Cost of Living Comparison Between United States and South Africa

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

City in United States:
City in South Africa:

Indices Difference
Consumer Prices in South Africa are 54.5% lower than in United States (without rent)
Consumer Prices Including Rent in South Africa are 61.5% lower than in United States
Rent Prices in South Africa are 74.3% lower than in United States
Restaurant Prices in South Africa are 58.9% lower than in United States
Groceries Prices in South Africa are 63.1% lower than in United States
Local Purchasing Power in South Africa is 27.6% lower than in United States

Currency: Sticky Currency Switch to metric measurement units

Restaurants	United States Edit	South Africa Edit	Difference
Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant	20.00 $ (383.03 R)	7.83 $ (150.00 R)	-60.8 %
Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course	75.00 $ (1,436.37 R)	36.55 $ (700.00 R)	-51.3 %
McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal)	10.88 $ (208.37 R)	4.18 $ (80.00 R)	-61.6 %
Domestic Beer (1 pint draught)	6.00 $ (114.91 R)	2.09 $ (40.00 R)	-65.2 %
Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle)	7.00 $ (134.06 R)	2.19 $ (42.00 R)	-68.7 %
Cappuccino (regular)	5.10 $ (97.71 R)	1.79 $ (34.26 R)	-64.9 %
Coke/Pepsi (12 oz small bottle)	2.49 $ (47.65 R)	0.89 $ (17.09 R)	-64.1 %
Water (12 oz small bottle)	2.06 $ (39.51 R)	0.68 $ (13.07 R)	-66.9 %
Markets	United States Edit	South Africa Edit
Milk (regular), (1 gallon)	4.01 $ (76.72 R)	3.71 $ (71.08 R)	-7.3 %
Loaf of Fresh White Bread (1 lb)	3.23 $ (61.92 R)	0.82 $ (15.62 R)	-74.8 %
Rice (white), (1 lb)	2.07 $ (39.67 R)	0.63 $ (12.09 R)	-69.5 %
Eggs (regular) (12)	3.72 $ (71.27 R)	2.02 $ (38.71 R)	-45.7 %
Local Cheese (1 lb)	5.84 $ (111.78 R)	3.05 $ (58.42 R)	-47.7 %
Chicken Fillets (1 lb)	5.51 $ (105.47 R)	1.91 $ (36.56 R)	-65.3 %
Beef Round (1 lb) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)	7.29 $ (139.55 R)	2.80 $ (53.64 R)	-61.6 %
Apples (1 lb)	2.41 $ (46.14 R)	0.61 $ (11.73 R)	-74.6 %
Banana (1 lb)	0.76 $ (14.59 R)	0.60 $ (11.42 R)	-21.7 %
Oranges (1 lb)	2.04 $ (39.04 R)	0.57 $ (10.90 R)	-72.1 %
Tomato (1 lb)	2.22 $ (42.59 R)	0.63 $ (11.97 R)	-71.9 %
Potato (1 lb)	1.37 $ (26.21 R)	0.49 $ (9.47 R)	-63.9 %
Onion (1 lb)	1.38 $ (26.40 R)	0.58 $ (11.05 R)	-58.1 %
Lettuce (1 head)	2.16 $ (41.34 R)	0.95 $ (18.28 R)	-55.8 %
Water (1.5 liter bottle)	2.19 $ (41.89 R)	0.87 $ (16.57 R)	-60.4 %
Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range)	15.00 $ (287.27 R)	4.18 $ (80.00 R)	-72.2 %
Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)	1.77 $ (33.93 R)	1.19 $ (22.70 R)	-33.1 %
Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle)	3.56 $ (68.16 R)	1.52 $ (29.16 R)	-57.2 %
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro)	10.00 $ (191.52 R)	2.61 $ (50.00 R)	-73.9 %
Transportation	United States Edit	South Africa Edit
One-way Ticket (Local Transport)	2.50 $ (47.88 R)	1.57 $ (30.00 R)	-37.3 %
Monthly Pass (Regular Price)	72.00 $ (1,378.91 R)	41.77 $ (800.00 R)	-42.0 %
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)	3.75 $ (71.82 R)	1.04 $ (20.00 R)	-72.2 %
Taxi 1 mile (Normal Tariff)	2.80 $ (53.62 R)	1.60 $ (30.58 R)	-43.0 %
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)	30.00 $ (574.55 R)	4.57 $ (87.50 R)	-84.8 %
Gasoline (1 gallon)	3.65 $ (69.99 R)	4.61 $ (88.30 R)	+26.2 %
Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car)	33,000.00 $ (632,000.66 R)	18,275.30 $ (350,000.00 R)	-44.6 %
Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car)	26,090.56 $ (499,674.35 R)	21,340.69 $ (408,706.93 R)	-18.2 %
Utilities (Monthly)	United States Edit	South Africa Edit
Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 915 sq ft Apartment	206.31 $ (3,951.18 R)	98.17 $ (1,880.03 R)	-52.4 %
Mobile Phone Monthly Plan with Calls and 10GB+ Data	52.44 $ (1,004.24 R)	30.85 $ (590.80 R)	-41.2 %
Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL)	71.09 $ (1,361.45 R)	39.57 $ (757.89 R)	-44.3 %
Sports And Leisure	United States Edit	South Africa Edit
Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult	47.72 $ (913.82 R)	29.84 $ (571.54 R)	-37.5 %
Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend)	22.47 $ (430.35 R)	8.55 $ (163.79 R)	-61.9 %
Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat	14.00 $ (268.12 R)	5.98 $ (114.50 R)	-57.3 %
Childcare	United States Edit	South Africa Edit
Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child	1,374.03 $ (26,314.75 R)	181.13 $ (3,468.83 R)	-86.8 %
International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child	23,021.40 $ (440,895.20 R)	4,144.94 $ (79,381.93 R)	-82.0 %
Clothing And Shoes	United States Edit	South Africa Edit
1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)	52.53 $ (1,006.10 R)	42.92 $ (821.94 R)	-18.3 %
1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, ...)	43.64 $ (835.75 R)	27.73 $ (531.03 R)	-36.5 %
1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range)	89.00 $ (1,704.50 R)	79.56 $ (1,523.73 R)	-10.6 %
1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes	115.34 $ (2,208.92 R)	73.04 $ (1,398.84 R)	-36.7 %
Rent Per Month	United States Edit	South Africa Edit
Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre	1,783.83 $ (34,163.01 R)	433.94 $ (8,310.57 R)	-75.7 %
Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre	1,465.54 $ (28,067.43 R)	330.63 $ (6,332.07 R)	-77.4 %
Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre	2,987.95 $ (57,223.76 R)	828.24 $ (15,861.98 R)	-72.3 %
Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre	2,425.58 $ (46,453.57 R)	634.90 $ (12,159.38 R)	-73.8 %
Buy Apartment Price	United States Edit	South Africa Edit
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre	350.62 $ (6,714.82 R)	88.98 $ (1,704.06 R)	-74.6 %
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre	273.12 $ (5,230.74 R)	69.81 $ (1,336.92 R)	-74.4 %
Salaries And Financing	United States Edit	South Africa Edit
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)	4,563.01 $ (87,388.58 R)	1,271.78 $ (24,356.47 R)	-72.1 %
Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate	6.57	11.31	+72.3 %
Last update:	April 2024	April 2024
Contributors in the past 12 months:	11302	815

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