Cost of Living Comparison Between Portugal and South Africa 
| Indices Difference |  |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living in South Africa is 23.4% lower than in Portugal (excluding rent) | |
| Cost of Living Including Rent in South Africa is 30.1% lower than in Portugal | |
| Rent Prices in South Africa are 46.8% lower than in Portugal | |
| Restaurant Prices in South Africa are 24.0% lower than in Portugal | |
| Groceries Prices in South Africa are 30.0% lower than in Portugal | |
| Local Purchasing Power in South Africa is 55.4% higher than in Portugal | |
Restaurants | Portugal Edit |
South Africa Edit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal at an Inexpensive Restaurant |
€12.00 (R232.24) |
€9.30 (R180.00) |
-22.5 % |
| Meal for Two at a Mid-Range Restaurant (Three Courses, Without Drinks) |
€45.00 (R870.91) |
€33.84 (R655.00) |
-24.8 % |
| Combo Meal at McDonald's (or Equivalent Fast-Food Meal) |
€8.00 (R154.83) |
€4.65 (R90.00) |
-41.9 % |
| Domestic Draft Beer (1 Pint) |
€2.50 (R48.38) |
€2.07 (R40.00) |
-17.3 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) |
€3.00 (R58.06) |
€2.58 (R50.00) |
-13.9 % |
| Cappuccino (Regular Size) |
€1.79 (R34.65) |
€1.96 (R37.95) |
+9.6 % |
| Soft Drink (Coca-Cola or Pepsi, 12 oz Small Bottle) |
€1.73 (R33.55) |
€0.97 (R18.73) |
-44.2 % |
| Bottled Water (12 oz) |
€1.19 (R22.96) |
€0.74 (R14.34) |
-37.5 % |
Markets | Portugal Edit |
South Africa Edit | |
| Milk (Regular, 1 Liter) |
€0.95 (R18.45) |
€1.02 (R19.71) |
+6.8 % |
| Fresh White Bread (1 lb Loaf) |
€1.27 (R24.56) |
€0.83 (R15.99) |
-34.9 % |
| White Rice (1 lb) |
€0.65 (R12.49) |
€0.68 (R13.20) |
+5.6 % |
| Eggs (12, Large Size) |
€2.96 (R57.25) |
€2.13 (R41.25) |
-27.9 % |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) |
€4.68 (R90.65) |
€3.19 (R61.64) |
-32.0 % |
| Chicken Fillets (1 lb) |
€3.01 (R58.22) |
€1.95 (R37.79) |
-35.1 % |
| Beef Round or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat (1 lb) |
€5.92 (R114.63) |
€2.88 (R55.81) |
-51.3 % |
| Apples (1 lb) |
€0.89 (R17.23) |
€0.68 (R13.16) |
-23.6 % |
| Bananas (1 lb) |
€0.58 (R11.31) |
€0.63 (R12.22) |
+8.1 % |
| Oranges (1 lb) |
€0.73 (R14.13) |
€0.65 (R12.64) |
-10.6 % |
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
€1.00 (R19.26) |
€0.66 (R12.81) |
-33.5 % |
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
€0.68 (R13.12) |
€0.55 (R10.56) |
-19.5 % |
| Onions (1 lb) |
€0.78 (R15.03) |
€0.57 (R11.12) |
-26.0 % |
| Lettuce (1 Head) |
€1.37 (R26.47) |
€1.02 (R19.80) |
-25.2 % |
| Bottled Water (50 oz) |
€0.70 (R13.60) |
€0.93 (R17.98) |
+32.2 % |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) |
€4.99 (R96.57) |
€4.39 (R85.00) |
-12.0 % |
| Domestic Beer (16.9 oz Bottle) |
€1.12 (R21.72) |
€1.27 (R24.49) |
+12.8 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) |
€1.99 (R38.55) |
€1.70 (R32.81) |
-14.9 % |
| Cigarettes (Pack of 20, Marlboro) |
€5.60 (R108.38) |
€2.84 (R55.00) |
-49.3 % |
Transportation | Portugal Edit |
South Africa Edit | |
| One-Way Ticket (Local Transport) |
€2.00 (R38.71) |
€1.55 (R30.00) |
-22.5 % |
| Monthly Public Transport Pass (Regular Price) |
€40.00 (R774.14) |
€51.15 (R990.00) |
+27.9 % |
| Taxi Start (Standard Tariff) |
€3.50 (R67.74) |
€0.98 (R19.00) |
-72.0 % |
| Taxi 1 mile (Standard Tariff) |
€1.51 (R29.28) |
€1.25 (R24.14) |
-17.5 % |
| Taxi 1 Hour Waiting (Standard Tariff) |
€15.00 (R290.30) |
€6.51 (R126.00) |
-56.6 % |
| Gasoline (1 Liter) |
€1.77 (R34.20) |
€1.16 (R22.48) |
-34.3 % |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.5 (or Equivalent New Compact Car) |
€30,043.00 (R581,437.29) |
€30,433.77 (R589,000.00) |
+1.3 % |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6 (or Equivalent New Mid-Size Car) |
€34,007.17 (R658,157.92) |
€25,762.79 (R498,600.26) |
-24.2 % |
Utilities (Monthly) | Portugal Edit |
South Africa Edit | |
| Basic Utilities for 915 Square Feet Apartment (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) |
€117.22 (R2,268.62) |
€112.36 (R2,174.63) |
-4.1 % |
| Mobile Phone Plan (Monthly, with Calls and 10GB+ Data) |
€18.26 (R353.48) |
€29.29 (R566.91) |
+60.4 % |
| Broadband Internet (Unlimited Data, 60 Mbps or Higher) |
€36.51 (R706.56) |
€34.15 (R660.90) |
-6.5 % |
Sports And Leisure | Portugal Edit |
South Africa Edit | |
| Monthly Fitness Club Membership |
€37.75 (R730.64) |
€28.98 (R560.85) |
-23.2 % |
| Tennis Court Rental (1 Hour, Weekend) |
€14.07 (R272.40) |
€9.12 (R176.60) |
-35.2 % |
| Cinema Ticket (International Release) |
€7.88 (R152.41) |
€6.20 (R120.00) |
-21.3 % |
Childcare | Portugal Edit |
South Africa Edit | |
| Private Full-Day Preschool or Kindergarten, Monthly Fee per Child |
€443.00 (R8,573.65) |
€188.56 (R3,649.34) |
-57.4 % |
| International Primary School, Annual Tuition per Child |
€10,355.11 (R200,407.61) |
€4,405.76 (R85,266.87) |
-57.5 % |
Clothing And Shoes | Portugal Edit |
South Africa Edit | |
| Jeans (Levi's 501 or Similar) |
€79.47 (R1,538.11) |
€45.45 (R879.71) |
-42.8 % |
| Summer Dress in a Chain Store (e.g. Zara or H&M) |
€35.76 (R692.14) |
€28.06 (R543.03) |
-21.5 % |
| Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) |
€79.92 (R1,546.75) |
€85.13 (R1,647.55) |
+6.5 % |
| Men's Leather Business Shoes |
€91.13 (R1,763.59) |
€73.62 (R1,424.72) |
-19.2 % |
Rent Per Month | Portugal Edit |
South Africa Edit | |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre |
€907.44 (R17,562.06) |
€416.16 (R8,054.24) |
-54.1 % |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre |
€714.98 (R13,837.38) |
€340.15 (R6,583.05) |
-52.4 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre |
€1,515.90 (R29,337.90) |
€841.65 (R16,288.89) |
-44.5 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre |
€1,133.35 (R21,934.25) |
€673.54 (R13,035.43) |
-40.6 % |
Buy Apartment Price | Portugal Edit |
South Africa Edit | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre |
€315.29 (R6,101.93) |
€86.06 (R1,665.63) |
-72.7 % |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre |
€225.74 (R4,368.78) |
€60.60 (R1,172.82) |
-73.2 % |
Salaries And Financing | Portugal Edit |
South Africa Edit | |
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) |
€1,145.60 (R22,171.32) |
€1,244.15 (R24,078.64) |
+8.6 % |
| Annual Mortgage Interest Rate (20-Year Fixed, in %) | 4.11 | 11.29 | +174.4 % |
| Last update: | 11 May 2026 | 4 May 2026 | |
| Contributors in the past 12 months: | 631 | 405 | |
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