If you hire a circular saw in the N.T. it costs $35 plus government taxes (GST) and charges (state hire tax).
Registering your car costs 'bugger-all' plus lots of taxes and charges.
Buying a set of tyres costs as per the junk mail plus taxes and charges (GST, greenies levy on burning tyres etc)
Having your car serviced costs $x.xx plus a whole stack of taxes and charges relating to disposing of oil and other crap like 'consumables'.
A meal in Singapore will cost you the menu price plus, plus, plus (if you've been there, you'd know).
Sorry Gang, it's the way of the world.
K