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 113.1% higher than in South Africa (excluding rent)
Cost of Living Including Rent in United States is 146.8% higher than in South Africa
Rent Prices in United States are 262.0% higher than in South Africa
Restaurant Prices in United States are 132.3% higher than in South Africa
Groceries Prices in United States are 157.9% higher than in South Africa
Local Purchasing Power in United States is 39.8% higher than in South Africa

Currency: Sticky Currency Switch to metric measurement units

Restaurants	South Africa Edit	United States Edit	Difference
Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant	160.00 R (8.56 $)	373.77 R (20.00 $)	+133.6 %
Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course	700.00 R (37.46 $)	1,401.64 R (75.00 $)	+100.2 %
McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal)	90.00 R (4.82 $)	210.06 R (11.24 $)	+133.4 %
Domestic Beer (1 pint draught)	40.00 R (2.14 $)	112.13 R (6.00 $)	+180.3 %
Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle)	45.00 R (2.41 $)	130.82 R (7.00 $)	+190.7 %
Cappuccino (regular)	35.79 R (1.91 $)	97.74 R (5.23 $)	+173.1 %
Coke/Pepsi (12 oz small bottle)	17.58 R (0.94 $)	47.90 R (2.56 $)	+172.4 %
Water (12 oz small bottle)	13.64 R (0.73 $)	39.05 R (2.09 $)	+186.3 %
Markets	South Africa Edit	United States Edit
Milk (regular), (1 gallon)	73.68 R (3.94 $)	74.79 R (4.00 $)	+1.5 %
Loaf of Fresh White Bread (1 lb)	16.08 R (0.86 $)	61.51 R (3.29 $)	+282.6 %
Rice (white), (1 lb)	12.79 R (0.68 $)	39.06 R (2.09 $)	+205.4 %
Eggs (regular) (12)	40.63 R (2.17 $)	79.11 R (4.23 $)	+94.7 %
Local Cheese (1 lb)	61.77 R (3.31 $)	109.51 R (5.86 $)	+77.3 %
Chicken Fillets (1 lb)	37.05 R (1.98 $)	103.16 R (5.52 $)	+178.4 %
Beef Round (1 lb) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)	54.56 R (2.92 $)	138.01 R (7.38 $)	+152.9 %
Apples (1 lb)	12.35 R (0.66 $)	44.75 R (2.39 $)	+262.3 %
Banana (1 lb)	11.54 R (0.62 $)	14.21 R (0.76 $)	+23.1 %
Oranges (1 lb)	11.98 R (0.64 $)	38.16 R (2.04 $)	+218.4 %
Tomato (1 lb)	12.31 R (0.66 $)	41.66 R (2.23 $)	+238.4 %
Potato (1 lb)	9.93 R (0.53 $)	24.87 R (1.33 $)	+150.4 %
Onion (1 lb)	10.50 R (0.56 $)	26.11 R (1.40 $)	+148.5 %
Lettuce (1 head)	18.63 R (1.00 $)	41.20 R (2.20 $)	+121.2 %
Water (1.5 liter bottle)	16.93 R (0.91 $)	41.63 R (2.23 $)	+146.0 %
Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range)	85.00 R (4.55 $)	280.33 R (15.00 $)	+229.8 %
Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)	23.84 R (1.28 $)	36.45 R (1.95 $)	+52.9 %
Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle)	30.53 R (1.63 $)	67.08 R (3.59 $)	+119.7 %
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro)	52.00 R (2.78 $)	186.89 R (10.00 $)	+259.4 %
Transportation	South Africa Edit	United States Edit
One-way Ticket (Local Transport)	30.00 R (1.61 $)	46.72 R (2.50 $)	+55.7 %
Monthly Pass (Regular Price)	800.00 R (42.81 $)	1,214.75 R (65.00 $)	+51.8 %
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)	20.00 R (1.07 $)	70.08 R (3.75 $)	+250.4 %
Taxi 1 mile (Normal Tariff)	32.19 R (1.72 $)	52.33 R (2.80 $)	+62.6 %
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)	85.00 R (4.55 $)	560.66 R (30.00 $)	+559.6 %
Gasoline (1 gallon)	86.68 R (4.64 $)	65.53 R (3.51 $)	-24.4 %
Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car)	370,000.00 R (19,798.27 $)	560,655.00 R (30,000.00 $)	+51.5 %
Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car)	421,858.58 R (22,573.16 $)	485,186.11 R (25,961.75 $)	+15.0 %
Utilities (Monthly)	South Africa Edit	United States Edit
Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 915 sq ft Apartment	2,005.75 R (107.33 $)	3,892.08 R (208.26 $)	+94.0 %
Mobile Phone Monthly Plan with Calls and 10GB+ Data	568.56 R (30.42 $)	1,070.62 R (57.29 $)	+88.3 %
Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL)	733.92 R (39.27 $)	1,336.22 R (71.50 $)	+82.1 %
Sports And Leisure	South Africa Edit	United States Edit
Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult	564.78 R (30.22 $)	870.06 R (46.56 $)	+54.1 %
Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend)	177.53 R (9.50 $)	410.89 R (21.99 $)	+131.4 %
Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat	120.00 R (6.42 $)	269.86 R (14.44 $)	+124.9 %
Childcare	South Africa Edit	United States Edit
Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child	3,417.32 R (182.86 $)	25,735.84 R (1,377.09 $)	+653.1 %
International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child	80,773.66 R (4,322.11 $)	422,544.30 R (22,609.86 $)	+423.1 %
Clothing And Shoes	South Africa Edit	United States Edit
1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)	875.17 R (46.83 $)	974.04 R (52.12 $)	+11.3 %
1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, ...)	551.60 R (29.52 $)	795.34 R (42.56 $)	+44.2 %
1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range)	1,642.40 R (87.88 $)	1,675.62 R (89.66 $)	+2.0 %
1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes	1,418.43 R (75.90 $)	2,115.26 R (113.19 $)	+49.1 %
Rent Per Month	South Africa Edit	United States Edit
Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre	8,140.90 R (435.61 $)	32,548.36 R (1,741.62 $)	+299.8 %
Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre	6,582.34 R (352.21 $)	26,861.28 R (1,437.32 $)	+308.1 %
Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre	16,237.06 R (868.83 $)	54,234.39 R (2,902.02 $)	+234.0 %
Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre	12,838.67 R (686.98 $)	44,928.90 R (2,404.09 $)	+249.9 %
Buy Apartment Price	South Africa Edit	United States Edit
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre	1,720.85 R (92.08 $)	5,632.79 R (301.40 $)	+227.3 %
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre	1,292.20 R (69.14 $)	4,698.26 R (251.40 $)	+263.6 %
Salaries And Financing	South Africa Edit	United States Edit
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)	23,504.90 R (1,257.72 $)	81,100.03 R (4,339.57 $)	+245.0 %
Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate	11.55	6.51	-43.6 %
Last update:	April 2025	April 2025
Contributors in the past 12 months:	685	10777

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