Cost of Living Comparison Between South Africa and United Arab Emirates 
| Indices Difference |  |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living in United Arab Emirates is 76.8% higher than in South Africa (excluding rent) | |
| Cost of Living Including Rent in United Arab Emirates is 119.0% higher than in South Africa | |
| Rent Prices in United Arab Emirates are 263.8% higher than in South Africa | |
| Restaurant Prices in United Arab Emirates are 97.5% higher than in South Africa | |
| Groceries Prices in United Arab Emirates are 54.2% higher than in South Africa | |
| Local Purchasing Power in United Arab Emirates is 17.7% higher than in South Africa | |
Restaurants | South Africa Edit |
United Arab Emirates Edit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant |
160.00 R (31.54 AED) |
189.53 R (37.36 AED) |
+18.5 % |
| Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course |
700.00 R (137.98 AED) |
1,268.29 R (250.00 AED) |
+81.2 % |
| McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal) |
89.99 R (17.74 AED) |
177.56 R (35.00 AED) |
+97.3 % |
| Domestic Beer (1 pint draught) |
40.00 R (7.88 AED) |
210.54 R (41.50 AED) |
+426.3 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) |
45.00 R (8.87 AED) |
253.66 R (50.00 AED) |
+463.7 % |
| Cappuccino (regular) |
35.56 R (7.01 AED) |
103.24 R (20.35 AED) |
+190.4 % |
| Coke/Pepsi (12 oz small bottle) |
17.46 R (3.44 AED) |
20.92 R (4.12 AED) |
+19.8 % |
| Water (12 oz small bottle) |
13.58 R (2.68 AED) |
11.47 R (2.26 AED) |
-15.6 % |
Markets | South Africa Edit |
United Arab Emirates Edit | |
| Milk (regular), (1 gallon) |
73.61 R (14.51 AED) |
131.92 R (26.00 AED) |
+79.2 % |
| Loaf of Fresh White Bread (1 lb) |
16.04 R (3.16 AED) |
23.62 R (4.66 AED) |
+47.2 % |
| Rice (white), (1 lb) |
12.74 R (2.51 AED) |
19.29 R (3.80 AED) |
+51.4 % |
| Eggs (regular) (12) |
40.49 R (7.98 AED) |
54.80 R (10.80 AED) |
+35.3 % |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) |
61.62 R (12.15 AED) |
80.88 R (15.94 AED) |
+31.3 % |
| Chicken Fillets (1 lb) |
36.99 R (7.29 AED) |
71.82 R (14.16 AED) |
+94.2 % |
| Beef Round (1 lb) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) |
54.36 R (10.72 AED) |
96.03 R (18.93 AED) |
+76.6 % |
| Apples (1 lb) |
12.35 R (2.43 AED) |
19.28 R (3.80 AED) |
+56.1 % |
| Banana (1 lb) |
11.54 R (2.27 AED) |
14.90 R (2.94 AED) |
+29.2 % |
| Oranges (1 lb) |
11.98 R (2.36 AED) |
15.06 R (2.97 AED) |
+25.7 % |
| Tomato (1 lb) |
12.28 R (2.42 AED) |
12.07 R (2.38 AED) |
-1.8 % |
| Potato (1 lb) |
9.90 R (1.95 AED) |
9.29 R (1.83 AED) |
-6.2 % |
| Onion (1 lb) |
10.52 R (2.07 AED) |
10.59 R (2.09 AED) |
+0.6 % |
| Lettuce (1 head) |
18.60 R (3.67 AED) |
27.65 R (5.45 AED) |
+48.7 % |
| Water (1.5 liter bottle) |
16.93 R (3.34 AED) |
11.37 R (2.24 AED) |
-32.9 % |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) |
85.00 R (16.75 AED) |
253.66 R (50.00 AED) |
+198.4 % |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle) |
23.97 R (4.73 AED) |
42.90 R (8.46 AED) |
+79.0 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) |
30.70 R (6.05 AED) |
55.56 R (10.95 AED) |
+81.0 % |
| Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro) |
52.00 R (10.25 AED) |
119.22 R (23.50 AED) |
+129.3 % |
Transportation | South Africa Edit |
United Arab Emirates Edit | |
| One-way Ticket (Local Transport) |
30.00 R (5.91 AED) |
25.37 R (5.00 AED) |
-15.4 % |
| Monthly Pass (Regular Price) |
800.00 R (157.69 AED) |
1,014.63 R (200.00 AED) |
+26.8 % |
| Taxi Start (Normal Tariff) |
20.00 R (3.94 AED) |
60.88 R (12.00 AED) |
+204.4 % |
| Taxi 1 mile (Normal Tariff) |
32.19 R (6.34 AED) |
20.41 R (4.02 AED) |
-36.6 % |
| Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff) |
85.00 R (16.75 AED) |
152.19 R (30.00 AED) |
+79.1 % |
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
86.78 R (17.11 AED) |
54.99 R (10.84 AED) |
-36.6 % |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car) |
370,000.00 R (72,933.10 AED) |
831,675.70 R (163,937.00 AED) |
+124.8 % |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car) |
419,697.49 R (82,729.30 AED) |
416,629.18 R (82,124.48 AED) |
-0.7 % |
Utilities (Monthly) | South Africa Edit |
United Arab Emirates Edit | |
| Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 915 sq ft Apartment |
2,005.85 R (395.39 AED) |
3,372.51 R (664.78 AED) |
+68.1 % |
| Mobile Phone Monthly Plan with Calls and 10GB+ Data |
564.47 R (111.27 AED) |
1,095.96 R (216.03 AED) |
+94.2 % |
| Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) |
735.09 R (144.90 AED) |
1,897.50 R (374.03 AED) |
+158.1 % |
Sports And Leisure | South Africa Edit |
United Arab Emirates Edit | |
| Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult |
561.62 R (110.70 AED) |
1,321.13 R (260.42 AED) |
+135.2 % |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend) |
180.96 R (35.67 AED) |
677.69 R (133.58 AED) |
+274.5 % |
| Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat |
120.00 R (23.65 AED) |
253.66 R (50.00 AED) |
+111.4 % |
Childcare | South Africa Edit |
United Arab Emirates Edit | |
| Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child |
3,428.30 R (675.77 AED) |
12,646.22 R (2,492.78 AED) |
+268.9 % |
| International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child |
81,293.82 R (16,024.35 AED) |
210,420.20 R (41,477.29 AED) |
+158.8 % |
Clothing And Shoes | South Africa Edit |
United Arab Emirates Edit | |
| 1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar) |
872.00 R (171.88 AED) |
1,248.90 R (246.18 AED) |
+43.2 % |
| 1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, ...) |
551.94 R (108.80 AED) |
1,164.15 R (229.47 AED) |
+110.9 % |
| 1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) |
1,635.55 R (322.39 AED) |
1,893.34 R (373.21 AED) |
+15.8 % |
| 1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes |
1,412.01 R (278.33 AED) |
1,934.38 R (381.30 AED) |
+37.0 % |
Rent Per Month | South Africa Edit |
United Arab Emirates Edit | |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre |
8,058.38 R (1,588.44 AED) |
31,105.57 R (6,131.42 AED) |
+286.0 % |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre |
6,555.04 R (1,292.11 AED) |
21,741.84 R (4,285.68 AED) |
+231.7 % |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre |
16,175.35 R (3,188.43 AED) |
61,558.95 R (12,134.28 AED) |
+280.6 % |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre |
12,769.83 R (2,517.14 AED) |
44,046.19 R (8,682.23 AED) |
+244.9 % |
Buy Apartment Price | South Africa Edit |
United Arab Emirates Edit | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre |
1,691.97 R (333.51 AED) |
10,514.90 R (2,072.66 AED) |
+521.5 % |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre |
1,278.93 R (252.10 AED) |
6,053.74 R (1,193.29 AED) |
+373.3 % |
Salaries And Financing | South Africa Edit |
United Arab Emirates Edit | |
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) |
23,482.11 R (4,628.71 AED) |
60,506.37 R (11,926.80 AED) |
+157.7 % |
| Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate | 11.56 | 4.64 | -59.8 % |
| Last update: | April 2025 | April 2025 | |
| Contributors in the past 12 months: | 663 | 722 |
Other comparisons South Africa vs United Arab Emirates:
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