The version that is referred to has to be the 15" with extra SSD and more expensive CPU.

Before taxes Apple's prices varies around 10% with Japan and USA consistently being the cheapest. (Excluding "special" cases like Venezuela or mainland China with has either special import taxes or a failing currency.)

VAT (sales tax) in Europe is in general around 20%; for a company this tax is fully deductible.

Also in Europe we usually talk about VAT included prices, while in the US they talk about VAT excluded prices.

I don't know if that's the case here. The only Apple products I have are a 1991 PowerBook and a Macintosh II (first model) I keep as mementos.

Could you explain the VAT tax deduction? When I was in Europe I purchased one expensive thing, and I got a refund for VAT at the airport. This was nice and made sense. But otherwise I don't understand it.

As noted elsewhere in this thread. UK consumer law also forces bundled 6-year warranties on electronics which adds substantially to the costs.