Cost of Living Comparison Between Saudi Arabia and South Africa 
| Indices Difference |  |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living in South Africa is 27.7% lower than in Saudi Arabia (excluding rent) | |
| Cost of Living Including Rent in South Africa is 23.5% lower than in Saudi Arabia | |
| Rent Prices in South Africa are 4.8% lower than in Saudi Arabia | |
| Restaurant Prices in South Africa are 12.1% lower than in Saudi Arabia | |
| Groceries Prices in South Africa are 31.1% lower than in Saudi Arabia | |
| Local Purchasing Power in South Africa is 25.0% lower than in Saudi Arabia | |
Restaurants | Saudi Arabia Edit |
South Africa Edit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant |
25.00 ﷼ (125.71 R) |
31.82 ﷼ (160.00 R) |
+27.3 % |
| Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course |
150.00 ﷼ (754.26 R) |
139.21 ﷼ (700.00 R) |
-7.2 % |
| McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal) |
30.00 ﷼ (150.85 R) |
17.90 ﷼ (89.99 R) |
-40.3 % |
| Domestic Beer (1 pint draught) |
7.00 ﷼ (35.20 R) |
7.95 ﷼ (40.00 R) |
+13.6 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) |
6.00 ﷼ (30.17 R) |
8.95 ﷼ (45.00 R) |
+49.2 % |
| Cappuccino (regular) |
13.66 ﷼ (68.68 R) |
7.07 ﷼ (35.56 R) |
-48.2 % |
| Coke/Pepsi (12 oz small bottle) |
2.76 ﷼ (13.86 R) |
3.47 ﷼ (17.46 R) |
+25.9 % |
| Water (12 oz small bottle) |
0.94 ﷼ (4.75 R) |
2.70 ﷼ (13.58 R) |
+185.9 % |
Markets | Saudi Arabia Edit |
South Africa Edit | |
| Milk (regular), (1 gallon) |
24.08 ﷼ (121.06 R) |
14.64 ﷼ (73.61 R) |
-39.2 % |
| Loaf of Fresh White Bread (1 lb) |
3.36 ﷼ (16.92 R) |
3.19 ﷼ (16.04 R) |
-5.2 % |
| Rice (white), (1 lb) |
3.76 ﷼ (18.92 R) |
2.53 ﷼ (12.74 R) |
-32.7 % |
| Eggs (regular) (12) |
9.52 ﷼ (47.89 R) |
8.05 ﷼ (40.49 R) |
-15.5 % |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) |
12.48 ﷼ (62.77 R) |
12.25 ﷼ (61.62 R) |
-1.8 % |
| Chicken Fillets (1 lb) |
13.56 ﷼ (68.18 R) |
7.36 ﷼ (36.99 R) |
-45.7 % |
| Beef Round (1 lb) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) |
22.12 ﷼ (111.24 R) |
10.81 ﷼ (54.36 R) |
-51.1 % |
| Apples (1 lb) |
3.69 ﷼ (18.56 R) |
2.46 ﷼ (12.35 R) |
-33.5 % |
| Banana (1 lb) |
2.80 ﷼ (14.08 R) |
2.29 ﷼ (11.54 R) |
-18.1 % |
| Oranges (1 lb) |
2.84 ﷼ (14.27 R) |
2.38 ﷼ (11.98 R) |
-16.1 % |
| Tomato (1 lb) |
2.75 ﷼ (13.81 R) |
2.44 ﷼ (12.28 R) |
-11.1 % |
| Potato (1 lb) |
2.28 ﷼ (11.45 R) |
1.97 ﷼ (9.90 R) |
-13.5 % |
| Onion (1 lb) |
2.30 ﷼ (11.55 R) |
2.09 ﷼ (10.52 R) |
-8.9 % |
| Lettuce (1 head) |
4.50 ﷼ (22.64 R) |
3.70 ﷼ (18.60 R) |
-17.8 % |
| Water (1.5 liter bottle) |
2.22 ﷼ (11.15 R) |
3.37 ﷼ (16.93 R) |
+51.8 % |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) |
13.00 ﷼ (65.37 R) |
16.90 ﷼ (85.00 R) |
+30.0 % |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle) |
6.43 ﷼ (32.35 R) |
4.77 ﷼ (23.97 R) |
-25.9 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) |
7.77 ﷼ (39.07 R) |
6.10 ﷼ (30.70 R) |
-21.4 % |
| Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro) |
28.00 ﷼ (140.80 R) |
10.34 ﷼ (52.00 R) |
-63.1 % |
Transportation | Saudi Arabia Edit |
South Africa Edit | |
| One-way Ticket (Local Transport) |
4.00 ﷼ (20.11 R) |
5.97 ﷼ (30.00 R) |
+49.2 % |
| Monthly Pass (Regular Price) |
140.00 ﷼ (703.98 R) |
159.10 ﷼ (800.00 R) |
+13.6 % |
| Taxi Start (Normal Tariff) |
10.00 ﷼ (50.28 R) |
3.98 ﷼ (20.00 R) |
-60.2 % |
| Taxi 1 mile (Normal Tariff) |
14.48 ﷼ (72.83 R) |
6.40 ﷼ (32.19 R) |
-55.8 % |
| Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff) |
50.00 ﷼ (251.42 R) |
16.90 ﷼ (85.00 R) |
-66.2 % |
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
8.78 ﷼ (44.16 R) |
17.26 ﷼ (86.78 R) |
+96.5 % |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car) |
95,500.00 ﷼ (480,215.27 R) |
73,581.58 ﷼ (370,000.00 R) |
-23.0 % |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car) |
83,803.79 ﷼ (421,401.67 R) |
83,683.47 ﷼ (420,796.63 R) |
-0.1 % |
Utilities (Monthly) | Saudi Arabia Edit |
South Africa Edit | |
| Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 915 sq ft Apartment |
400.20 ﷼ (2,012.36 R) |
398.93 ﷼ (2,005.99 R) |
-0.3 % |
| Mobile Phone Monthly Plan with Calls and 10GB+ Data |
126.56 ﷼ (636.41 R) |
112.26 ﷼ (564.47 R) |
-11.3 % |
| Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) |
268.38 ﷼ (1,349.51 R) |
146.19 ﷼ (735.09 R) |
-45.5 % |
Sports And Leisure | Saudi Arabia Edit |
South Africa Edit | |
| Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult |
347.97 ﷼ (1,749.77 R) |
111.69 ﷼ (561.62 R) |
-67.9 % |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend) |
150.26 ﷼ (755.59 R) |
35.99 ﷼ (180.96 R) |
-76.1 % |
| Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat |
60.00 ﷼ (301.71 R) |
23.86 ﷼ (120.00 R) |
-60.2 % |
Childcare | Saudi Arabia Edit |
South Africa Edit | |
| Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child |
1,290.18 ﷼ (6,487.59 R) |
681.78 ﷼ (3,428.30 R) |
-47.2 % |
| International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child |
27,816.05 ﷼ (139,871.12 R) |
16,166.83 ﷼ (81,293.82 R) |
-41.9 % |
Clothing And Shoes | Saudi Arabia Edit |
South Africa Edit | |
| 1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar) |
189.25 ﷼ (951.61 R) |
173.43 ﷼ (872.09 R) |
-8.4 % |
| 1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, ...) |
221.32 ﷼ (1,112.91 R) |
109.76 ﷼ (551.94 R) |
-50.4 % |
| 1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) |
353.56 ﷼ (1,777.84 R) |
325.26 ﷼ (1,635.55 R) |
-8.0 % |
| 1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes |
316.49 ﷼ (1,591.46 R) |
280.81 ﷼ (1,412.01 R) |
-11.3 % |
Rent Per Month | Saudi Arabia Edit |
South Africa Edit | |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre |
1,827.57 ﷼ (9,189.83 R) |
1,602.56 ﷼ (8,058.38 R) |
-12.3 % |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre |
1,522.45 ﷼ (7,655.54 R) |
1,303.70 ﷼ (6,555.55 R) |
-14.4 % |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre |
3,348.00 ﷼ (16,835.21 R) |
3,216.78 ﷼ (16,175.35 R) |
-3.9 % |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre |
2,401.65 ﷼ (12,076.55 R) |
2,539.53 ﷼ (12,769.83 R) |
+5.7 % |
Buy Apartment Price | Saudi Arabia Edit |
South Africa Edit | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre |
618.55 ﷼ (3,110.35 R) |
336.56 ﷼ (1,692.39 R) |
-45.6 % |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre |
393.87 ﷼ (1,980.57 R) |
254.39 ﷼ (1,279.20 R) |
-35.4 % |
Salaries And Financing | Saudi Arabia Edit |
South Africa Edit | |
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) |
8,141.98 ﷼ (40,941.40 R) |
4,670.68 ﷼ (23,486.18 R) |
-42.6 % |
| Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate | 4.70 | 11.56 | +146.1 % |
| Last update: | April 2025 | April 2025 | |
| Contributors in the past 12 months: | 386 | 663 |
Other comparisons Saudi Arabia vs South Africa:
- Quality of Life Comparison Saudi Arabia vs South Africa
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- Pollution Comparison Saudi Arabia vs South Africa
- Property Prices Comparison Saudi Arabia vs South Africa
- Traffic Comparison Saudi Arabia vs South Africa