Cost of Living Comparison Between United States and South Africa

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

City in United States:
City in South Africa:

Indices Difference
Cost of Living in South Africa is 52.1% lower than in United States (without rent)
Cost of Living Including Rent in South Africa is 58.7% lower than in United States
Rent Prices in South Africa are 72.0% lower than in United States
Restaurant Prices in South Africa are 56.7% lower than in United States
Groceries Prices in South Africa are 60.0% lower than in United States
Local Purchasing Power in South Africa is 24.3% lower than in United States

Currency: Sticky Currency Switch to metric measurement units

Restaurants	United States Edit	South Africa Edit	Difference
Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant	20.00 $ (362.31 R)	8.28 $ (150.00 R)	-58.6 %
Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course	75.00 $ (1,358.65 R)	38.64 $ (700.00 R)	-48.5 %
McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal)	11.00 $ (199.27 R)	4.69 $ (85.00 R)	-57.3 %
Domestic Beer (1 pint draught)	6.00 $ (108.69 R)	2.21 $ (40.00 R)	-63.2 %
Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle)	7.00 $ (126.81 R)	2.48 $ (45.00 R)	-64.5 %
Cappuccino (regular)	5.18 $ (93.79 R)	1.93 $ (34.94 R)	-62.7 %
Coke/Pepsi (12 oz small bottle)	2.54 $ (46.00 R)	0.96 $ (17.33 R)	-62.3 %
Water (12 oz small bottle)	2.07 $ (37.47 R)	0.73 $ (13.30 R)	-64.5 %
Markets	United States Edit	South Africa Edit
Milk (regular), (1 gallon)	4.00 $ (72.42 R)	4.06 $ (73.60 R)	+1.6 %
Loaf of Fresh White Bread (1 lb)	3.27 $ (59.25 R)	0.88 $ (15.99 R)	-73.0 %
Rice (white), (1 lb)	2.08 $ (37.72 R)	0.70 $ (12.60 R)	-66.6 %
Eggs (regular) (12)	3.75 $ (67.92 R)	2.26 $ (40.88 R)	-39.8 %
Local Cheese (1 lb)	5.87 $ (106.34 R)	3.34 $ (60.42 R)	-43.2 %
Chicken Fillets (1 lb)	5.45 $ (98.70 R)	2.04 $ (36.94 R)	-62.6 %
Beef Round (1 lb) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)	7.28 $ (131.79 R)	2.97 $ (53.83 R)	-59.2 %
Apples (1 lb)	2.39 $ (43.21 R)	0.67 $ (12.13 R)	-71.9 %
Banana (1 lb)	0.76 $ (13.79 R)	0.63 $ (11.48 R)	-16.7 %
Oranges (1 lb)	2.04 $ (36.87 R)	0.63 $ (11.50 R)	-68.8 %
Tomato (1 lb)	2.23 $ (40.35 R)	0.67 $ (12.19 R)	-69.8 %
Potato (1 lb)	1.34 $ (24.29 R)	0.55 $ (9.91 R)	-59.2 %
Onion (1 lb)	1.39 $ (25.25 R)	0.61 $ (11.04 R)	-56.3 %
Lettuce (1 head)	2.19 $ (39.59 R)	1.02 $ (18.47 R)	-53.3 %
Water (1.5 liter bottle)	2.21 $ (40.05 R)	0.92 $ (16.64 R)	-58.5 %
Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range)	15.00 $ (271.73 R)	4.66 $ (84.50 R)	-68.9 %
Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)	1.89 $ (34.24 R)	1.32 $ (23.82 R)	-30.4 %
Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle)	3.54 $ (64.12 R)	1.65 $ (29.88 R)	-53.4 %
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro)	10.00 $ (181.15 R)	2.87 $ (52.00 R)	-71.3 %
Transportation	United States Edit	South Africa Edit
One-way Ticket (Local Transport)	2.50 $ (45.29 R)	1.66 $ (30.00 R)	-33.8 %
Monthly Pass (Regular Price)	65.00 $ (1,177.50 R)	44.85 $ (812.50 R)	-31.0 %
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)	3.75 $ (67.93 R)	1.10 $ (20.00 R)	-70.6 %
Taxi 1 mile (Normal Tariff)	2.80 $ (50.72 R)	1.78 $ (32.19 R)	-36.5 %
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)	30.00 $ (543.46 R)	4.83 $ (87.50 R)	-83.9 %
Gasoline (1 gallon)	3.60 $ (65.27 R)	4.87 $ (88.14 R)	+35.0 %
Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car)	33,680.68 $ (610,136.10 R)	19,320.67 $ (350,000.00 R)	-42.6 %
Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car)	26,179.32 $ (474,246.58 R)	23,105.93 $ (418,571.11 R)	-11.7 %
Utilities (Monthly)	United States Edit	South Africa Edit
Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 915 sq ft Apartment	207.07 $ (3,751.09 R)	104.63 $ (1,895.41 R)	-49.5 %
Mobile Phone Monthly Plan with Calls and 10GB+ Data	55.79 $ (1,010.61 R)	31.79 $ (575.89 R)	-43.0 %
Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL)	71.10 $ (1,287.97 R)	41.21 $ (746.53 R)	-42.0 %
Sports And Leisure	United States Edit	South Africa Edit
Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult	46.75 $ (846.90 R)	31.75 $ (575.11 R)	-32.1 %
Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend)	21.01 $ (380.60 R)	9.72 $ (176.03 R)	-53.8 %
Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat	14.00 $ (253.61 R)	6.62 $ (120.00 R)	-52.7 %
Childcare	United States Edit	South Africa Edit
Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child	1,380.97 $ (25,016.73 R)	193.32 $ (3,502.01 R)	-86.0 %
International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child	22,701.50 $ (411,244.79 R)	4,463.08 $ (80,850.07 R)	-80.3 %
Clothing And Shoes	United States Edit	South Africa Edit
1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)	52.27 $ (946.88 R)	47.28 $ (856.56 R)	-9.5 %
1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, ...)	42.80 $ (775.43 R)	30.43 $ (551.27 R)	-28.9 %
1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range)	89.30 $ (1,617.74 R)	90.38 $ (1,637.26 R)	+1.2 %
1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes	114.07 $ (2,066.37 R)	76.64 $ (1,388.38 R)	-32.8 %
Rent Per Month	United States Edit	South Africa Edit
Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre	1,762.35 $ (31,925.56 R)	455.34 $ (8,248.54 R)	-74.2 %
Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre	1,453.08 $ (26,323.08 R)	362.36 $ (6,564.29 R)	-75.1 %
Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre	2,951.13 $ (53,460.66 R)	892.16 $ (16,161.70 R)	-69.8 %
Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre	2,408.12 $ (43,623.83 R)	693.97 $ (12,571.51 R)	-71.2 %
Buy Apartment Price	United States Edit	South Africa Edit
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre	331.59 $ (6,006.95 R)	95.83 $ (1,736.08 R)	-71.1 %
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre	261.06 $ (4,729.21 R)	72.27 $ (1,309.28 R)	-72.3 %
Salaries And Financing	United States Edit	South Africa Edit
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)	4,429.41 $ (80,240.16 R)	1,383.11 $ (25,055.55 R)	-68.8 %
Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate	6.57	11.58	+76.4 %
Last update:	November 2024	November 2024
Contributors in the past 12 months:	15298	1043

Moving to United States? Explore:

Moving to South Africa? Explore:

Other comparisons United States vs South Africa:

About In the News Newsletter API