Cost of Living Comparison Between United Arab Emirates and South Africa 
| Indices Difference |  |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living in South Africa is 41.1% lower than in United Arab Emirates (excluding rent) | |
| Cost of Living Including Rent in South Africa is 52.7% lower than in United Arab Emirates | |
| Rent Prices in South Africa are 71.9% lower than in United Arab Emirates | |
| Restaurant Prices in South Africa are 46.2% lower than in United Arab Emirates | |
| Groceries Prices in South Africa are 32.8% lower than in United Arab Emirates | |
| Local Purchasing Power in South Africa is 16.2% lower than in United Arab Emirates | |
Restaurants | United Arab Emirates Edit |
South Africa Edit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant |
35.00 AED (170.05 R) |
32.93 AED (160.00 R) |
-5.9 % |
| Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course |
250.00 AED (1,214.63 R) |
144.08 AED (700.00 R) |
-42.4 % |
| McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal) |
35.00 AED (170.05 R) |
18.52 AED (90.00 R) |
-47.1 % |
| Domestic Beer (1 pint draught) |
41.76 AED (202.90 R) |
8.23 AED (40.00 R) |
-80.3 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) |
50.00 AED (242.93 R) |
9.26 AED (45.00 R) |
-81.5 % |
| Cappuccino (regular) |
19.97 AED (97.01 R) |
7.38 AED (35.85 R) |
-63.0 % |
| Coke/Pepsi (12 oz small bottle) |
4.10 AED (19.92 R) |
3.63 AED (17.63 R) |
-11.5 % |
| Water (12 oz small bottle) |
2.13 AED (10.36 R) |
2.84 AED (13.81 R) |
+33.3 % |
Markets | United Arab Emirates Edit |
South Africa Edit | |
| Milk (regular), (1 gallon) |
26.07 AED (126.65 R) |
15.15 AED (73.59 R) |
-41.9 % |
| Loaf of Fresh White Bread (1 lb) |
4.67 AED (22.71 R) |
3.30 AED (16.03 R) |
-29.4 % |
| Rice (white), (1 lb) |
3.60 AED (17.47 R) |
2.64 AED (12.85 R) |
-26.5 % |
| Eggs (regular) (12) |
11.27 AED (54.74 R) |
8.43 AED (40.94 R) |
-25.2 % |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) |
16.69 AED (81.11 R) |
12.80 AED (62.19 R) |
-23.3 % |
| Chicken Fillets (1 lb) |
14.08 AED (68.42 R) |
7.62 AED (37.03 R) |
-45.9 % |
| Beef Round (1 lb) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) |
18.97 AED (92.15 R) |
11.24 AED (54.59 R) |
-40.8 % |
| Apples (1 lb) |
3.82 AED (18.55 R) |
2.57 AED (12.47 R) |
-32.8 % |
| Banana (1 lb) |
2.95 AED (14.35 R) |
2.39 AED (11.60 R) |
-19.1 % |
| Oranges (1 lb) |
2.93 AED (14.24 R) |
2.48 AED (12.04 R) |
-15.4 % |
| Tomato (1 lb) |
2.37 AED (11.53 R) |
2.54 AED (12.35 R) |
+7.1 % |
| Potato (1 lb) |
1.85 AED (8.97 R) |
2.03 AED (9.89 R) |
+10.2 % |
| Onion (1 lb) |
2.07 AED (10.07 R) |
2.17 AED (10.54 R) |
+4.7 % |
| Lettuce (1 head) |
5.48 AED (26.63 R) |
3.86 AED (18.76 R) |
-29.6 % |
| Water (1.5 liter bottle) |
2.30 AED (11.17 R) |
3.51 AED (17.04 R) |
+52.6 % |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) |
55.00 AED (267.22 R) |
17.50 AED (85.00 R) |
-68.2 % |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle) |
8.84 AED (42.97 R) |
4.94 AED (24.00 R) |
-44.1 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) |
10.81 AED (52.52 R) |
6.27 AED (30.49 R) |
-42.0 % |
| Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro) |
23.50 AED (114.18 R) |
10.70 AED (52.00 R) |
-54.5 % |
Transportation | United Arab Emirates Edit |
South Africa Edit | |
| One-way Ticket (Local Transport) |
5.00 AED (24.29 R) |
6.17 AED (30.00 R) |
+23.5 % |
| Monthly Pass (Regular Price) |
200.00 AED (971.70 R) |
164.66 AED (800.00 R) |
-17.7 % |
| Taxi Start (Normal Tariff) |
12.00 AED (58.30 R) |
4.12 AED (20.00 R) |
-65.7 % |
| Taxi 1 mile (Normal Tariff) |
4.02 AED (19.55 R) |
6.62 AED (32.19 R) |
+64.7 % |
| Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff) |
30.00 AED (145.76 R) |
17.50 AED (85.00 R) |
-41.7 % |
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
10.77 AED (52.31 R) |
17.82 AED (86.56 R) |
+65.5 % |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car) |
163,937.00 AED (796,490.57 R) |
76,154.94 AED (370,000.00 R) |
-53.5 % |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car) |
82,493.10 AED (400,794.08 R) |
87,079.69 AED (423,078.06 R) |
+5.6 % |
Utilities (Monthly) | United Arab Emirates Edit |
South Africa Edit | |
| Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 915 sq ft Apartment |
682.14 AED (3,314.20 R) |
413.53 AED (2,009.15 R) |
-39.4 % |
| Mobile Phone Monthly Plan with Calls and 10GB+ Data |
215.24 AED (1,045.74 R) |
117.91 AED (572.89 R) |
-45.2 % |
| Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) |
371.05 AED (1,802.75 R) |
150.42 AED (730.84 R) |
-59.5 % |
Sports And Leisure | United Arab Emirates Edit |
South Africa Edit | |
| Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult |
261.21 AED (1,269.11 R) |
114.77 AED (557.60 R) |
-56.1 % |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend) |
136.57 AED (663.52 R) |
35.82 AED (174.01 R) |
-73.8 % |
| Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat |
50.00 AED (242.93 R) |
24.70 AED (120.00 R) |
-50.6 % |
Childcare | United Arab Emirates Edit |
South Africa Edit | |
| Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child |
2,548.70 AED (12,382.89 R) |
700.92 AED (3,405.44 R) |
-72.5 % |
| International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child |
43,261.09 AED (210,184.73 R) |
16,518.99 AED (80,257.76 R) |
-61.8 % |
Clothing And Shoes | United Arab Emirates Edit |
South Africa Edit | |
| 1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar) |
244.64 AED (1,188.57 R) |
180.03 AED (874.70 R) |
-26.4 % |
| 1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, ...) |
231.56 AED (1,125.03 R) |
113.50 AED (551.45 R) |
-51.0 % |
| 1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) |
368.87 AED (1,792.17 R) |
338.54 AED (1,644.83 R) |
-8.2 % |
| 1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes |
375.45 AED (1,824.12 R) |
292.83 AED (1,422.72 R) |
-22.0 % |
Rent Per Month | United Arab Emirates Edit |
South Africa Edit | |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre |
6,269.05 AED (30,458.26 R) |
1,643.48 AED (7,984.86 R) |
-73.8 % |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre |
4,316.09 AED (20,969.78 R) |
1,345.94 AED (6,539.28 R) |
-68.8 % |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre |
12,111.98 AED (58,846.25 R) |
3,287.82 AED (15,973.94 R) |
-72.9 % |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre |
8,973.01 AED (43,595.50 R) |
2,630.14 AED (12,778.57 R) |
-70.7 % |
Buy Apartment Price | United Arab Emirates Edit |
South Africa Edit | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre |
2,197.93 AED (10,678.66 R) |
341.45 AED (1,658.95 R) |
-84.5 % |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre |
1,245.95 AED (6,053.47 R) |
263.22 AED (1,278.84 R) |
-78.9 % |
Salaries And Financing | United Arab Emirates Edit |
South Africa Edit | |
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) |
12,213.29 AED (59,338.45 R) |
4,845.22 AED (23,540.58 R) |
-60.3 % |
| Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate | 4.62 | 11.55 | +149.9 % |
| Last update: | 24 May 2025 | 24 May 2025 | |
| Contributors in the past 12 months: | 775 | 710 |
Other comparisons United Arab Emirates vs South Africa:
- Quality of Life Comparison United Arab Emirates vs South Africa
- Crime Comparison United Arab Emirates vs South Africa
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- Property Prices Comparison United Arab Emirates vs South Africa
- Traffic Comparison United Arab Emirates vs South Africa