Cost of Living Comparison Between China and South Africa 
| Indices Difference |  |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living in South Africa is 1.5% higher than in China (excluding rent) | |
| Cost of Living Including Rent in South Africa is 2.0% higher than in China | |
| Rent Prices in South Africa are 3.8% higher than in China | |
| Restaurant Prices in South Africa are 38.3% higher than in China | |
| Groceries Prices in South Africa are 17.6% lower than in China | |
| Local Purchasing Power in South Africa is 31.8% higher than in China | |
Restaurants | China Edit |
South Africa Edit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant |
21.00 ¥ (54.28 R) |
61.91 ¥ (160.00 R) |
+194.8 % |
| Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course |
180.00 ¥ (465.22 R) |
270.84 ¥ (700.00 R) |
+50.5 % |
| McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal) |
35.25 ¥ (91.11 R) |
34.82 ¥ (89.99 R) |
-1.2 % |
| Domestic Beer (1 pint draught) |
7.00 ¥ (18.09 R) |
15.48 ¥ (40.00 R) |
+121.1 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) |
15.00 ¥ (38.77 R) |
17.41 ¥ (45.00 R) |
+16.1 % |
| Cappuccino (regular) |
22.20 ¥ (57.37 R) |
13.76 ¥ (35.56 R) |
-38.0 % |
| Coke/Pepsi (12 oz small bottle) |
3.29 ¥ (8.49 R) |
6.75 ¥ (17.46 R) |
+105.6 % |
| Water (12 oz small bottle) |
2.06 ¥ (5.31 R) |
5.26 ¥ (13.58 R) |
+155.6 % |
Markets | China Edit |
South Africa Edit | |
| Milk (regular), (1 gallon) |
49.13 ¥ (126.97 R) |
28.48 ¥ (73.61 R) |
-42.0 % |
| Loaf of Fresh White Bread (1 lb) |
10.80 ¥ (27.91 R) |
6.21 ¥ (16.04 R) |
-42.5 % |
| Rice (white), (1 lb) |
3.06 ¥ (7.92 R) |
4.93 ¥ (12.74 R) |
+60.8 % |
| Eggs (regular) (12) |
11.63 ¥ (30.07 R) |
15.66 ¥ (40.49 R) |
+34.6 % |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) |
42.67 ¥ (110.29 R) |
23.84 ¥ (61.62 R) |
-44.1 % |
| Chicken Fillets (1 lb) |
10.77 ¥ (27.85 R) |
14.31 ¥ (36.99 R) |
+32.8 % |
| Beef Round (1 lb) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) |
35.50 ¥ (91.75 R) |
21.03 ¥ (54.36 R) |
-40.7 % |
| Apples (1 lb) |
5.83 ¥ (15.06 R) |
4.78 ¥ (12.35 R) |
-18.0 % |
| Banana (1 lb) |
4.16 ¥ (10.74 R) |
4.46 ¥ (11.54 R) |
+7.4 % |
| Oranges (1 lb) |
4.89 ¥ (12.64 R) |
4.64 ¥ (11.98 R) |
-5.2 % |
| Tomato (1 lb) |
3.83 ¥ (9.90 R) |
4.75 ¥ (12.28 R) |
+24.0 % |
| Potato (1 lb) |
2.45 ¥ (6.34 R) |
3.83 ¥ (9.90 R) |
+56.1 % |
| Onion (1 lb) |
2.95 ¥ (7.64 R) |
4.07 ¥ (10.52 R) |
+37.8 % |
| Lettuce (1 head) |
4.34 ¥ (11.21 R) |
7.20 ¥ (18.60 R) |
+66.0 % |
| Water (1.5 liter bottle) |
3.96 ¥ (10.24 R) |
6.55 ¥ (16.93 R) |
+65.3 % |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) |
80.00 ¥ (206.76 R) |
32.89 ¥ (85.00 R) |
-58.9 % |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle) |
5.79 ¥ (14.97 R) |
9.28 ¥ (23.97 R) |
+60.1 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) |
11.84 ¥ (30.60 R) |
11.88 ¥ (30.70 R) |
+0.3 % |
| Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro) |
25.00 ¥ (64.61 R) |
20.12 ¥ (52.00 R) |
-19.5 % |
Transportation | China Edit |
South Africa Edit | |
| One-way Ticket (Local Transport) |
3.00 ¥ (7.75 R) |
11.61 ¥ (30.00 R) |
+286.9 % |
| Monthly Pass (Regular Price) |
193.63 ¥ (500.44 R) |
309.53 ¥ (800.00 R) |
+59.9 % |
| Taxi Start (Normal Tariff) |
10.00 ¥ (25.85 R) |
7.74 ¥ (20.00 R) |
-22.6 % |
| Taxi 1 mile (Normal Tariff) |
4.02 ¥ (10.40 R) |
12.45 ¥ (32.19 R) |
+209.5 % |
| Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff) |
48.00 ¥ (124.06 R) |
32.89 ¥ (85.00 R) |
-31.5 % |
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
31.23 ¥ (80.70 R) |
33.58 ¥ (86.78 R) |
+7.5 % |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car) |
140,000.00 ¥ (361,836.89 R) |
143,158.43 ¥ (370,000.00 R) |
+2.3 % |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car) |
121,380.04 ¥ (313,712.69 R) |
162,812.39 ¥ (420,796.63 R) |
+34.1 % |
Utilities (Monthly) | China Edit |
South Africa Edit | |
| Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 915 sq ft Apartment |
371.17 ¥ (959.31 R) |
776.15 ¥ (2,005.99 R) |
+109.1 % |
| Mobile Phone Monthly Plan with Calls and 10GB+ Data |
71.95 ¥ (185.97 R) |
218.40 ¥ (564.47 R) |
+203.5 % |
| Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) |
83.29 ¥ (215.27 R) |
284.42 ¥ (735.09 R) |
+241.5 % |
Sports And Leisure | China Edit |
South Africa Edit | |
| Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult |
287.80 ¥ (743.84 R) |
217.30 ¥ (561.62 R) |
-24.5 % |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend) |
106.26 ¥ (274.64 R) |
70.02 ¥ (180.96 R) |
-34.1 % |
| Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat |
45.00 ¥ (116.30 R) |
46.43 ¥ (120.00 R) |
+3.2 % |
Childcare | China Edit |
South Africa Edit | |
| Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child |
2,991.54 ¥ (7,731.77 R) |
1,326.46 ¥ (3,428.30 R) |
-55.7 % |
| International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child |
128,384.29 ¥ (331,815.51 R) |
31,453.77 ¥ (81,293.82 R) |
-75.5 % |
Clothing And Shoes | China Edit |
South Africa Edit | |
| 1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar) |
335.79 ¥ (867.87 R) |
337.43 ¥ (872.09 R) |
+0.5 % |
| 1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, ...) |
235.11 ¥ (607.64 R) |
213.55 ¥ (551.94 R) |
-9.2 % |
| 1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) |
523.27 ¥ (1,352.41 R) |
632.82 ¥ (1,635.55 R) |
+20.9 % |
| 1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes |
540.27 ¥ (1,396.35 R) |
546.33 ¥ (1,412.01 R) |
+1.1 % |
Rent Per Month | China Edit |
South Africa Edit | |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre |
3,338.60 ¥ (8,628.77 R) |
3,117.91 ¥ (8,058.38 R) |
-6.6 % |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre |
1,954.71 ¥ (5,052.03 R) |
2,536.44 ¥ (6,555.55 R) |
+29.8 % |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre |
6,956.72 ¥ (17,979.99 R) |
6,258.48 ¥ (16,175.35 R) |
-10.0 % |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre |
3,984.61 ¥ (10,298.41 R) |
4,940.84 ¥ (12,769.83 R) |
+24.0 % |
Buy Apartment Price | China Edit |
South Africa Edit | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre |
4,546.48 ¥ (11,750.61 R) |
654.81 ¥ (1,692.39 R) |
-85.6 % |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre |
2,200.41 ¥ (5,687.06 R) |
494.94 ¥ (1,279.20 R) |
-77.5 % |
Salaries And Financing | China Edit |
South Africa Edit | |
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) |
6,756.61 ¥ (17,462.80 R) |
9,087.15 ¥ (23,486.18 R) |
+34.5 % |
| Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate | 4.14 | 11.56 | +178.9 % |
| Last update: | April 2025 | April 2025 | |
| Contributors in the past 12 months: | 1276 | 663 |
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