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 114.7% higher than in South Africa (without rent)
Cost of Living Including Rent in United States is 149.9% higher than in South Africa
Rent Prices in United States are 270.2% higher than in South Africa
Restaurant Prices in United States are 134.5% higher than in South Africa
Groceries Prices in United States are 159.0% higher than in South Africa
Local Purchasing Power in United States is 31.3% 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 (8.53 $)	375.06 R (20.00 $)	+134.4 %
Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course	700.00 R (37.33 $)	1,406.48 R (75.00 $)	+100.9 %
McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal)	85.00 R (4.53 $)	206.28 R (11.00 $)	+142.7 %
Domestic Beer (1 pint draught)	40.00 R (2.13 $)	112.52 R (6.00 $)	+181.3 %
Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle)	45.00 R (2.40 $)	131.27 R (7.00 $)	+191.7 %
Cappuccino (regular)	35.09 R (1.87 $)	97.33 R (5.19 $)	+177.3 %
Coke/Pepsi (12 oz small bottle)	17.53 R (0.93 $)	47.62 R (2.54 $)	+171.6 %
Water (12 oz small bottle)	13.46 R (0.72 $)	38.89 R (2.07 $)	+189.0 %
Markets	South Africa Edit	United States Edit
Milk (regular), (1 gallon)	73.30 R (3.91 $)	74.93 R (4.00 $)	+2.2 %
Loaf of Fresh White Bread (1 lb)	15.94 R (0.85 $)	61.46 R (3.28 $)	+285.4 %
Rice (white), (1 lb)	12.65 R (0.67 $)	39.05 R (2.08 $)	+208.7 %
Eggs (regular) (12)	40.74 R (2.17 $)	70.73 R (3.77 $)	+73.6 %
Local Cheese (1 lb)	60.31 R (3.22 $)	110.19 R (5.88 $)	+82.7 %
Chicken Fillets (1 lb)	36.79 R (1.96 $)	102.30 R (5.45 $)	+178.1 %
Beef Round (1 lb) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)	53.60 R (2.86 $)	136.86 R (7.30 $)	+155.4 %
Apples (1 lb)	12.18 R (0.65 $)	44.69 R (2.38 $)	+267.0 %
Banana (1 lb)	11.50 R (0.61 $)	14.24 R (0.76 $)	+23.8 %
Oranges (1 lb)	11.62 R (0.62 $)	38.24 R (2.04 $)	+229.1 %
Tomato (1 lb)	12.26 R (0.65 $)	41.80 R (2.23 $)	+241.0 %
Potato (1 lb)	9.94 R (0.53 $)	25.11 R (1.34 $)	+152.5 %
Onion (1 lb)	10.88 R (0.58 $)	26.18 R (1.40 $)	+140.6 %
Lettuce (1 head)	18.50 R (0.99 $)	41.19 R (2.20 $)	+122.6 %
Water (1.5 liter bottle)	16.72 R (0.89 $)	41.52 R (2.21 $)	+148.3 %
Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range)	85.00 R (4.53 $)	281.30 R (15.00 $)	+230.9 %
Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)	24.01 R (1.28 $)	35.82 R (1.91 $)	+49.2 %
Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle)	30.00 R (1.60 $)	66.46 R (3.54 $)	+121.5 %
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro)	52.00 R (2.77 $)	187.53 R (10.00 $)	+260.6 %
Transportation	South Africa Edit	United States Edit
One-way Ticket (Local Transport)	27.00 R (1.44 $)	46.88 R (2.50 $)	+73.6 %
Monthly Pass (Regular Price)	800.00 R (42.66 $)	1,218.94 R (65.00 $)	+52.4 %
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)	20.00 R (1.07 $)	70.32 R (3.75 $)	+251.6 %
Taxi 1 mile (Normal Tariff)	32.19 R (1.72 $)	52.51 R (2.80 $)	+63.1 %
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)	90.00 R (4.80 $)	562.59 R (30.00 $)	+525.1 %
Gasoline (1 gallon)	86.91 R (4.63 $)	66.13 R (3.53 $)	-23.9 %
Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car)	357,000.00 R (19,036.95 $)	562,590.00 R (30,000.00 $)	+57.6 %
Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car)	418,469.40 R (22,314.80 $)	485,323.10 R (25,879.76 $)	+16.0 %
Utilities (Monthly)	South Africa Edit	United States Edit
Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 915 sq ft Apartment	1,921.10 R (102.44 $)	3,884.02 R (207.11 $)	+102.2 %
Mobile Phone Monthly Plan with Calls and 10GB+ Data	567.02 R (30.24 $)	1,050.97 R (56.04 $)	+85.3 %
Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL)	730.51 R (38.95 $)	1,330.98 R (70.97 $)	+82.2 %
Sports And Leisure	South Africa Edit	United States Edit
Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult	566.02 R (30.18 $)	876.56 R (46.74 $)	+54.9 %
Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend)	179.72 R (9.58 $)	396.40 R (21.14 $)	+120.6 %
Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat	120.00 R (6.40 $)	262.54 R (14.00 $)	+118.8 %
Childcare	South Africa Edit	United States Edit
Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child	3,480.01 R (185.57 $)	25,815.57 R (1,376.61 $)	+641.8 %
International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child	80,252.78 R (4,279.46 $)	428,778.23 R (22,864.51 $)	+434.3 %
Clothing And Shoes	South Africa Edit	United States Edit
1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)	858.24 R (45.77 $)	976.08 R (52.05 $)	+13.7 %
1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, ...)	548.62 R (29.26 $)	802.82 R (42.81 $)	+46.3 %
1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range)	1,638.31 R (87.36 $)	1,673.15 R (89.22 $)	+2.1 %
1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes	1,374.54 R (73.30 $)	2,138.80 R (114.05 $)	+55.6 %
Rent Per Month	South Africa Edit	United States Edit
Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre	8,074.58 R (430.58 $)	32,950.42 R (1,757.07 $)	+308.1 %
Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre	6,533.02 R (348.37 $)	27,170.65 R (1,448.87 $)	+315.9 %
Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre	16,170.21 R (862.27 $)	55,217.39 R (2,944.46 $)	+241.5 %
Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre	12,548.35 R (669.14 $)	45,041.51 R (2,401.83 $)	+258.9 %
Buy Apartment Price	South Africa Edit	United States Edit
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre	1,716.97 R (91.56 $)	5,506.86 R (293.65 $)	+220.7 %
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre	1,276.55 R (68.07 $)	4,661.44 R (248.57 $)	+265.2 %
Salaries And Financing	South Africa Edit	United States Edit
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)	24,924.89 R (1,329.11 $)	81,788.93 R (4,361.38 $)	+228.1 %
Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate	11.62	6.57	-43.5 %
Last update:	December 2024	December 2024
Contributors in the past 12 months:	1046	15805

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