Cost of Living Comparison Between South Africa and Saudi Arabia 
| Indices Difference |  |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living in Saudi Arabia is 23.0% higher than in South Africa (excluding rent) | |
| Cost of Living Including Rent in Saudi Arabia is 18.2% higher than in South Africa | |
| Rent Prices in Saudi Arabia are 1.6% higher than in South Africa | |
| Restaurant Prices in Saudi Arabia are 0.1% lower than in South Africa | |
| Groceries Prices in Saudi Arabia are 31.2% higher than in South Africa | |
| Local Purchasing Power in Saudi Arabia is 30.8% higher than in South Africa | |
Restaurants | South Africa Edit |
Saudi Arabia Edit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal at an Inexpensive Restaurant |
180.00 R (39.18 ﷼) |
114.86 R (25.00 ﷼) |
-36.2 % |
| Meal for Two at a Mid-Range Restaurant (Three Courses, Without Drinks) |
700.00 R (152.36 ﷼) |
689.14 R (150.00 ﷼) |
-1.6 % |
| Combo Meal at McDonald's (or Equivalent Fast-Food Meal) |
90.00 R (19.59 ﷼) |
137.83 R (30.00 ﷼) |
+53.1 % |
| Domestic Draft Beer (1 Pint) |
40.00 R (8.71 ﷼) |
32.16 R (7.00 ﷼) |
-19.6 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) |
45.00 R (9.79 ﷼) |
32.16 R (7.00 ﷼) |
-28.5 % |
| Cappuccino (Regular Size) |
36.60 R (7.97 ﷼) |
62.43 R (13.59 ﷼) |
+70.6 % |
| Soft Drink (Coca-Cola or Pepsi, 12 oz Small Bottle) |
18.13 R (3.95 ﷼) |
12.62 R (2.75 ﷼) |
-30.4 % |
| Bottled Water (12 oz) |
14.06 R (3.06 ﷼) |
4.46 R (0.97 ﷼) |
-68.3 % |
Markets | South Africa Edit |
Saudi Arabia Edit | |
| Milk (Regular, 1 Liter) |
19.69 R (4.29 ﷼) |
29.06 R (6.33 ﷼) |
+47.6 % |
| Fresh White Bread (1 lb Loaf) |
16.04 R (3.49 ﷼) |
15.91 R (3.46 ﷼) |
-0.8 % |
| White Rice (1 lb) |
12.86 R (2.80 ﷼) |
17.23 R (3.75 ﷼) |
+34.0 % |
| Eggs (12, Large Size) |
40.78 R (8.88 ﷼) |
43.77 R (9.53 ﷼) |
+7.3 % |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) |
62.25 R (13.55 ﷼) |
56.85 R (12.37 ﷼) |
-8.7 % |
| Chicken Fillets (1 lb) |
37.46 R (8.15 ﷼) |
63.34 R (13.79 ﷼) |
+69.1 % |
| Beef Round or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat (1 lb) |
55.20 R (12.02 ﷼) |
102.92 R (22.40 ﷼) |
+86.4 % |
| Apples (1 lb) |
12.79 R (2.78 ﷼) |
16.91 R (3.68 ﷼) |
+32.2 % |
| Bananas (1 lb) |
11.95 R (2.60 ﷼) |
12.89 R (2.81 ﷼) |
+7.8 % |
| Oranges (1 lb) |
12.24 R (2.66 ﷼) |
13.05 R (2.84 ﷼) |
+6.6 % |
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
12.72 R (2.77 ﷼) |
12.64 R (2.75 ﷼) |
-0.7 % |
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
10.29 R (2.24 ﷼) |
10.30 R (2.24 ﷼) |
+0.1 % |
| Onions (1 lb) |
11.01 R (2.40 ﷼) |
10.30 R (2.24 ﷼) |
-6.5 % |
| Lettuce (1 Head) |
19.20 R (4.18 ﷼) |
20.84 R (4.54 ﷼) |
+8.5 % |
| Bottled Water (50 oz) |
17.54 R (3.82 ﷼) |
10.16 R (2.21 ﷼) |
-42.1 % |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) |
80.99 R (17.63 ﷼) |
68.91 R (15.00 ﷼) |
-14.9 % |
| Domestic Beer (16.9 oz Bottle) |
24.18 R (5.26 ﷼) |
29.21 R (6.36 ﷼) |
+20.8 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) |
31.18 R (6.79 ﷼) |
37.87 R (8.24 ﷼) |
+21.5 % |
| Cigarettes (Pack of 20, Marlboro) |
52.00 R (11.32 ﷼) |
128.64 R (28.00 ﷼) |
+147.4 % |
Transportation | South Africa Edit |
Saudi Arabia Edit | |
| One-Way Ticket (Local Transport) |
30.00 R (6.53 ﷼) |
18.38 R (4.00 ﷼) |
-38.7 % |
| Monthly Public Transport Pass (Regular Price) |
825.00 R (179.57 ﷼) |
601.25 R (130.87 ﷼) |
-27.1 % |
| Taxi Start (Standard Tariff) |
20.00 R (4.35 ﷼) |
45.94 R (10.00 ﷼) |
+129.7 % |
| Taxi 1 mile (Standard Tariff) |
32.19 R (7.01 ﷼) |
59.15 R (12.87 ﷼) |
+83.8 % |
| Taxi 1 Hour Waiting (Standard Tariff) |
95.00 R (20.68 ﷼) |
229.71 R (50.00 ﷼) |
+141.8 % |
| Gasoline (1 Liter) |
22.69 R (4.94 ﷼) |
10.67 R (2.32 ﷼) |
-53.0 % |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.5 (or Equivalent New Compact Car) |
380,000.00 R (82,711.78 ﷼) |
450,238.16 R (98,000.00 ﷼) |
+18.5 % |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6 (or Equivalent New Mid-Size Car) |
431,357.14 R (93,890.31 ﷼) |
384,675.76 R (83,729.52 ﷼) |
-10.8 % |
Utilities (Monthly) | South Africa Edit |
Saudi Arabia Edit | |
| Basic Utilities for 915 Square Feet Apartment (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) |
2,115.62 R (460.49 ﷼) |
1,753.78 R (381.73 ﷼) |
-17.1 % |
| Mobile Phone Plan (Monthly, with Calls and 10GB+ Data) |
580.36 R (126.32 ﷼) |
568.68 R (123.78 ﷼) |
-2.0 % |
| Broadband Internet (Unlimited Data, 60 Mbps or Higher) |
730.16 R (158.93 ﷼) |
1,197.65 R (260.68 ﷼) |
+64.0 % |
Sports And Leisure | South Africa Edit |
Saudi Arabia Edit | |
| Monthly Fitness Club Membership |
564.61 R (122.89 ﷼) |
1,532.05 R (333.47 ﷼) |
+171.3 % |
| Tennis Court Rental (1 Hour, Weekend) |
174.59 R (38.00 ﷼) |
724.72 R (157.75 ﷼) |
+315.1 % |
| Cinema Ticket (International Release) |
120.00 R (26.12 ﷼) |
252.68 R (55.00 ﷼) |
+110.6 % |
Childcare | South Africa Edit |
Saudi Arabia Edit | |
| Private Full-Day Preschool or Kindergarten, Monthly Fee per Child |
3,414.78 R (743.27 ﷼) |
6,005.36 R (1,307.14 ﷼) |
+75.9 % |
| International Primary School, Annual Tuition per Child |
79,044.36 R (17,205.00 ﷼) |
129,112.22 R (28,102.90 ﷼) |
+63.3 % |
Clothing And Shoes | South Africa Edit |
Saudi Arabia Edit | |
| Jeans (Levi's 501 or Similar) |
879.01 R (191.33 ﷼) |
834.68 R (181.68 ﷼) |
-5.0 % |
| Summer Dress in a Chain Store (e.g. Zara or H&M) |
559.54 R (121.79 ﷼) |
982.41 R (213.83 ﷼) |
+75.6 % |
| Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) |
1,652.16 R (359.61 ﷼) |
1,633.41 R (355.53 ﷼) |
-1.1 % |
| Men's Leather Business Shoes |
1,419.75 R (309.03 ﷼) |
1,477.29 R (321.55 ﷼) |
+4.1 % |
Rent Per Month | South Africa Edit |
Saudi Arabia Edit | |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre |
8,042.54 R (1,750.56 ﷼) |
9,176.12 R (1,997.30 ﷼) |
+14.1 % |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre |
6,592.68 R (1,434.98 ﷼) |
7,649.80 R (1,665.07 ﷼) |
+16.0 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre |
16,196.27 R (3,525.32 ﷼) |
16,112.55 R (3,507.10 ﷼) |
-0.5 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre |
12,819.48 R (2,790.32 ﷼) |
11,419.61 R (2,485.62 ﷼) |
-10.9 % |
Buy Apartment Price | South Africa Edit |
Saudi Arabia Edit | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre |
1,636.49 R (356.20 ﷼) |
3,200.11 R (696.54 ﷼) |
+95.5 % |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre |
1,265.97 R (275.55 ﷼) |
2,017.38 R (439.11 ﷼) |
+59.4 % |
Salaries And Financing | South Africa Edit |
Saudi Arabia Edit | |
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) |
24,447.65 R (5,321.34 ﷼) |
37,816.37 R (8,231.21 ﷼) |
+54.7 % |
| Annual Mortgage Interest Rate (20-Year Fixed, in %) | 11.50 | 4.57 | -60.3 % |
| Last update: | 20 November 2025 | 19 November 2025 | |
| Contributors in the past 12 months: | 785 | 475 |
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