Cost of Living Comparison Between South Africa and Canada

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

City in South Africa:
City in Canada:

Indices Difference
Cost of Living in Canada is 64.9% higher than in South Africa (excluding rent)
Cost of Living Including Rent in Canada is 80.5% higher than in South Africa
Rent Prices in Canada are 136.0% higher than in South Africa
Restaurant Prices in Canada are 77.3% higher than in South Africa
Groceries Prices in Canada are 107.7% higher than in South Africa
Local Purchasing Power in Canada is 13.3% higher than in South Africa

Currency: Sticky Currency Switch to metric measurement units

Restaurants	South Africa Edit	Canada Edit	Difference
Meal at an Inexpensive Restaurant	180.00 R (15.20 C$)	296.04 R (25.00 C$)	+64.5 %
Meal for Two at a Mid-Range Restaurant (Three Courses, Without Drinks)	660.00 R (55.73 C$)	1,184.18 R (100.00 C$)	+79.4 %
Combo Meal at McDonald's (or Equivalent Fast-Food Meal)	90.00 R (7.60 C$)	177.63 R (15.00 C$)	+97.4 %
Domestic Draft Beer (1 Pint)	40.00 R (3.38 C$)	94.73 R (8.00 C$)	+136.8 %
Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle)	50.00 R (4.22 C$)	94.73 R (8.00 C$)	+89.5 %
Cappuccino (Regular Size)	37.63 R (3.18 C$)	62.64 R (5.29 C$)	+66.4 %
Soft Drink (Coca-Cola or Pepsi, 12 oz Small Bottle)	18.58 R (1.57 C$)	34.51 R (2.91 C$)	+85.7 %
Bottled Water (12 oz)	14.39 R (1.21 C$)	27.95 R (2.36 C$)	+94.3 %

Markets	South Africa Edit	Canada Edit
Milk (Regular, 1 Liter)	19.67 R (1.66 C$)	36.73 R (3.10 C$)	+86.7 %
Fresh White Bread (1 lb Loaf)	15.94 R (1.35 C$)	39.51 R (3.34 C$)	+147.8 %
White Rice (1 lb)	13.18 R (1.11 C$)	27.06 R (2.29 C$)	+105.4 %
Eggs (12, Large Size)	40.89 R (3.45 C$)	57.82 R (4.88 C$)	+41.4 %
Local Cheese (1 lb)	61.62 R (5.20 C$)	80.71 R (6.82 C$)	+31.0 %
Chicken Fillets (1 lb)	37.49 R (3.17 C$)	89.36 R (7.55 C$)	+138.4 %
Beef Round or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat (1 lb)	55.84 R (4.72 C$)	112.32 R (9.49 C$)	+101.2 %
Apples (1 lb)	13.00 R (1.10 C$)	30.67 R (2.59 C$)	+135.9 %
Bananas (1 lb)	11.98 R (1.01 C$)	10.80 R (0.91 C$)	-9.8 %
Oranges (1 lb)	12.43 R (1.05 C$)	28.78 R (2.43 C$)	+131.6 %
Tomatoes (1 lb)	12.68 R (1.07 C$)	30.06 R (2.54 C$)	+137.1 %
Potatoes (1 lb)	10.45 R (0.88 C$)	19.91 R (1.68 C$)	+90.6 %
Onions (1 lb)	11.05 R (0.93 C$)	19.21 R (1.62 C$)	+73.9 %
Lettuce (1 Head)	19.50 R (1.65 C$)	42.86 R (3.62 C$)	+119.8 %
Bottled Water (50 oz)	17.79 R (1.50 C$)	29.11 R (2.46 C$)	+63.6 %
Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range)	80.00 R (6.76 C$)	213.15 R (18.00 C$)	+166.4 %
Domestic Beer (16.9 oz Bottle)	24.49 R (2.07 C$)	47.89 R (4.04 C$)	+95.6 %
Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle)	32.05 R (2.71 C$)	53.51 R (4.52 C$)	+67.0 %
Cigarettes (Pack of 20, Marlboro)	54.54 R (4.61 C$)	236.84 R (20.00 C$)	+334.2 %

Transportation	South Africa Edit	Canada Edit
One-Way Ticket (Local Transport)	25.00 R (2.11 C$)	41.45 R (3.50 C$)	+65.8 %
Monthly Public Transport Pass (Regular Price)	997.50 R (84.24 C$)	1,222.66 R (103.25 C$)	+22.6 %
Taxi Start (Standard Tariff)	20.00 R (1.69 C$)	53.29 R (4.50 C$)	+166.4 %
Taxi 1 mile (Standard Tariff)	24.14 R (2.04 C$)	40.02 R (3.38 C$)	+65.8 %
Taxi 1 Hour Waiting (Standard Tariff)	126.00 R (10.64 C$)	449.99 R (38.00 C$)	+257.1 %
Gasoline (1 Liter)	22.48 R (1.90 C$)	18.21 R (1.54 C$)	-19.0 %
Volkswagen Golf 1.5 (or Equivalent New Compact Car)	589,000.00 R (49,739.13 C$)	468,697.75 R (39,580.00 C$)	-20.4 %
Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6 (or Equivalent New Mid-Size Car)	492,317.98 R (41,574.65 C$)	323,757.79 R (27,340.29 C$)	-34.2 %

Utilities (Monthly)	South Africa Edit	Canada Edit
Basic Utilities for 915 Square Feet Apartment (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage)	2,151.96 R (181.73 C$)	2,486.05 R (209.94 C$)	+15.5 %
Mobile Phone Plan (Monthly, with Calls and 10GB+ Data)	578.00 R (48.81 C$)	712.00 R (60.13 C$)	+23.2 %
Broadband Internet (Unlimited Data, 60 Mbps or Higher)	657.19 R (55.50 C$)	1,004.11 R (84.79 C$)	+52.8 %

Sports And Leisure	South Africa Edit	Canada Edit
Monthly Fitness Club Membership	559.40 R (47.24 C$)	685.96 R (57.93 C$)	+22.6 %
Tennis Court Rental (1 Hour, Weekend)	175.96 R (14.86 C$)	327.87 R (27.69 C$)	+86.3 %
Cinema Ticket (International Release)	120.00 R (10.13 C$)	184.14 R (15.55 C$)	+53.4 %

Childcare	South Africa Edit	Canada Edit
Private Full-Day Preschool or Kindergarten, Monthly Fee per Child	3,672.01 R (310.09 C$)	12,562.41 R (1,060.85 C$)	+242.1 %
International Primary School, Annual Tuition per Child	88,035.85 R (7,434.34 C$)	237,535.75 R (20,059.12 C$)	+169.8 %

Clothing And Shoes	South Africa Edit	Canada Edit
Jeans (Levi's 501 or Similar)	883.93 R (74.65 C$)	903.09 R (76.26 C$)	+2.2 %
Summer Dress in a Chain Store (e.g. Zara or H&M)	554.21 R (46.80 C$)	670.90 R (56.66 C$)	+21.1 %
Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range)	1,639.63 R (138.46 C$)	1,444.54 R (121.99 C$)	-11.9 %
Men's Leather Business Shoes	1,437.25 R (121.37 C$)	1,736.12 R (146.61 C$)	+20.8 %

Rent Per Month	South Africa Edit	Canada Edit
1 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre	8,150.22 R (688.26 C$)	21,514.68 R (1,816.84 C$)	+164.0 %
1 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre	6,605.73 R (557.83 C$)	18,901.38 R (1,596.16 C$)	+186.1 %
3 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre	16,521.64 R (1,395.20 C$)	34,073.73 R (2,877.42 C$)	+106.2 %
3 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre	12,828.44 R (1,083.32 C$)	29,591.16 R (2,498.88 C$)	+130.7 %

Buy Apartment Price	South Africa Edit	Canada Edit
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre	1,752.69 R (148.01 C$)	7,396.39 R (624.60 C$)	+322.0 %
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre	1,246.26 R (105.24 C$)	5,983.60 R (505.30 C$)	+380.1 %

Salaries And Financing	South Africa Edit	Canada Edit
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)	24,036.79 R (2,029.83 C$)	49,147.98 R (4,150.39 C$)	+104.5 %
Annual Mortgage Interest Rate (20-Year Fixed, in %)	11.29	5.06	-55.2 %
Last update:	17 April 2026	18 April 2026
Contributors in the past 12 months:	407	2259

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