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
Cost of Living in South Africa is 52.8% lower than in United States (excluding rent)
Cost of Living Including Rent in South Africa is 59.2% lower than in United States
Rent Prices in South Africa are 72.2% lower than in United States
Restaurant Prices in South Africa are 56.7% lower than in United States
Groceries Prices in South Africa are 61.0% lower than in United States
Local Purchasing Power in South Africa is 28.4% 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 $ (371.07 R)	8.62 $ (160.00 R)	-56.9 %
Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course	75.00 $ (1,391.51 R)	37.73 $ (700.00 R)	-49.7 %
McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal)	11.39 $ (211.42 R)	4.85 $ (90.00 R)	-57.4 %
Domestic Beer (1 pint draught)	6.00 $ (111.32 R)	2.16 $ (40.00 R)	-64.1 %
Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle)	7.00 $ (129.87 R)	2.43 $ (45.00 R)	-65.4 %
Cappuccino (regular)	5.23 $ (97.05 R)	1.93 $ (35.75 R)	-63.2 %
Coke/Pepsi (12 oz small bottle)	2.56 $ (47.57 R)	0.95 $ (17.56 R)	-63.1 %
Water (12 oz small bottle)	2.09 $ (38.79 R)	0.73 $ (13.63 R)	-64.9 %
Markets	United States Edit	South Africa Edit
Milk (regular), (1 gallon)	4.00 $ (74.28 R)	3.97 $ (73.65 R)	-0.8 %
Loaf of Fresh White Bread (1 lb)	3.29 $ (61.10 R)	0.87 $ (16.07 R)	-73.7 %
Rice (white), (1 lb)	2.09 $ (38.81 R)	0.69 $ (12.79 R)	-67.0 %
Eggs (regular) (12)	4.24 $ (78.61 R)	2.19 $ (40.70 R)	-48.2 %
Local Cheese (1 lb)	5.86 $ (108.78 R)	3.33 $ (61.70 R)	-43.3 %
Chicken Fillets (1 lb)	5.52 $ (102.40 R)	2.00 $ (37.08 R)	-63.8 %
Beef Round (1 lb) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)	7.39 $ (137.02 R)	2.94 $ (54.50 R)	-60.2 %
Apples (1 lb)	2.40 $ (44.46 R)	0.67 $ (12.37 R)	-72.2 %
Banana (1 lb)	0.76 $ (14.11 R)	0.62 $ (11.54 R)	-18.2 %
Oranges (1 lb)	2.04 $ (37.86 R)	0.65 $ (11.98 R)	-68.3 %
Tomato (1 lb)	2.23 $ (41.39 R)	0.66 $ (12.31 R)	-70.3 %
Potato (1 lb)	1.33 $ (24.68 R)	0.54 $ (9.93 R)	-59.8 %
Onion (1 lb)	1.40 $ (25.92 R)	0.57 $ (10.50 R)	-59.5 %
Lettuce (1 head)	2.21 $ (40.91 R)	1.00 $ (18.63 R)	-54.5 %
Water (1.5 liter bottle)	2.23 $ (41.34 R)	0.91 $ (16.93 R)	-59.0 %
Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range)	15.00 $ (278.30 R)	4.58 $ (85.00 R)	-69.5 %
Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)	1.95 $ (36.20 R)	1.29 $ (23.85 R)	-34.1 %
Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle)	3.59 $ (66.61 R)	1.65 $ (30.53 R)	-54.2 %
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro)	10.00 $ (185.53 R)	2.80 $ (52.00 R)	-72.0 %
Transportation	United States Edit	South Africa Edit
One-way Ticket (Local Transport)	2.50 $ (46.38 R)	1.62 $ (30.00 R)	-35.3 %
Monthly Pass (Regular Price)	65.00 $ (1,205.97 R)	43.12 $ (800.00 R)	-33.7 %
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)	3.75 $ (69.58 R)	1.08 $ (20.00 R)	-71.3 %
Taxi 1 mile (Normal Tariff)	2.80 $ (51.95 R)	1.73 $ (32.19 R)	-38.0 %
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)	30.00 $ (556.60 R)	4.58 $ (85.00 R)	-84.7 %
Gasoline (1 gallon)	3.51 $ (65.05 R)	4.67 $ (86.68 R)	+33.2 %
Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car)	30,000.00 $ (556,602.00 R)	19,942.44 $ (370,000.00 R)	-33.5 %
Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car)	25,965.51 $ (481,748.55 R)	22,737.53 $ (421,858.58 R)	-12.4 %
Utilities (Monthly)	United States Edit	South Africa Edit
Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 915 sq ft Apartment	208.26 $ (3,863.96 R)	108.01 $ (2,004.01 R)	-48.1 %
Mobile Phone Monthly Plan with Calls and 10GB+ Data	57.24 $ (1,061.99 R)	30.54 $ (566.65 R)	-46.6 %
Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL)	71.52 $ (1,326.86 R)	39.63 $ (735.20 R)	-44.6 %
Sports And Leisure	United States Edit	South Africa Edit
Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult	46.57 $ (864.02 R)	30.44 $ (564.78 R)	-34.6 %
Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend)	22.02 $ (408.50 R)	9.57 $ (177.53 R)	-56.5 %
Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat	14.36 $ (266.52 R)	6.47 $ (120.00 R)	-55.0 %
Childcare	United States Edit	South Africa Edit
Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child	1,377.36 $ (25,554.72 R)	184.19 $ (3,417.32 R)	-86.6 %
International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child	22,637.27 $ (419,998.29 R)	4,353.58 $ (80,773.66 R)	-80.8 %
Clothing And Shoes	United States Edit	South Africa Edit
1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)	52.15 $ (967.62 R)	47.17 $ (875.09 R)	-9.6 %
1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, ...)	42.62 $ (790.83 R)	29.73 $ (551.60 R)	-30.3 %
1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range)	89.65 $ (1,663.40 R)	88.52 $ (1,642.40 R)	-1.3 %
1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes	113.24 $ (2,101.01 R)	76.45 $ (1,418.43 R)	-32.5 %
Rent Per Month	United States Edit	South Africa Edit
Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre	1,742.45 $ (32,328.30 R)	438.78 $ (8,140.90 R)	-74.8 %
Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre	1,437.54 $ (26,671.25 R)	354.76 $ (6,582.04 R)	-75.3 %
Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre	2,904.82 $ (53,894.27 R)	875.15 $ (16,237.06 R)	-69.9 %
Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre	2,405.84 $ (44,636.53 R)	691.98 $ (12,838.67 R)	-71.2 %
Buy Apartment Price	United States Edit	South Africa Edit
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre	301.75 $ (5,598.48 R)	92.74 $ (1,720.61 R)	-69.3 %
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre	251.65 $ (4,669.05 R)	69.64 $ (1,292.04 R)	-72.3 %
Salaries And Financing	United States Edit	South Africa Edit
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)	4,340.32 $ (80,527.67 R)	1,266.79 $ (23,503.28 R)	-70.8 %
Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate	6.51	11.55	+77.3 %
Last update:	April 2025	April 2025
Contributors in the past 12 months:	10829	686

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