Cost of Living Comparison Between South Africa and United States

For major cities in those countries you get more relevant data by specifying cities.

City in South Africa:
City in United States:

Indices Difference
Cost of Living in United States is 110.4% higher than in South Africa (without rent)
Cost of Living Including Rent in United States is 144.0% higher than in South Africa
Rent Prices in United States are 259.0% higher than in South Africa
Restaurant Prices in United States are 128.9% higher than in South Africa
Groceries Prices in United States are 154.6% higher than in South Africa
Local Purchasing Power in United States is 39.7% higher than in South Africa

Currency: Sticky Currency Switch to metric measurement units

Restaurants	South Africa Edit	United States Edit	Difference
Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant	160.00 R (8.68 $)	368.52 R (20.00 $)	+130.3 %
Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course	700.00 R (37.99 $)	1,381.93 R (75.00 $)	+97.4 %
McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal)	89.00 R (4.83 $)	202.68 R (11.00 $)	+127.7 %
Domestic Beer (1 pint draught)	40.00 R (2.17 $)	110.55 R (6.00 $)	+176.4 %
Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle)	45.00 R (2.44 $)	128.98 R (7.00 $)	+186.6 %
Cappuccino (regular)	35.50 R (1.93 $)	96.22 R (5.22 $)	+171.0 %
Coke/Pepsi (12 oz small bottle)	17.48 R (0.95 $)	47.06 R (2.55 $)	+169.2 %
Water (12 oz small bottle)	13.68 R (0.74 $)	38.34 R (2.08 $)	+180.3 %
Markets	South Africa Edit	United States Edit
Milk (regular), (1 gallon)	73.55 R (3.99 $)	73.67 R (4.00 $)	+0.2 %
Loaf of Fresh White Bread (1 lb)	16.03 R (0.87 $)	60.66 R (3.29 $)	+278.5 %
Rice (white), (1 lb)	12.71 R (0.69 $)	38.39 R (2.08 $)	+201.9 %
Eggs (regular) (12)	40.55 R (2.20 $)	76.59 R (4.16 $)	+88.9 %
Local Cheese (1 lb)	61.36 R (3.33 $)	108.30 R (5.88 $)	+76.5 %
Chicken Fillets (1 lb)	37.16 R (2.02 $)	101.58 R (5.51 $)	+173.4 %
Beef Round (1 lb) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)	54.31 R (2.95 $)	135.65 R (7.36 $)	+149.8 %
Apples (1 lb)	12.35 R (0.67 $)	44.09 R (2.39 $)	+257.0 %
Banana (1 lb)	11.49 R (0.62 $)	14.01 R (0.76 $)	+22.0 %
Oranges (1 lb)	11.87 R (0.64 $)	37.52 R (2.04 $)	+216.2 %
Tomato (1 lb)	12.22 R (0.66 $)	41.03 R (2.23 $)	+235.8 %
Potato (1 lb)	9.88 R (0.54 $)	24.47 R (1.33 $)	+147.6 %
Onion (1 lb)	10.51 R (0.57 $)	25.70 R (1.39 $)	+144.6 %
Lettuce (1 head)	18.53 R (1.01 $)	40.59 R (2.20 $)	+119.1 %
Water (1.5 liter bottle)	16.97 R (0.92 $)	40.98 R (2.22 $)	+141.5 %
Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range)	85.00 R (4.61 $)	276.39 R (15.00 $)	+225.2 %
Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)	23.77 R (1.29 $)	35.77 R (1.94 $)	+50.5 %
Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle)	30.40 R (1.65 $)	66.13 R (3.59 $)	+117.5 %
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro)	52.00 R (2.82 $)	184.26 R (10.00 $)	+254.3 %
Transportation	South Africa Edit	United States Edit
One-way Ticket (Local Transport)	28.50 R (1.55 $)	46.06 R (2.50 $)	+61.6 %
Monthly Pass (Regular Price)	800.00 R (43.42 $)	1,197.67 R (65.00 $)	+49.7 %
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)	20.00 R (1.09 $)	69.10 R (3.75 $)	+245.5 %
Taxi 1 mile (Normal Tariff)	30.58 R (1.66 $)	51.59 R (2.80 $)	+68.7 %
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)	85.00 R (4.61 $)	552.77 R (30.00 $)	+550.3 %
Gasoline (1 gallon)	86.89 R (4.72 $)	64.76 R (3.51 $)	-25.5 %
Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car)	370,000.00 R (20,080.58 $)	552,772.80 R (30,000.00 $)	+49.4 %
Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car)	418,554.48 R (22,715.72 $)	478,441.21 R (25,965.89 $)	+14.3 %
Utilities (Monthly)	South Africa Edit	United States Edit
Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 915 sq ft Apartment	2,031.34 R (110.24 $)	3,830.85 R (207.91 $)	+88.6 %
Mobile Phone Monthly Plan with Calls and 10GB+ Data	564.43 R (30.63 $)	1,054.23 R (57.21 $)	+86.8 %
Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL)	733.03 R (39.78 $)	1,317.34 R (71.49 $)	+79.7 %
Sports And Leisure	South Africa Edit	United States Edit
Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult	566.65 R (30.75 $)	858.05 R (46.57 $)	+51.4 %
Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend)	178.78 R (9.70 $)	402.04 R (21.82 $)	+124.9 %
Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat	120.00 R (6.51 $)	261.46 R (14.19 $)	+117.9 %
Childcare	South Africa Edit	United States Edit
Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child	3,412.32 R (185.19 $)	25,351.69 R (1,375.88 $)	+642.9 %
International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child	80,889.74 R (4,390.04 $)	416,952.80 R (22,628.80 $)	+415.5 %
Clothing And Shoes	South Africa Edit	United States Edit
1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)	868.07 R (47.11 $)	958.63 R (52.03 $)	+10.4 %
1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, ...)	550.90 R (29.90 $)	785.05 R (42.61 $)	+42.5 %
1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range)	1,627.75 R (88.34 $)	1,649.39 R (89.52 $)	+1.3 %
1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes	1,398.05 R (75.87 $)	2,087.07 R (113.27 $)	+49.3 %
Rent Per Month	South Africa Edit	United States Edit
Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre	8,148.23 R (442.22 $)	32,157.66 R (1,745.26 $)	+294.7 %
Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre	6,570.43 R (356.59 $)	26,509.12 R (1,438.70 $)	+303.5 %
Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre	16,127.89 R (875.29 $)	53,656.57 R (2,912.04 $)	+232.7 %
Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre	12,764.89 R (692.77 $)	44,227.31 R (2,400.30 $)	+246.5 %
Buy Apartment Price	South Africa Edit	United States Edit
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre	1,689.78 R (91.71 $)	5,546.79 R (301.03 $)	+228.3 %
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre	1,270.39 R (68.95 $)	4,644.27 R (252.05 $)	+265.6 %
Salaries And Financing	South Africa Edit	United States Edit
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)	23,447.76 R (1,272.55 $)	79,933.12 R (4,338.12 $)	+240.9 %
Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate	11.56	6.57	-43.1 %
Last update:	March 2025	March 2025
Contributors in the past 12 months:	665	10391

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