Is iphone 5c is Cheaper?

Is iphone 5c is Cheaper? In the United States, cell phone service providers subsidize the cost of a new phone. Take the 5C as an example. A service provider purchases a 16 DB iPhone 5C from Apple for $549. If you sign a "two year contract" with the service provider stating that you agree to be their customer for two years, (and pay them monthly for their service), they sell you the 16GB iPhone 5C for $99, the idea being that they will recoup the other $450 (and still have room for profit) from the money they make by charging you what they charge you for their service over the two years.