Cost of Living Comparison Between South Africa and United Kingdom 
| Indices Difference |  |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living in United Kingdom is 78.1% higher than in South Africa (excluding rent) | |
| Cost of Living Including Rent in United Kingdom is 92.2% higher than in South Africa | |
| Rent Prices in United Kingdom are 142.6% higher than in South Africa | |
| Restaurant Prices in United Kingdom are 103.0% higher than in South Africa | |
| Groceries Prices in United Kingdom are 88.1% higher than in South Africa | |
| Local Purchasing Power in United Kingdom is 13.6% higher than in South Africa | |
Restaurants | South Africa Edit |
United Kingdom Edit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal at an Inexpensive Restaurant |
180.00 R (8.27 £) |
326.43 R (15.00 £) |
+81.3 % |
| Meal for Two at a Mid-Range Restaurant (Three Courses, Without Drinks) |
650.00 R (29.87 £) |
1,414.51 R (65.00 £) |
+117.6 % |
| Combo Meal at McDonald's (or Equivalent Fast-Food Meal) |
90.00 R (4.14 £) |
174.09 R (8.00 £) |
+93.4 % |
| Domestic Draft Beer (1 Pint) |
40.00 R (1.84 £) |
108.81 R (5.00 £) |
+172.0 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) |
45.00 R (2.07 £) |
108.81 R (5.00 £) |
+141.8 % |
| Cappuccino (Regular Size) |
37.18 R (1.71 £) |
76.27 R (3.50 £) |
+105.1 % |
| Soft Drink (Coca-Cola or Pepsi, 12 oz Small Bottle) |
18.04 R (0.83 £) |
41.21 R (1.89 £) |
+128.4 % |
| Bottled Water (12 oz) |
14.05 R (0.65 £) |
29.09 R (1.34 £) |
+107.1 % |
Markets | South Africa Edit |
United Kingdom Edit | |
| Milk (Regular, 1 Liter) |
19.62 R (0.90 £) |
27.06 R (1.24 £) |
+37.9 % |
| Fresh White Bread (1 lb Loaf) |
15.95 R (0.73 £) |
24.54 R (1.13 £) |
+53.9 % |
| White Rice (1 lb) |
12.95 R (0.59 £) |
16.03 R (0.74 £) |
+23.8 % |
| Eggs (12, Large Size) |
40.84 R (1.88 £) |
64.79 R (2.98 £) |
+58.6 % |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) |
61.96 R (2.85 £) |
70.94 R (3.26 £) |
+14.5 % |
| Chicken Fillets (1 lb) |
37.19 R (1.71 £) |
65.73 R (3.02 £) |
+76.8 % |
| Beef Round or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat (1 lb) |
55.35 R (2.54 £) |
106.57 R (4.90 £) |
+92.5 % |
| Apples (1 lb) |
12.86 R (0.59 £) |
21.79 R (1.00 £) |
+69.4 % |
| Bananas (1 lb) |
11.89 R (0.55 £) |
12.05 R (0.55 £) |
+1.3 % |
| Oranges (1 lb) |
12.31 R (0.57 £) |
20.75 R (0.95 £) |
+68.6 % |
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
12.61 R (0.58 £) |
25.15 R (1.16 £) |
+99.5 % |
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
10.35 R (0.48 £) |
12.53 R (0.58 £) |
+21.0 % |
| Onions (1 lb) |
10.96 R (0.50 £) |
11.55 R (0.53 £) |
+5.3 % |
| Lettuce (1 Head) |
19.32 R (0.89 £) |
19.12 R (0.88 £) |
-1.0 % |
| Bottled Water (50 oz) |
17.62 R (0.81 £) |
25.67 R (1.18 £) |
+45.7 % |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) |
80.00 R (3.68 £) |
174.09 R (8.00 £) |
+117.6 % |
| Domestic Beer (16.9 oz Bottle) |
24.16 R (1.11 £) |
48.23 R (2.22 £) |
+99.6 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) |
31.55 R (1.45 £) |
55.37 R (2.54 £) |
+75.5 % |
| Cigarettes (Pack of 20, Marlboro) |
53.75 R (2.47 £) |
369.95 R (17.00 £) |
+588.3 % |
Transportation | South Africa Edit |
United Kingdom Edit | |
| One-Way Ticket (Local Transport) |
28.50 R (1.31 £) |
54.40 R (2.50 £) |
+90.9 % |
| Monthly Public Transport Pass (Regular Price) |
990.00 R (45.49 £) |
1,632.13 R (75.00 £) |
+64.9 % |
| Taxi Start (Standard Tariff) |
20.00 R (0.92 £) |
82.69 R (3.80 £) |
+313.5 % |
| Taxi 1 mile (Standard Tariff) |
24.14 R (1.11 £) |
56.74 R (2.61 £) |
+135.0 % |
| Taxi 1 Hour Waiting (Standard Tariff) |
126.00 R (5.79 £) |
435.24 R (20.00 £) |
+245.4 % |
| Gasoline (1 Liter) |
22.42 R (1.03 £) |
30.73 R (1.41 £) |
+37.1 % |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.5 (or Equivalent New Compact Car) |
589,000.00 R (27,065.82 £) |
628,806.10 R (28,895.00 £) |
+6.8 % |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6 (or Equivalent New Mid-Size Car) |
491,485.04 R (22,584.80 £) |
665,871.59 R (30,598.24 £) |
+35.5 % |
Utilities (Monthly) | South Africa Edit |
United Kingdom Edit | |
| Basic Utilities for 915 Square Feet Apartment (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) |
2,113.25 R (97.11 £) |
5,244.82 R (241.01 £) |
+148.2 % |
| Mobile Phone Plan (Monthly, with Calls and 10GB+ Data) |
580.06 R (26.66 £) |
289.94 R (13.32 £) |
-50.0 % |
| Broadband Internet (Unlimited Data, 60 Mbps or Higher) |
661.82 R (30.41 £) |
700.32 R (32.18 £) |
+5.8 % |
Sports And Leisure | South Africa Edit |
United Kingdom Edit | |
| Monthly Fitness Club Membership |
552.09 R (25.37 £) |
758.38 R (34.85 £) |
+37.4 % |
| Tennis Court Rental (1 Hour, Weekend) |
174.81 R (8.03 £) |
292.61 R (13.45 £) |
+67.4 % |
| Cinema Ticket (International Release) |
120.00 R (5.51 £) |
217.62 R (10.00 £) |
+81.3 % |
Childcare | South Africa Edit |
United Kingdom Edit | |
| Private Full-Day Preschool or Kindergarten, Monthly Fee per Child |
3,619.20 R (166.31 £) |
28,054.31 R (1,289.16 £) |
+675.2 % |
| International Primary School, Annual Tuition per Child |
88,522.70 R (4,067.81 £) |
361,468.18 R (16,610.24 £) |
+308.3 % |
Clothing And Shoes | South Africa Edit |
United Kingdom Edit | |
| Jeans (Levi's 501 or Similar) |
874.10 R (40.17 £) |
1,483.36 R (68.16 £) |
+69.7 % |
| Summer Dress in a Chain Store (e.g. Zara or H&M) |
546.06 R (25.09 £) |
736.19 R (33.83 £) |
+34.8 % |
| Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) |
1,631.39 R (74.97 £) |
1,650.48 R (75.84 £) |
+1.2 % |
| Men's Leather Business Shoes |
1,420.75 R (65.29 £) |
1,647.79 R (75.72 £) |
+16.0 % |
Rent Per Month | South Africa Edit |
United Kingdom Edit | |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre |
8,002.06 R (367.71 £) |
22,140.31 R (1,017.39 £) |
+176.7 % |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre |
6,604.47 R (303.49 £) |
18,006.71 R (827.45 £) |
+172.6 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre |
16,238.06 R (746.17 £) |
36,633.29 R (1,683.38 £) |
+125.6 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre |
12,777.51 R (587.15 £) |
29,028.55 R (1,333.92 £) |
+127.2 % |
Buy Apartment Price | South Africa Edit |
United Kingdom Edit | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre |
1,689.52 R (77.64 £) |
8,829.61 R (405.74 £) |
+422.6 % |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre |
1,238.74 R (56.92 £) |
6,947.42 R (319.25 £) |
+460.8 % |
Salaries And Financing | South Africa Edit |
United Kingdom Edit | |
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) |
24,436.34 R (1,122.90 £) |
53,332.22 R (2,450.73 £) |
+118.2 % |
| Annual Mortgage Interest Rate (20-Year Fixed, in %) | 11.28 | 5.41 | -52.1 % |
| Last update: | 10 February 2026 | 11 February 2026 | |
| Contributors in the past 12 months: | 373 | 1837 | |
Other comparisons South Africa vs United Kingdom:
- Quality of Life Comparison South Africa vs United Kingdom
- Crime Comparison South Africa vs United Kingdom
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