Cost of Living Comparison Between Saudi Arabia and South Africa 
| Indices Difference |  |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living in South Africa is 18.7% lower than in Saudi Arabia (excluding rent) | |
| Cost of Living Including Rent in South Africa is 15.4% lower than in Saudi Arabia | |
| Rent Prices in South Africa are 1.6% lower than in Saudi Arabia | |
| Restaurant Prices in South Africa are 0.1% higher than in Saudi Arabia | |
| Groceries Prices in South Africa are 23.8% lower than in Saudi Arabia | |
| Local Purchasing Power in South Africa is 23.6% lower than in Saudi Arabia | |
Restaurants | Saudi Arabia Edit |
South Africa Edit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal at an Inexpensive Restaurant |
25.00 ﷼ (114.86 R) |
39.18 ﷼ (180.00 R) |
+56.7 % |
| Meal for Two at a Mid-Range Restaurant (Three Courses, Without Drinks) |
150.00 ﷼ (689.14 R) |
152.36 ﷼ (700.00 R) |
+1.6 % |
| Combo Meal at McDonald's (or Equivalent Fast-Food Meal) |
30.00 ﷼ (137.83 R) |
19.59 ﷼ (90.00 R) |
-34.7 % |
| Domestic Draft Beer (1 Pint) |
7.00 ﷼ (32.16 R) |
8.71 ﷼ (40.00 R) |
+24.4 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) |
7.00 ﷼ (32.16 R) |
9.79 ﷼ (45.00 R) |
+39.9 % |
| Cappuccino (Regular Size) |
13.59 ﷼ (62.43 R) |
7.97 ﷼ (36.60 R) |
-41.4 % |
| Soft Drink (Coca-Cola or Pepsi, 12 oz Small Bottle) |
2.75 ﷼ (12.62 R) |
3.95 ﷼ (18.13 R) |
+43.6 % |
| Bottled Water (12 oz) |
0.97 ﷼ (4.46 R) |
3.06 ﷼ (14.06 R) |
+215.5 % |
Markets | Saudi Arabia Edit |
South Africa Edit | |
| Milk (Regular, 1 Liter) |
6.33 ﷼ (29.06 R) |
4.29 ﷼ (19.69 R) |
-32.3 % |
| Fresh White Bread (1 lb Loaf) |
3.46 ﷼ (15.91 R) |
3.49 ﷼ (16.04 R) |
+0.8 % |
| White Rice (1 lb) |
3.75 ﷼ (17.23 R) |
2.80 ﷼ (12.86 R) |
-25.4 % |
| Eggs (12, Large Size) |
9.53 ﷼ (43.77 R) |
8.88 ﷼ (40.78 R) |
-6.8 % |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) |
12.37 ﷼ (56.85 R) |
13.55 ﷼ (62.25 R) |
+9.5 % |
| Chicken Fillets (1 lb) |
13.79 ﷼ (63.34 R) |
8.15 ﷼ (37.46 R) |
-40.9 % |
| Beef Round or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat (1 lb) |
22.40 ﷼ (102.92 R) |
12.02 ﷼ (55.20 R) |
-46.4 % |
| Apples (1 lb) |
3.68 ﷼ (16.91 R) |
2.78 ﷼ (12.79 R) |
-24.4 % |
| Bananas (1 lb) |
2.81 ﷼ (12.89 R) |
2.60 ﷼ (11.95 R) |
-7.3 % |
| Oranges (1 lb) |
2.84 ﷼ (13.05 R) |
2.66 ﷼ (12.24 R) |
-6.2 % |
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
2.75 ﷼ (12.64 R) |
2.77 ﷼ (12.72 R) |
+0.7 % |
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
2.24 ﷼ (10.30 R) |
2.24 ﷼ (10.29 R) |
-0.1 % |
| Onions (1 lb) |
2.24 ﷼ (10.30 R) |
2.40 ﷼ (11.01 R) |
+6.9 % |
| Lettuce (1 Head) |
4.54 ﷼ (20.84 R) |
4.18 ﷼ (19.20 R) |
-7.9 % |
| Bottled Water (50 oz) |
2.21 ﷼ (10.16 R) |
3.82 ﷼ (17.54 R) |
+72.6 % |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) |
15.00 ﷼ (68.91 R) |
17.63 ﷼ (80.99 R) |
+17.5 % |
| Domestic Beer (16.9 oz Bottle) |
6.36 ﷼ (29.21 R) |
5.26 ﷼ (24.18 R) |
-17.2 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) |
8.24 ﷼ (37.87 R) |
6.79 ﷼ (31.18 R) |
-17.7 % |
| Cigarettes (Pack of 20, Marlboro) |
28.00 ﷼ (128.64 R) |
11.32 ﷼ (52.00 R) |
-59.6 % |
Transportation | Saudi Arabia Edit |
South Africa Edit | |
| One-Way Ticket (Local Transport) |
4.00 ﷼ (18.38 R) |
6.53 ﷼ (30.00 R) |
+63.2 % |
| Monthly Public Transport Pass (Regular Price) |
130.87 ﷼ (601.25 R) |
179.57 ﷼ (825.00 R) |
+37.2 % |
| Taxi Start (Standard Tariff) |
10.00 ﷼ (45.94 R) |
4.35 ﷼ (20.00 R) |
-56.5 % |
| Taxi 1 mile (Standard Tariff) |
12.87 ﷼ (59.15 R) |
7.01 ﷼ (32.19 R) |
-45.6 % |
| Taxi 1 Hour Waiting (Standard Tariff) |
50.00 ﷼ (229.71 R) |
20.68 ﷼ (95.00 R) |
-58.6 % |
| Gasoline (1 Liter) |
2.32 ﷼ (10.67 R) |
4.94 ﷼ (22.69 R) |
+112.8 % |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.5 (or Equivalent New Compact Car) |
98,000.00 ﷼ (450,238.16 R) |
82,711.78 ﷼ (380,000.00 R) |
-15.6 % |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6 (or Equivalent New Mid-Size Car) |
83,729.52 ﷼ (384,675.76 R) |
93,890.31 ﷼ (431,357.14 R) |
+12.1 % |
Utilities (Monthly) | Saudi Arabia Edit |
South Africa Edit | |
| Basic Utilities for 915 Square Feet Apartment (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) |
381.73 ﷼ (1,753.78 R) |
460.49 ﷼ (2,115.62 R) |
+20.6 % |
| Mobile Phone Plan (Monthly, with Calls and 10GB+ Data) |
123.78 ﷼ (568.68 R) |
126.32 ﷼ (580.36 R) |
+2.1 % |
| Broadband Internet (Unlimited Data, 60 Mbps or Higher) |
260.68 ﷼ (1,197.65 R) |
158.93 ﷼ (730.16 R) |
-39.0 % |
Sports And Leisure | Saudi Arabia Edit |
South Africa Edit | |
| Monthly Fitness Club Membership |
333.47 ﷼ (1,532.05 R) |
122.89 ﷼ (564.61 R) |
-63.1 % |
| Tennis Court Rental (1 Hour, Weekend) |
157.75 ﷼ (724.72 R) |
38.00 ﷼ (174.59 R) |
-75.9 % |
| Cinema Ticket (International Release) |
55.00 ﷼ (252.68 R) |
26.12 ﷼ (120.00 R) |
-52.5 % |
Childcare | Saudi Arabia Edit |
South Africa Edit | |
| Private Full-Day Preschool or Kindergarten, Monthly Fee per Child |
1,307.14 ﷼ (6,005.36 R) |
743.27 ﷼ (3,414.78 R) |
-43.1 % |
| International Primary School, Annual Tuition per Child |
28,102.90 ﷼ (129,112.22 R) |
17,205.00 ﷼ (79,044.36 R) |
-38.8 % |
Clothing And Shoes | Saudi Arabia Edit |
South Africa Edit | |
| Jeans (Levi's 501 or Similar) |
181.68 ﷼ (834.68 R) |
191.33 ﷼ (879.01 R) |
+5.3 % |
| Summer Dress in a Chain Store (e.g. Zara or H&M) |
213.83 ﷼ (982.41 R) |
121.79 ﷼ (559.54 R) |
-43.0 % |
| Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) |
355.53 ﷼ (1,633.41 R) |
359.61 ﷼ (1,652.16 R) |
+1.1 % |
| Men's Leather Business Shoes |
321.55 ﷼ (1,477.29 R) |
309.03 ﷼ (1,419.75 R) |
-3.9 % |
Rent Per Month | Saudi Arabia Edit |
South Africa Edit | |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre |
1,997.30 ﷼ (9,176.12 R) |
1,750.56 ﷼ (8,042.54 R) |
-12.4 % |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre |
1,665.07 ﷼ (7,649.80 R) |
1,434.98 ﷼ (6,592.68 R) |
-13.8 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre |
3,507.10 ﷼ (16,112.55 R) |
3,525.32 ﷼ (16,196.27 R) |
+0.5 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre |
2,485.62 ﷼ (11,419.61 R) |
2,790.32 ﷼ (12,819.48 R) |
+12.3 % |
Buy Apartment Price | Saudi Arabia Edit |
South Africa Edit | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre |
696.54 ﷼ (3,200.11 R) |
356.20 ﷼ (1,636.49 R) |
-48.9 % |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre |
439.11 ﷼ (2,017.38 R) |
275.55 ﷼ (1,265.97 R) |
-37.2 % |
Salaries And Financing | Saudi Arabia Edit |
South Africa Edit | |
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) |
8,231.21 ﷼ (37,816.37 R) |
5,321.34 ﷼ (24,447.65 R) |
-35.4 % |
| Annual Mortgage Interest Rate (20-Year Fixed, in %) | 4.57 | 11.50 | +151.8 % |
| Last update: | 19 November 2025 | 20 November 2025 | |
| Contributors in the past 12 months: | 475 | 785 |
Other comparisons Saudi Arabia vs South Africa:
- Quality of Life Comparison Saudi Arabia vs South Africa
- Crime Comparison Saudi Arabia vs South Africa
- Health Care Comparison Saudi Arabia vs South Africa
- Pollution Comparison Saudi Arabia vs South Africa
- Property Prices Comparison Saudi Arabia vs South Africa
- Traffic Comparison Saudi Arabia vs South Africa