Cost of Living Comparison Between South Africa and United States

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

City in South Africa:
City in United States:

Indices Difference
Cost of Living in United States is 114.6% higher than in South Africa (without rent)
Cost of Living Including Rent in United States is 153.4% higher than in South Africa
Rent Prices in United States are 287.8% higher than in South Africa
Restaurant Prices in United States are 134.0% higher than in South Africa
Groceries Prices in United States are 156.2% higher than in South Africa
Local Purchasing Power in United States is 26.7% higher than in South Africa

Currency: Sticky Currency Switch to metric measurement units

Restaurants	South Africa Edit	United States Edit	Difference
Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant	150.00 R (8.19 $)	366.45 R (20.00 $)	+144.3 %
Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course	700.00 R (38.20 $)	1,374.18 R (75.00 $)	+96.3 %
McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal)	85.00 R (4.64 $)	201.55 R (11.00 $)	+137.1 %
Domestic Beer (1 pint draught)	40.00 R (2.18 $)	109.93 R (6.00 $)	+174.8 %
Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle)	45.00 R (2.46 $)	128.26 R (7.00 $)	+185.0 %
Cappuccino (regular)	34.44 R (1.88 $)	94.23 R (5.14 $)	+173.6 %
Coke/Pepsi (12 oz small bottle)	17.20 R (0.94 $)	45.99 R (2.51 $)	+167.3 %
Water (12 oz small bottle)	13.07 R (0.71 $)	37.71 R (2.06 $)	+188.6 %
Markets	South Africa Edit	United States Edit
Milk (regular), (1 gallon)	71.96 R (3.93 $)	73.15 R (3.99 $)	+1.7 %
Loaf of Fresh White Bread (1 lb)	15.82 R (0.86 $)	59.60 R (3.25 $)	+276.7 %
Rice (white), (1 lb)	12.22 R (0.67 $)	37.81 R (2.06 $)	+209.5 %
Eggs (regular) (12)	39.90 R (2.18 $)	67.31 R (3.67 $)	+68.7 %
Local Cheese (1 lb)	59.49 R (3.25 $)	107.08 R (5.84 $)	+80.0 %
Chicken Fillets (1 lb)	36.58 R (2.00 $)	100.29 R (5.47 $)	+174.2 %
Beef Round (1 lb) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)	53.30 R (2.91 $)	133.11 R (7.26 $)	+149.7 %
Apples (1 lb)	11.96 R (0.65 $)	43.94 R (2.40 $)	+267.3 %
Banana (1 lb)	11.48 R (0.63 $)	13.91 R (0.76 $)	+21.2 %
Oranges (1 lb)	11.11 R (0.61 $)	37.39 R (2.04 $)	+236.6 %
Tomato (1 lb)	12.09 R (0.66 $)	40.86 R (2.23 $)	+238.1 %
Potato (1 lb)	9.62 R (0.52 $)	24.73 R (1.35 $)	+157.1 %
Onion (1 lb)	10.96 R (0.60 $)	25.42 R (1.39 $)	+132.0 %
Lettuce (1 head)	18.34 R (1.00 $)	39.81 R (2.17 $)	+117.0 %
Water (1.5 liter bottle)	16.53 R (0.90 $)	40.18 R (2.19 $)	+143.0 %
Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range)	80.00 R (4.37 $)	274.84 R (15.00 $)	+243.5 %
Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)	23.31 R (1.27 $)	33.23 R (1.81 $)	+42.6 %
Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle)	29.50 R (1.61 $)	64.41 R (3.52 $)	+118.3 %
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro)	52.00 R (2.84 $)	183.22 R (10.00 $)	+252.4 %
Transportation	South Africa Edit	United States Edit
One-way Ticket (Local Transport)	27.00 R (1.47 $)	45.81 R (2.50 $)	+69.7 %
Monthly Pass (Regular Price)	825.00 R (45.03 $)	1,282.57 R (70.00 $)	+55.5 %
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)	20.00 R (1.09 $)	64.13 R (3.50 $)	+220.6 %
Taxi 1 mile (Normal Tariff)	32.19 R (1.76 $)	51.30 R (2.80 $)	+59.4 %
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)	85.00 R (4.64 $)	549.67 R (30.00 $)	+546.7 %
Gasoline (1 gallon)	88.69 R (4.84 $)	66.73 R (3.64 $)	-24.8 %
Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car)	360,000.00 R (19,648.04 $)	617,112.21 R (33,680.68 $)	+71.4 %
Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car)	415,646.57 R (22,685.11 $)	479,174.76 R (26,152.35 $)	+15.3 %
Utilities (Monthly)	South Africa Edit	United States Edit
Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 915 sq ft Apartment	1,919.66 R (104.77 $)	3,809.51 R (207.91 $)	+98.4 %
Mobile Phone Monthly Plan with Calls and 10GB+ Data	592.56 R (32.34 $)	998.56 R (54.50 $)	+68.5 %
Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL)	760.47 R (41.50 $)	1,302.25 R (71.07 $)	+71.2 %
Sports And Leisure	South Africa Edit	United States Edit
Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult	569.39 R (31.08 $)	865.20 R (47.22 $)	+52.0 %
Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend)	169.93 R (9.27 $)	403.86 R (22.04 $)	+137.7 %
Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat	120.00 R (6.55 $)	256.51 R (14.00 $)	+113.8 %
Childcare	South Africa Edit	United States Edit
Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child	3,537.61 R (193.08 $)	25,334.98 R (1,382.73 $)	+616.2 %
International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child	79,806.11 R (4,355.65 $)	415,331.49 R (22,667.92 $)	+420.4 %
Clothing And Shoes	South Africa Edit	United States Edit
1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)	838.85 R (45.78 $)	959.82 R (52.38 $)	+14.4 %
1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, ...)	543.32 R (29.65 $)	788.69 R (43.05 $)	+45.2 %
1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range)	1,563.52 R (85.33 $)	1,629.57 R (88.94 $)	+4.2 %
1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes	1,388.90 R (75.80 $)	2,091.53 R (114.15 $)	+50.6 %
Rent Per Month	South Africa Edit	United States Edit
Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre	8,043.63 R (439.00 $)	33,535.55 R (1,830.30 $)	+316.9 %
Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre	6,352.41 R (346.70 $)	27,752.02 R (1,514.65 $)	+336.9 %
Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre	15,807.94 R (862.76 $)	57,127.29 R (3,117.89 $)	+261.4 %
Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre	12,225.94 R (667.27 $)	46,139.39 R (2,518.19 $)	+277.4 %
Buy Apartment Price	South Africa Edit	United States Edit
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre	1,728.14 R (94.32 $)	8,349.74 R (455.71 $)	+383.2 %
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre	1,332.85 R (72.74 $)	6,597.65 R (360.09 $)	+395.0 %
Salaries And Financing	South Africa Edit	United States Edit
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)	25,314.13 R (1,381.59 $)	81,236.45 R (4,433.71 $)	+220.9 %
Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate	11.47	6.63	-42.2 %
Last update:	July 2024	July 2024
Contributors in the past 12 months:	926	13347

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