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 43.50% lower than in United States (without rent)
Consumer Prices Including Rent in South Africa are 50.06% lower than in United States
Rent Prices in South Africa are 62.52% lower than in United States
Restaurant Prices in South Africa are 44.29% lower than in United States
Groceries Prices in South Africa are 53.20% lower than in United States
Local Purchasing Power in South Africa is 25.54% lower than in United States

Currency: Sticky Currency Switch to metric measurement units

Restaurants	United States Edit	South Africa Edit	Difference
Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant	15.00 $ (244.11 R)	9.22 $ (150.00 R)	-38.55 %
Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course	60.00 $ (976.44 R)	36.87 $ (600.00 R)	-38.55 %
McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal)	8.00 $ (130.19 R)	3.69 $ (60.00 R)	-53.91 %
Domestic Beer (1 pint draught)	5.00 $ (81.37 R)	1.84 $ (30.00 R)	-63.13 %
Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle)	6.00 $ (97.64 R)	2.46 $ (40.00 R)	-59.03 %
Cappuccino (regular)	4.35 $ (70.83 R)	1.76 $ (28.62 R)	-59.60 %
Coke/Pepsi (12 oz small bottle)	1.94 $ (31.51 R)	0.90 $ (14.69 R)	-53.38 %
Water (12 oz small bottle)	1.56 $ (25.37 R)	0.70 $ (11.31 R)	-55.41 %
Markets	United States Edit	South Africa Edit
Milk (regular), (1 gallon)	3.27 $ (53.29 R)	3.72 $ (60.52 R)	+13.55 %
Loaf of Fresh White Bread (1 lb)	2.51 $ (40.78 R)	0.79 $ (12.90 R)	-68.35 %
Rice (white), (1 lb)	1.80 $ (29.26 R)	0.63 $ (10.18 R)	-65.22 %
Eggs (regular) (12)	2.31 $ (37.57 R)	1.84 $ (29.96 R)	-20.27 %
Local Cheese (1 lb)	5.03 $ (81.86 R)	3.11 $ (50.66 R)	-38.11 %
Chicken Fillets (1 lb)	4.22 $ (68.67 R)	2.02 $ (32.86 R)	-52.15 %
Beef Round (1 lb) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)	5.83 $ (94.92 R)	3.11 $ (50.62 R)	-46.67 %
Apples (1 lb)	2.06 $ (33.45 R)	0.65 $ (10.59 R)	-68.33 %
Banana (1 lb)	0.71 $ (11.54 R)	0.61 $ (9.86 R)	-14.51 %
Oranges (1 lb)	1.80 $ (29.26 R)	0.65 $ (10.62 R)	-63.69 %
Tomato (1 lb)	1.94 $ (31.65 R)	0.60 $ (9.83 R)	-68.95 %
Potato (1 lb)	1.17 $ (18.98 R)	0.52 $ (8.42 R)	-55.65 %
Onion (1 lb)	1.17 $ (19.03 R)	0.49 $ (7.96 R)	-58.16 %
Lettuce (1 head)	1.65 $ (26.89 R)	0.99 $ (16.13 R)	-39.99 %
Water (1.5 liter bottle)	1.80 $ (29.29 R)	0.94 $ (15.22 R)	-48.03 %
Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range)	12.00 $ (195.29 R)	4.61 $ (75.00 R)	-61.60 %
Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)	2.56 $ (41.59 R)	1.31 $ (21.29 R)	-48.82 %
Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle)	2.88 $ (46.90 R)	1.69 $ (27.54 R)	-41.28 %
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro)	8.00 $ (130.19 R)	2.86 $ (46.50 R)	-64.28 %
Transportation	United States Edit	South Africa Edit
One-way Ticket (Local Transport)	2.20 $ (35.80 R)	1.54 $ (25.00 R)	-30.17 %
Monthly Pass (Regular Price)	65.00 $ (1,057.81 R)	39.94 $ (650.00 R)	-38.55 %
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)	3.25 $ (52.89 R)	1.23 $ (20.00 R)	-62.19 %
Taxi 1 mile (Normal Tariff)	2.60 $ (42.31 R)	1.19 $ (19.31 R)	-54.36 %
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)	30.00 $ (488.22 R)	3.59 $ (58.50 R)	-88.02 %
Gasoline (1 gallon)	2.64 $ (43.03 R)	3.92 $ (63.77 R)	+48.22 %
Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car)	23,195.00 $ (377,474.27 R)	18,434.37 $ (300,000.00 R)	-20.52 %
Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car)	21,885.87 $ (356,169.49 R)	20,859.72 $ (339,470.00 R)	-4.69 %
Utilities (Monthly)	United States Edit	South Africa Edit
Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 915 sq ft Apartment	167.52 $ (2,726.19 R)	101.90 $ (1,658.29 R)	-39.17 %
1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local (No Discounts or Plans)	0.14 $ (2.28 R)	0.10 $ (1.60 R)	-29.84 %
Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL)	66.34 $ (1,079.69 R)	53.95 $ (878.01 R)	-18.68 %
Sports And Leisure	United States Edit	South Africa Edit
Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult	37.10 $ (603.78 R)	31.27 $ (508.91 R)	-15.71 %
Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend)	15.70 $ (255.53 R)	7.80 $ (126.89 R)	-50.34 %
Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat	12.00 $ (195.29 R)	5.84 $ (95.00 R)	-51.35 %
Childcare	United States Edit	South Africa Edit
Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child	935.67 $ (15,227.10 R)	198.00 $ (3,222.17 R)	-78.84 %
International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child	15,526.26 $ (252,673.61 R)	4,412.49 $ (71,808.67 R)	-71.58 %
Clothing And Shoes	United States Edit	South Africa Edit
1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)	44.00 $ (716.01 R)	46.37 $ (754.55 R)	+5.38 %
1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, ...)	35.55 $ (578.47 R)	31.10 $ (506.11 R)	-12.51 %
1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range)	76.64 $ (1,247.26 R)	81.30 $ (1,323.11 R)	+6.08 %
1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes	97.08 $ (1,579.95 R)	76.48 $ (1,244.58 R)	-21.23 %
Rent Per Month	United States Edit	South Africa Edit
Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre	1,349.22 $ (21,957.21 R)	422.53 $ (6,876.31 R)	-68.68 %
Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre	1,098.49 $ (17,876.73 R)	364.40 $ (5,930.16 R)	-66.83 %
Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre	2,198.43 $ (35,777.21 R)	894.86 $ (14,562.92 R)	-59.30 %
Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre	1,783.95 $ (29,031.84 R)	728.17 $ (11,850.23 R)	-59.18 %
Buy Apartment Price	United States Edit	South Africa Edit
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre	333.19 $ (5,422.35 R)	88.43 $ (1,439.07 R)	-73.46 %
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre	199.00 $ (3,238.51 R)	65.96 $ (1,073.49 R)	-66.85 %
Salaries And Financing	United States Edit	South Africa Edit
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)	3,592.49 $ (58,464.06 R)	1,335.98 $ (21,741.68 R)	-62.81 %
Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate	3.93	9.54	+142.95 %
Last update:	November 2021	November 2021
Contributors in the past 12 months:	17303	965

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