Cost of Living Comparison Between United Arab Emirates and South Africa 
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| Indices Difference |  |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living in South Africa is 42.7% lower than in United Arab Emirates (without rent) | |
| Cost of Living Including Rent in South Africa is 53.6% lower than in United Arab Emirates | |
| Rent Prices in South Africa are 71.9% lower than in United Arab Emirates | |
| Restaurant Prices in South Africa are 49.0% lower than in United Arab Emirates | |
| Groceries Prices in South Africa are 34.2% lower than in United Arab Emirates | |
| Local Purchasing Power in South Africa is 14.0% lower than in United Arab Emirates | |
Restaurants | United Arab Emirates Edit |
South Africa Edit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant |
40.00 AED (199.01 R) |
32.16 AED (160.00 R) |
-19.6 % |
| Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course |
250.00 AED (1,243.83 R) |
140.69 AED (700.00 R) |
-43.7 % |
| McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal) |
35.00 AED (174.14 R) |
17.99 AED (89.50 R) |
-48.6 % |
| Domestic Beer (1 pint draught) |
40.00 AED (199.01 R) |
8.04 AED (40.00 R) |
-79.9 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) |
50.00 AED (248.77 R) |
9.04 AED (45.00 R) |
-81.9 % |
| Cappuccino (regular) |
20.43 AED (101.65 R) |
7.13 AED (35.50 R) |
-65.1 % |
| Coke/Pepsi (12 oz small bottle) |
4.05 AED (20.17 R) |
3.51 AED (17.49 R) |
-13.3 % |
| Water (12 oz small bottle) |
2.29 AED (11.41 R) |
2.75 AED (13.69 R) |
+20.0 % |
Markets | United Arab Emirates Edit |
South Africa Edit | |
| Milk (regular), (1 gallon) |
25.67 AED (127.70 R) |
14.78 AED (73.55 R) |
-42.4 % |
| Loaf of Fresh White Bread (1 lb) |
4.70 AED (23.38 R) |
3.22 AED (16.03 R) |
-31.5 % |
| Rice (white), (1 lb) |
3.78 AED (18.80 R) |
2.56 AED (12.71 R) |
-32.4 % |
| Eggs (regular) (12) |
10.92 AED (54.31 R) |
8.15 AED (40.55 R) |
-25.3 % |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) |
15.84 AED (78.82 R) |
12.33 AED (61.36 R) |
-22.1 % |
| Chicken Fillets (1 lb) |
14.15 AED (70.39 R) |
7.47 AED (37.16 R) |
-47.2 % |
| Beef Round (1 lb) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) |
18.95 AED (94.29 R) |
10.92 AED (54.31 R) |
-42.4 % |
| Apples (1 lb) |
3.82 AED (19.02 R) |
2.48 AED (12.35 R) |
-35.1 % |
| Banana (1 lb) |
2.97 AED (14.77 R) |
2.31 AED (11.49 R) |
-22.2 % |
| Oranges (1 lb) |
3.02 AED (15.02 R) |
2.38 AED (11.87 R) |
-21.0 % |
| Tomato (1 lb) |
2.40 AED (11.96 R) |
2.46 AED (12.22 R) |
+2.1 % |
| Potato (1 lb) |
1.85 AED (9.20 R) |
1.99 AED (9.88 R) |
+7.5 % |
| Onion (1 lb) |
2.12 AED (10.55 R) |
2.11 AED (10.50 R) |
-0.4 % |
| Lettuce (1 head) |
5.51 AED (27.39 R) |
3.72 AED (18.53 R) |
-32.4 % |
| Water (1.5 liter bottle) |
2.25 AED (11.18 R) |
3.41 AED (16.97 R) |
+51.8 % |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) |
50.00 AED (248.77 R) |
17.08 AED (85.00 R) |
-65.8 % |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle) |
8.39 AED (41.76 R) |
4.78 AED (23.77 R) |
-43.1 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) |
10.81 AED (53.80 R) |
6.11 AED (30.40 R) |
-43.5 % |
| Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro) |
24.00 AED (119.41 R) |
10.45 AED (52.00 R) |
-56.5 % |
Transportation | United Arab Emirates Edit |
South Africa Edit | |
| One-way Ticket (Local Transport) |
5.00 AED (24.88 R) |
5.73 AED (28.50 R) |
+14.6 % |
| Monthly Pass (Regular Price) |
200.00 AED (995.07 R) |
160.79 AED (800.00 R) |
-19.6 % |
| Taxi Start (Normal Tariff) |
12.00 AED (59.70 R) |
4.02 AED (20.00 R) |
-66.5 % |
| Taxi 1 mile (Normal Tariff) |
4.02 AED (20.02 R) |
6.15 AED (30.58 R) |
+52.8 % |
| Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff) |
30.00 AED (149.26 R) |
17.08 AED (85.00 R) |
-43.1 % |
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
10.86 AED (54.01 R) |
17.46 AED (86.89 R) |
+60.9 % |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car) |
163,937.00 AED (815,640.14 R) |
74,366.98 AED (370,000.00 R) |
-54.6 % |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car) |
82,215.01 AED (409,046.55 R) |
84,126.03 AED (418,554.48 R) |
+2.3 % |
Utilities (Monthly) | United Arab Emirates Edit |
South Africa Edit | |
| Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 915 sq ft Apartment |
663.70 AED (3,302.12 R) |
408.27 AED (2,031.25 R) |
-38.5 % |
| Mobile Phone Monthly Plan with Calls and 10GB+ Data |
216.17 AED (1,075.51 R) |
113.45 AED (564.43 R) |
-47.5 % |
| Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) |
370.16 AED (1,841.67 R) |
147.33 AED (733.03 R) |
-60.2 % |
Sports And Leisure | United Arab Emirates Edit |
South Africa Edit | |
| Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult |
261.45 AED (1,300.78 R) |
113.89 AED (566.65 R) |
-56.4 % |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend) |
140.31 AED (698.11 R) |
35.93 AED (178.78 R) |
-74.4 % |
| Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat |
50.00 AED (248.77 R) |
24.12 AED (120.00 R) |
-51.8 % |
Childcare | United Arab Emirates Edit |
South Africa Edit | |
| Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child |
2,471.04 AED (12,294.22 R) |
685.85 AED (3,412.32 R) |
-72.2 % |
| International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child |
41,240.86 AED (205,186.74 R) |
16,258.18 AED (80,889.74 R) |
-60.6 % |
Clothing And Shoes | United Arab Emirates Edit |
South Africa Edit | |
| 1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar) |
243.52 AED (1,211.61 R) |
174.45 AED (867.96 R) |
-28.4 % |
| 1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, ...) |
229.32 AED (1,140.97 R) |
110.73 AED (550.90 R) |
-51.7 % |
| 1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) |
372.37 AED (1,852.66 R) |
327.17 AED (1,627.75 R) |
-12.1 % |
| 1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes |
379.58 AED (1,888.53 R) |
281.00 AED (1,398.05 R) |
-26.0 % |
Rent Per Month | United Arab Emirates Edit |
South Africa Edit | |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre |
6,071.98 AED (30,210.07 R) |
1,637.73 AED (8,148.23 R) |
-73.0 % |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre |
4,289.05 AED (21,339.45 R) |
1,320.54 AED (6,570.10 R) |
-69.2 % |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre |
12,064.45 AED (60,024.56 R) |
3,241.57 AED (16,127.89 R) |
-73.1 % |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre |
8,714.99 AED (43,359.92 R) |
2,565.64 AED (12,764.89 R) |
-70.6 % |
Buy Apartment Price | United Arab Emirates Edit |
South Africa Edit | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre |
2,079.80 AED (10,347.67 R) |
339.58 AED (1,689.51 R) |
-83.7 % |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre |
1,191.29 AED (5,927.08 R) |
255.30 AED (1,270.21 R) |
-78.6 % |
Salaries And Financing | United Arab Emirates Edit |
South Africa Edit | |
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) |
11,808.49 AED (58,751.12 R) |
4,712.21 AED (23,444.76 R) |
-60.1 % |
| Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate | 4.63 | 11.56 | +149.7 % |
| Last update: | April 2025 | April 2025 | |
| Contributors in the past 12 months: | 759 | 666 |
Other comparisons United Arab Emirates vs South Africa:
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