Cost of Living Comparison Between South Africa and Canada 
| Indices Difference |  |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living in Canada is 75.5% higher than in South Africa (excluding rent) | |
| Cost of Living Including Rent in Canada is 92.0% higher than in South Africa | |
| Rent Prices in Canada are 150.3% higher than in South Africa | |
| Restaurant Prices in Canada are 80.5% higher than in South Africa | |
| Groceries Prices in Canada are 116.2% higher than in South Africa | |
| Local Purchasing Power in Canada is 4.6% higher than in South Africa | |
Restaurants | South Africa Edit |
Canada Edit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal at an Inexpensive Restaurant |
180.00 R (14.75 C$) |
305.08 R (25.00 C$) |
+69.5 % |
| Meal for Two at a Mid-Range Restaurant (Three Courses, Without Drinks) |
700.00 R (57.36 C$) |
1,220.33 R (100.00 C$) |
+74.3 % |
| Combo Meal at McDonald's (or Equivalent Fast-Food Meal) |
90.00 R (7.38 C$) |
183.05 R (15.00 C$) |
+103.4 % |
| Domestic Draft Beer (1 Pint) |
40.00 R (3.28 C$) |
97.63 R (8.00 C$) |
+144.1 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) |
45.00 R (3.69 C$) |
97.63 R (8.00 C$) |
+116.9 % |
| Cappuccino (Regular Size) |
36.62 R (3.00 C$) |
63.92 R (5.24 C$) |
+74.5 % |
| Soft Drink (Coca-Cola or Pepsi, 12 oz Small Bottle) |
18.12 R (1.49 C$) |
35.24 R (2.89 C$) |
+94.4 % |
| Bottled Water (12 oz) |
14.05 R (1.15 C$) |
28.61 R (2.34 C$) |
+103.6 % |
Markets | South Africa Edit |
Canada Edit | |
| Milk (Regular, 1 Liter) |
19.69 R (1.61 C$) |
37.70 R (3.09 C$) |
+91.5 % |
| Fresh White Bread (1 lb Loaf) |
16.05 R (1.32 C$) |
40.69 R (3.33 C$) |
+153.5 % |
| White Rice (1 lb) |
12.86 R (1.05 C$) |
28.30 R (2.32 C$) |
+120.1 % |
| Eggs (12, Large Size) |
40.78 R (3.34 C$) |
59.18 R (4.85 C$) |
+45.1 % |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) |
62.25 R (5.10 C$) |
85.48 R (7.00 C$) |
+37.3 % |
| Chicken Fillets (1 lb) |
37.46 R (3.07 C$) |
92.19 R (7.55 C$) |
+146.1 % |
| Beef Round or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat (1 lb) |
55.20 R (4.52 C$) |
115.49 R (9.46 C$) |
+109.2 % |
| Apples (1 lb) |
12.79 R (1.05 C$) |
31.77 R (2.60 C$) |
+148.4 % |
| Bananas (1 lb) |
11.95 R (0.98 C$) |
11.13 R (0.91 C$) |
-6.9 % |
| Oranges (1 lb) |
12.24 R (1.00 C$) |
29.67 R (2.43 C$) |
+142.3 % |
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
12.72 R (1.04 C$) |
31.21 R (2.56 C$) |
+145.3 % |
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
10.29 R (0.84 C$) |
20.52 R (1.68 C$) |
+99.3 % |
| Onions (1 lb) |
11.01 R (0.90 C$) |
20.01 R (1.64 C$) |
+81.8 % |
| Lettuce (1 Head) |
19.20 R (1.57 C$) |
43.50 R (3.56 C$) |
+126.5 % |
| Bottled Water (50 oz) |
17.54 R (1.44 C$) |
29.91 R (2.45 C$) |
+70.5 % |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) |
80.99 R (6.64 C$) |
219.66 R (18.00 C$) |
+171.2 % |
| Domestic Beer (16.9 oz Bottle) |
24.18 R (1.98 C$) |
49.23 R (4.03 C$) |
+103.6 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) |
31.18 R (2.56 C$) |
55.19 R (4.52 C$) |
+77.0 % |
| Cigarettes (Pack of 20, Marlboro) |
52.00 R (4.26 C$) |
244.07 R (20.00 C$) |
+369.4 % |
Transportation | South Africa Edit |
Canada Edit | |
| One-Way Ticket (Local Transport) |
30.00 R (2.46 C$) |
42.71 R (3.50 C$) |
+42.4 % |
| Monthly Public Transport Pass (Regular Price) |
825.00 R (67.60 C$) |
1,272.20 R (104.25 C$) |
+54.2 % |
| Taxi Start (Standard Tariff) |
20.00 R (1.64 C$) |
57.48 R (4.71 C$) |
+187.4 % |
| Taxi 1 mile (Standard Tariff) |
32.19 R (2.64 C$) |
42.81 R (3.51 C$) |
+33.0 % |
| Taxi 1 Hour Waiting (Standard Tariff) |
95.00 R (7.78 C$) |
449.69 R (36.85 C$) |
+373.4 % |
| Gasoline (1 Liter) |
22.69 R (1.86 C$) |
18.94 R (1.55 C$) |
-16.5 % |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.5 (or Equivalent New Compact Car) |
380,000.00 R (31,139.04 C$) |
414,644.78 R (33,978.00 C$) |
+9.1 % |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6 (or Equivalent New Mid-Size Car) |
431,357.14 R (35,347.49 C$) |
343,459.35 R (28,144.72 C$) |
-20.4 % |
Utilities (Monthly) | South Africa Edit |
Canada Edit | |
| Basic Utilities for 915 Square Feet Apartment (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) |
2,110.88 R (172.98 C$) |
2,538.93 R (208.05 C$) |
+20.3 % |
| Mobile Phone Plan (Monthly, with Calls and 10GB+ Data) |
580.88 R (47.60 C$) |
750.42 R (61.49 C$) |
+29.2 % |
| Broadband Internet (Unlimited Data, 60 Mbps or Higher) |
729.35 R (59.77 C$) |
1,044.59 R (85.60 C$) |
+43.2 % |
Sports And Leisure | South Africa Edit |
Canada Edit | |
| Monthly Fitness Club Membership |
565.66 R (46.35 C$) |
720.22 R (59.02 C$) |
+27.3 % |
| Tennis Court Rental (1 Hour, Weekend) |
176.04 R (14.43 C$) |
291.94 R (23.92 C$) |
+65.8 % |
| Cinema Ticket (International Release) |
120.00 R (9.83 C$) |
193.06 R (15.82 C$) |
+60.9 % |
Childcare | South Africa Edit |
Canada Edit | |
| Private Full-Day Preschool or Kindergarten, Monthly Fee per Child |
3,414.78 R (279.82 C$) |
13,098.32 R (1,073.34 C$) |
+283.6 % |
| International Primary School, Annual Tuition per Child |
79,044.36 R (6,477.28 C$) |
217,575.19 R (17,829.16 C$) |
+175.3 % |
Clothing And Shoes | South Africa Edit |
Canada Edit | |
| Jeans (Levi's 501 or Similar) |
879.06 R (72.03 C$) |
936.28 R (76.72 C$) |
+6.5 % |
| Summer Dress in a Chain Store (e.g. Zara or H&M) |
560.28 R (45.91 C$) |
691.17 R (56.64 C$) |
+23.4 % |
| Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) |
1,652.16 R (135.39 C$) |
1,480.95 R (121.36 C$) |
-10.4 % |
| Men's Leather Business Shoes |
1,419.75 R (116.34 C$) |
1,780.58 R (145.91 C$) |
+25.4 % |
Rent Per Month | South Africa Edit |
Canada Edit | |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre |
7,986.00 R (654.41 C$) |
22,503.07 R (1,844.01 C$) |
+181.8 % |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre |
6,560.75 R (537.62 C$) |
19,604.09 R (1,606.45 C$) |
+198.8 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre |
16,051.13 R (1,315.31 C$) |
35,317.20 R (2,894.06 C$) |
+120.0 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre |
12,754.09 R (1,045.13 C$) |
31,102.03 R (2,548.65 C$) |
+143.9 % |
Buy Apartment Price | South Africa Edit |
Canada Edit | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre |
1,633.28 R (133.84 C$) |
9,593.20 R (786.11 C$) |
+487.4 % |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre |
1,277.09 R (104.65 C$) |
7,106.94 R (582.38 C$) |
+456.5 % |
Salaries And Financing | South Africa Edit |
Canada Edit | |
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) |
24,469.36 R (2,005.14 C$) |
49,143.85 R (4,027.08 C$) |
+100.8 % |
| Annual Mortgage Interest Rate (20-Year Fixed, in %) | 11.50 | 5.93 | -48.5 % |
| Last update: | 13 November 2025 | 13 November 2025 | |
| Contributors in the past 12 months: | 777 | 4059 |
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