Did I just get screwed by verizon?

I just renewed my contract with Verizon on a new iPhone 6s plus. I went the monthly finance payment of ~$27 for 24 months, which in the end after the 24 months equals the full retail value of the phone paid. Realizing that, I thought the deal with renewing a contract was to get a discount on the phone. I see now I'm still paying full price for the phone and locked into another 2 year contract. My wife wants a 6s plus now but her contract isn't up for another year. She can get one now but has to pay full price up front. We're both paying full price in the end so what's the difference?

Yes pretty much

They are just financing the cost of the phone so you can do monthly payments, you could have just paid it up front if you want, thats up to you.

Cell phone carriers are no longer subsidizing the cost of the phone. When you used to buy a phone at a discounted price, the carrier subsidized the cost and actually you paid a little extra on your phone bill, which would cover the cost they paid for the difference in retail cost versus the cost you paid. Now they have changed the plans to slightly reduce your monthly payment, but you pay X amount each month to cover the cost of the phone. In the end, you actually used to pay for the difference in your phone bill with a small up-charge on your service, they just didn't label it that way.