Cost of Living Comparison Between Japan and South Africa 
| Indices Difference |  |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living in South Africa is 36.1% lower than in Japan (excluding rent) | |
| Cost of Living Including Rent in South Africa is 33.9% lower than in Japan | |
| Rent Prices in South Africa are 25.0% lower than in Japan | |
| Restaurant Prices in South Africa are 3.8% lower than in Japan | |
| Groceries Prices in South Africa are 51.8% lower than in Japan | |
| Local Purchasing Power in South Africa is 8.0% lower than in Japan | |
Restaurants | Japan Edit |
South Africa Edit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant |
1,000.00 ¥ (124.98 R) |
1,280.17 ¥ (160.00 R) |
+28.0 % |
| Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course |
5,000.00 ¥ (624.92 R) |
5,600.76 ¥ (700.00 R) |
+12.0 % |
| McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal) |
800.00 ¥ (99.99 R) |
720.10 ¥ (90.00 R) |
-10.0 % |
| Domestic Beer (1 pint draught) |
500.00 ¥ (62.49 R) |
320.04 ¥ (40.00 R) |
-36.0 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) |
600.00 ¥ (74.99 R) |
360.05 ¥ (45.00 R) |
-40.0 % |
| Cappuccino (regular) |
479.32 ¥ (59.91 R) |
286.55 ¥ (35.81 R) |
-40.2 % |
| Coke/Pepsi (12 oz small bottle) |
159.36 ¥ (19.92 R) |
141.29 ¥ (17.66 R) |
-11.3 % |
| Water (12 oz small bottle) |
116.92 ¥ (14.61 R) |
110.41 ¥ (13.80 R) |
-5.6 % |
Markets | Japan Edit |
South Africa Edit | |
| Milk (regular), (1 gallon) |
840.63 ¥ (105.06 R) |
589.08 ¥ (73.62 R) |
-29.9 % |
| Loaf of Fresh White Bread (1 lb) |
205.56 ¥ (25.69 R) |
128.22 ¥ (16.03 R) |
-37.6 % |
| Rice (white), (1 lb) |
291.99 ¥ (36.49 R) |
102.57 ¥ (12.82 R) |
-64.9 % |
| Eggs (regular) (12) |
320.10 ¥ (40.01 R) |
326.52 ¥ (40.81 R) |
+2.0 % |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) |
786.05 ¥ (98.24 R) |
496.36 ¥ (62.04 R) |
-36.9 % |
| Chicken Fillets (1 lb) |
448.23 ¥ (56.02 R) |
296.26 ¥ (37.03 R) |
-33.9 % |
| Beef Round (1 lb) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) |
1,260.73 ¥ (157.57 R) |
436.80 ¥ (54.59 R) |
-65.4 % |
| Apples (1 lb) |
347.39 ¥ (43.42 R) |
99.74 ¥ (12.47 R) |
-71.3 % |
| Banana (1 lb) |
169.95 ¥ (21.24 R) |
92.76 ¥ (11.59 R) |
-45.4 % |
| Oranges (1 lb) |
309.32 ¥ (38.66 R) |
96.16 ¥ (12.02 R) |
-68.9 % |
| Tomato (1 lb) |
311.75 ¥ (38.96 R) |
99.01 ¥ (12.37 R) |
-68.2 % |
| Potato (1 lb) |
184.23 ¥ (23.03 R) |
79.33 ¥ (9.92 R) |
-56.9 % |
| Onion (1 lb) |
171.60 ¥ (21.45 R) |
83.94 ¥ (10.49 R) |
-51.1 % |
| Lettuce (1 head) |
198.28 ¥ (24.78 R) |
149.80 ¥ (18.72 R) |
-24.4 % |
| Water (1.5 liter bottle) |
134.04 ¥ (16.75 R) |
136.05 ¥ (17.00 R) |
+1.5 % |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) |
1,200.00 ¥ (149.98 R) |
680.09 ¥ (85.00 R) |
-43.3 % |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle) |
308.55 ¥ (38.56 R) |
191.88 ¥ (23.98 R) |
-37.8 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) |
418.28 ¥ (52.28 R) |
242.90 ¥ (30.36 R) |
-41.9 % |
| Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro) |
600.00 ¥ (74.99 R) |
416.06 ¥ (52.00 R) |
-30.7 % |
Transportation | Japan Edit |
South Africa Edit | |
| One-way Ticket (Local Transport) |
220.00 ¥ (27.50 R) |
240.03 ¥ (30.00 R) |
+9.1 % |
| Monthly Pass (Regular Price) |
8,416.67 ¥ (1,051.94 R) |
6,400.87 ¥ (800.00 R) |
-24.0 % |
| Taxi Start (Normal Tariff) |
600.00 ¥ (74.99 R) |
160.02 ¥ (20.00 R) |
-73.3 % |
| Taxi 1 mile (Normal Tariff) |
724.21 ¥ (90.51 R) |
257.53 ¥ (32.19 R) |
-64.4 % |
| Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff) |
3,400.00 ¥ (424.94 R) |
680.09 ¥ (85.00 R) |
-80.0 % |
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
657.29 ¥ (82.15 R) |
692.96 ¥ (86.61 R) |
+5.4 % |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car) |
3,342,000.00 ¥ (417,693.48 R) |
2,960,400.56 ¥ (370,000.00 R) |
-11.4 % |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car) |
2,562,390.72 ¥ (320,255.50 R) |
3,389,548.84 ¥ (423,636.28 R) |
+32.3 % |
Utilities (Monthly) | Japan Edit |
South Africa Edit | |
| Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 915 sq ft Apartment |
25,536.69 ¥ (3,191.65 R) |
16,092.05 ¥ (2,011.23 R) |
-37.0 % |
| Mobile Phone Monthly Plan with Calls and 10GB+ Data |
3,889.93 ¥ (486.18 R) |
4,577.95 ¥ (572.17 R) |
+17.7 % |
| Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) |
5,089.30 ¥ (636.08 R) |
5,860.27 ¥ (732.43 R) |
+15.1 % |
Sports And Leisure | Japan Edit |
South Africa Edit | |
| Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult |
8,543.04 ¥ (1,067.74 R) |
4,490.93 ¥ (561.29 R) |
-47.4 % |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend) |
2,189.74 ¥ (273.68 R) |
1,379.32 ¥ (172.39 R) |
-37.0 % |
| Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat |
1,900.00 ¥ (237.47 R) |
960.13 ¥ (120.00 R) |
-49.5 % |
Childcare | Japan Edit |
South Africa Edit | |
| Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child |
49,761.37 ¥ (6,219.33 R) |
27,241.43 ¥ (3,404.72 R) |
-45.3 % |
| International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child |
1,929,722.70 ¥ (241,182.70 R) |
643,949.89 ¥ (80,482.84 R) |
-66.6 % |
Clothing And Shoes | Japan Edit |
South Africa Edit | |
| 1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar) |
6,997.26 ¥ (874.54 R) |
6,992.52 ¥ (873.95 R) |
-0.1 % |
| 1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, ...) |
4,624.67 ¥ (578.01 R) |
4,417.80 ¥ (552.15 R) |
-4.5 % |
| 1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) |
9,015.98 ¥ (1,126.84 R) |
13,155.04 ¥ (1,644.16 R) |
+45.9 % |
| 1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes |
12,524.59 ¥ (1,565.36 R) |
11,405.68 ¥ (1,425.52 R) |
-8.9 % |
Rent Per Month | Japan Edit |
South Africa Edit | |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre |
89,164.13 ¥ (11,144.01 R) |
63,886.71 ¥ (7,984.76 R) |
-28.3 % |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre |
60,532.39 ¥ (7,565.53 R) |
52,410.72 ¥ (6,550.45 R) |
-13.4 % |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre |
195,006.79 ¥ (24,372.55 R) |
128,034.47 ¥ (16,002.14 R) |
-34.3 % |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre |
117,875.73 ¥ (14,732.47 R) |
102,489.42 ¥ (12,809.44 R) |
-13.1 % |
Buy Apartment Price | Japan Edit |
South Africa Edit | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre |
85,509.52 ¥ (10,687.24 R) |
13,273.42 ¥ (1,658.95 R) |
-84.5 % |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre |
47,147.46 ¥ (5,892.64 R) |
10,232.11 ¥ (1,278.84 R) |
-78.3 % |
Salaries And Financing | Japan Edit |
South Africa Edit | |
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) |
310,255.84 ¥ (38,776.73 R) |
188,594.10 ¥ (23,571.07 R) |
-39.2 % |
| Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate | 1.82 | 11.55 | +536.0 % |
| Last update: | 23 May 2025 | 23 May 2025 | |
| Contributors in the past 12 months: | 528 | 707 |
Moving to Japan? Explore:
Other comparisons Japan vs South Africa: