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 71.9% lower than in United States
Restaurant Prices in South Africa are 55.9% lower than in United States
Groceries Prices in South Africa are 60.4% lower than in United States
Local Purchasing Power in South Africa is 28.4% 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 $ (365.49 R)	8.76 $ (160.00 R)	-56.2 %
Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course	75.00 $ (1,370.58 R)	38.30 $ (700.00 R)	-48.9 %
McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal)	11.00 $ (201.02 R)	4.90 $ (89.50 R)	-55.5 %
Domestic Beer (1 pint draught)	6.00 $ (109.65 R)	2.19 $ (40.00 R)	-63.5 %
Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle)	7.00 $ (127.92 R)	2.46 $ (45.00 R)	-64.8 %
Cappuccino (regular)	5.22 $ (95.46 R)	1.94 $ (35.50 R)	-62.8 %
Coke/Pepsi (12 oz small bottle)	2.55 $ (46.68 R)	0.96 $ (17.49 R)	-62.5 %
Water (12 oz small bottle)	2.08 $ (38.02 R)	0.75 $ (13.69 R)	-64.0 %
Markets	United States Edit	South Africa Edit
Milk (regular), (1 gallon)	4.00 $ (73.07 R)	4.02 $ (73.55 R)	+0.6 %
Loaf of Fresh White Bread (1 lb)	3.29 $ (60.19 R)	0.88 $ (16.03 R)	-73.4 %
Rice (white), (1 lb)	2.08 $ (38.07 R)	0.70 $ (12.71 R)	-66.6 %
Eggs (regular) (12)	4.16 $ (76.05 R)	2.22 $ (40.55 R)	-46.7 %
Local Cheese (1 lb)	5.88 $ (107.43 R)	3.36 $ (61.36 R)	-42.9 %
Chicken Fillets (1 lb)	5.51 $ (100.75 R)	2.03 $ (37.16 R)	-63.1 %
Beef Round (1 lb) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)	7.36 $ (134.57 R)	2.97 $ (54.31 R)	-59.6 %
Apples (1 lb)	2.39 $ (43.73 R)	0.68 $ (12.35 R)	-71.8 %
Banana (1 lb)	0.76 $ (13.89 R)	0.63 $ (11.49 R)	-17.3 %
Oranges (1 lb)	2.04 $ (37.24 R)	0.65 $ (11.87 R)	-68.1 %
Tomato (1 lb)	2.23 $ (40.69 R)	0.67 $ (12.22 R)	-70.0 %
Potato (1 lb)	1.33 $ (24.26 R)	0.54 $ (9.88 R)	-59.3 %
Onion (1 lb)	1.39 $ (25.49 R)	0.57 $ (10.50 R)	-58.8 %
Lettuce (1 head)	2.20 $ (40.28 R)	1.01 $ (18.53 R)	-54.0 %
Water (1.5 liter bottle)	2.22 $ (40.65 R)	0.93 $ (16.97 R)	-58.2 %
Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range)	15.00 $ (274.12 R)	4.65 $ (85.00 R)	-69.0 %
Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)	1.94 $ (35.49 R)	1.30 $ (23.77 R)	-33.0 %
Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle)	3.59 $ (65.60 R)	1.66 $ (30.40 R)	-53.7 %
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro)	10.00 $ (182.74 R)	2.85 $ (52.00 R)	-71.5 %
Transportation	United States Edit	South Africa Edit
One-way Ticket (Local Transport)	2.50 $ (45.69 R)	1.56 $ (28.50 R)	-37.6 %
Monthly Pass (Regular Price)	65.00 $ (1,187.84 R)	43.78 $ (800.00 R)	-32.7 %
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)	3.75 $ (68.53 R)	1.09 $ (20.00 R)	-70.8 %
Taxi 1 mile (Normal Tariff)	2.80 $ (51.17 R)	1.67 $ (30.58 R)	-40.2 %
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)	30.00 $ (548.23 R)	4.65 $ (85.00 R)	-84.5 %
Gasoline (1 gallon)	3.51 $ (64.23 R)	4.75 $ (86.89 R)	+35.3 %
Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car)	30,000.00 $ (548,232.00 R)	20,246.90 $ (370,000.00 R)	-32.5 %
Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car)	25,961.36 $ (474,428.25 R)	22,903.87 $ (418,554.48 R)	-11.8 %
Utilities (Monthly)	United States Edit	South Africa Edit
Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 915 sq ft Apartment	208.20 $ (3,804.74 R)	111.15 $ (2,031.25 R)	-46.6 %
Mobile Phone Monthly Plan with Calls and 10GB+ Data	57.23 $ (1,045.90 R)	30.89 $ (564.43 R)	-46.0 %
Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL)	71.50 $ (1,306.63 R)	40.11 $ (733.03 R)	-43.9 %
Sports And Leisure	United States Edit	South Africa Edit
Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult	46.53 $ (850.34 R)	31.01 $ (566.65 R)	-33.4 %
Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend)	21.85 $ (399.28 R)	9.78 $ (178.78 R)	-55.2 %
Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat	14.29 $ (261.14 R)	6.57 $ (120.00 R)	-54.0 %
Childcare	United States Edit	South Africa Edit
Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child	1,375.88 $ (25,143.44 R)	186.73 $ (3,412.32 R)	-86.4 %
International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child	22,628.80 $ (413,527.71 R)	4,426.40 $ (80,889.74 R)	-80.4 %
Clothing And Shoes	United States Edit	South Africa Edit
1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)	52.04 $ (950.94 R)	47.50 $ (867.96 R)	-8.7 %
1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, ...)	42.62 $ (778.87 R)	30.15 $ (550.90 R)	-29.3 %
1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range)	89.53 $ (1,636.15 R)	89.07 $ (1,627.75 R)	-0.5 %
1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes	113.29 $ (2,070.27 R)	76.50 $ (1,398.05 R)	-32.5 %
Rent Per Month	United States Edit	South Africa Edit
Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre	1,745.71 $ (31,901.72 R)	445.88 $ (8,148.23 R)	-74.5 %
Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre	1,439.11 $ (26,298.89 R)	359.52 $ (6,570.10 R)	-75.0 %
Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre	2,912.79 $ (53,229.45 R)	882.54 $ (16,127.89 R)	-69.7 %
Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre	2,400.54 $ (43,868.38 R)	698.51 $ (12,764.89 R)	-70.9 %
Buy Apartment Price	United States Edit	South Africa Edit
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre	301.91 $ (5,517.28 R)	92.45 $ (1,689.51 R)	-69.4 %
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre	252.38 $ (4,612.12 R)	69.51 $ (1,270.21 R)	-72.5 %
Salaries And Financing	United States Edit	South Africa Edit
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)	4,337.82 $ (79,271.08 R)	1,282.93 $ (23,444.76 R)	-70.4 %
Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate	6.57	11.56	+75.8 %
Last update:	April 2025	April 2025
Contributors in the past 12 months:	10430	666

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