $20 to $30), it is because of this.
Nike also follows the same practice, which is why you can see a pair of Air Force sells for about $120 in the US stores but in other countries, say India, for about ₹11,000 to ₹12,000, which is around $135 to $145.
A survey revealed that the US probably has the most affordable Air Force 1s around the world, costing only about 1.75% of the average monthly income of an American.
These survey results show that Nike shoes are much more expensive in Asian and African countries, even Europe for that matter.
Why Is Nike Cheaper In the US?
Due to a lack of competition from other famous brands, Nike is more expensive outside of the US. However, in the US, their products are cheaper due to numerous other athletic brands in the country.
1. Fair Competition in the Market
The average cost of living in countries like the USA is higher than in other Asian and African countries. This means that the cost of Nike shoes must be more in the country than outside.
However, that is not the case.
Due to the accessibility and affordability of other famous athletic shoe brands in the market, Nike cannot distort costs and charge ridiculously high prices for its products.
Competition in a free market economy like the USA helps in price moderation, which is why you might find Nike shoes to be $20 to $50 more expensive in many other countries.
The absence of fair competition in the market often leads to high demand. Thus, price surges to continue meeting the demand while maintaining the brand value.
2. Heavy Taxation Policy
Items manufactured for foreign companies sold in many Asian countries are highly taxed. Nike is an American multinational corporation, and most of its products are manufactured in Asian countries where labor is cheap.
Nike has also been accused of using sweatshops for manufacturing its goods. Reports as recent as 2020 have substantial evidence of forced and unsafe labor.
However, despite manufacturing in Asian countries, since the company and the brand name are foreign, heavy tax policies are imposed on Nike shoes, increasing the cost of the products.
Does Nike Manufacture In The US?
Almost all Nike products are manufactured outside of the United States, in countries like China and Vietnam, where labor costs are less.
China and Vietnam are the two countries that account for more than 46% of the manufacturing of Nike shoes, and from there, they are shipped worldwide.
In the last five years, reports of forcing Viets and Uyghur Muslims in China to work in unfavorable labor conditions have also been brought up.
Statistically, Nike shoes cost about $16 in China if you subtract the brand value. With little to no labor costs, China is the leading manufacturer of Nike shoes.
However, Nike also has 35 factories in the USA, which accounts for 6.5% of its total factories worldwide. Thirty of these factories focus on manufacturing apparel, and the rest on making shoes.
Most raw materials in Nike’s supply chain are sourced by independent contractors in the manufacturing host country.
Outsourcing shoe manufacturing to third-world countries, especially Asian countries, where labor costs are cheap and an abundance of sweatshops, is more profitable.
Following is a list of some of the disclosed locations where Nike outsources the manufacturing of its products:
| Country | No. of Factories |
| India | 133 |
| China | 124 |
| Thailand | 73 |
| South Korea | 35 |
| United States | 35 |
| Vietnam | 34 |
| France | 16 |
Nike has over 700 factories in about 180 countries.
Can I Order My Nike Shoes From The US Website?
No, ordering your Nike shoes from the US website is impossible if you do not live in the country.
Nike’s US website only delivers packages to customers who have put a valid American address in their account summary.
Nike US’s online store doesn’t ship internationally outside the United States.
However, suppose you still wish to buy Nike shoes and apparel from Nike US. In that case, you can use a third-party packaging and shipping company for the delivery. Nike, from then on, will not bear the responsibility for the package.
Planet Express’s ‘Shop for Me’ service might be the best fit for you.
Although this is not recommended as the shipping costs and import tax will eventually make your package more expensive than they are in Nike stores in your country.
Thus, the best place to buy Nike products is from Nike outlets in your specific country or online through the Nike shopping portal.
Final Remarks
In this article, we discussed if Nike was cheaper in the USA than in other countries. We also concluded that you could not ship internationally from Nike US.
Here’s a quick recap.
Is Nike cheaper in the USA? Yes, Nike shoes are comparatively cheaper in the US than in other countries. Numerous other athletic brands in the country trigger fair competition in the marketplace, making price distortion almost impossible.
My name is Jeyn Dashner and I am the founder of WanderFever. I have worked as a travel journalist for many years, and exploring new places is my greatest pleasure in life.
