Cost of Living Comparison Between Brazil and South Africa Cost of Living Comparison Between Brazil and South Africa

Name: South Africa
Address: ZA

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $765 per month in Brazil vs $1,020 in South Africa, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,224 per month in Brazil vs $1,587 in South Africa, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,682 per month in Brazil vs $2,154 in South Africa, rent included.

The cost of living in Brazil is roughly 25% lower than in South Africa on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Both Brazil and South Africa are more affordable than the global median – Brazil 43% lower, South Africa 24% lower.

Cost ranges are similar: Brazil spans $569–$1,054, South Africa $803–$1,362. City choice affects budget similarly in either country.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.26 R$26.79

$9.14 R 151

-42.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.40 R$150

$39.14 R 646

-24.89%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.32 R$32.17

$5.19 R 85.6

21.77%

Cappuccino

$1.71 R$8.72

$1.98 R 32.63

-13.64%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.08 R$5.52

$1.00 R 16.52

8.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.71 R$3.63

$0.79 R 12.97

-10.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.76 R$8.95

$2.21 R 36.50

-20.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.67 R$13.61

$2.57 R 42.45

3.89%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.97 R$4.94

$1.12 R 18.50

-13.39%

White Bread (500g)

$1.48 R$7.52

$0.97 R 15.96

52.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.22 R$6.23

$1.54 R 25.47

-20.78%

Eggs

$2.10 R$10.68

$2.25 R 37.10

-6.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.58 R$43.68

$7.86 R 130

9.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.69 R$18.79

$4.58 R 75.6

-19.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.53 R$38.33

$6.68 R 110

12.72%

Apples (1kg)

$2.10 R$10.71

$1.57 R 25.98

33.76%

Banana (1kg)

$1.29 R$6.55

$1.47 R 24.27

-12.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.19 R$6.04

$1.52 R 25.10

-21.71%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.42 R$7.23

$1.51 R 24.91

-5.96%

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 R$5.95

$1.26 R 20.79

-7.14%

Onion (1kg)

$1.09 R$5.57

$1.27 R 21.04

-14.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 R$3.58

$1.09 R 17.93

-35.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 R$3.35

$0.97 R 16.00

-31.96%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.20 R$11.22

$2.84 R 46.81

-22.54%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.79 R$39.68

$5.20 R 85.9

49.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 R$6.05

$1.38 R 22.84

-13.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.20 R$11.21

$1.72 R 28.36

27.91%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 R$4.36

$1.72 R 28.42

-50.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.96 R$209

$44.22 R 730

-7.37%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.11 R$5.63

$1.15 R 19.01

-3.48%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.88 R$4.46

$1.07 R 17.59

-17.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.15 R$36.39

$4.74 R 78.2

50.84%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 R$5.54

$1.28 R 21.18

-14.84%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$21.6K R$109.9K

$20.4K R 336.1K

6.00%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$28.0K R$142.8K

$24.0K R 395.8K

16.94%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$68.7 R$350

$113 R 1,864

-39.17%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$13.97 R$71.2

$32.35 R 534

-56.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.99 R$96.7

$41.46 R 684

-54.20%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.60 R$115

$31.04 R 512

-27.19%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.90 R$117

$9.72 R 160

135.60%

Cinema Ticket

$6.45 R$32.82

$6.67 R 110

-3.30%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$283 R$1,442

$186 R 3,063

52.56%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,455 R$38.0K

$4,399 R 72.6K

69.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.29 R$246

$50.2 R 828

-3.73%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.14 R$220

$30.37 R 501

42.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.9 R$381

$93.4 R 1,541

-19.75%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$62.1 R$316

$80.4 R 1,327

-22.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$327 R$1,666

$439 R 7,239

-25.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$227 R$1,154

$372 R 6,136

-39.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$650 R$3,308

$903 R 14.9K

-28.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$450 R$2,292

$705 R 11.6K

-36.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,866 R$9,501

$1,116 R 18.4K

67.20%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,259 R$6,408

$793 R 13.1K

58.73%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$527 R$2,683

$1,506 R 24.9K

-65.01%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.16

11.55

-3.38%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Brazil: July 13, 2026

Last update for South Africa: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $305 in Brazil vs $368 in South Africa. For reference, capital cities sit at $409 in Brasilia and $292 in Bloemfontein.

Average salary: $484 in Brazil vs $1,513 in South Africa. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 21% higher in South Africa.

Dining out costs 30% more in South Africa.

Public transport is 144% more expensive in Brazil.

Salaries are 213% higher in South Africa, and purchasing power comes out stronger in South Africa.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Brazil vs South Africa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Brazil is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 33% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.

Housing costs more in South Africa, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but South Africa consistently has higher rents.

Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Brazil, contributing to the overall 33% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.

$2,000 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Brazil, but in South Africa it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.

Brazil is the budget-friendly choice for expats – lower housing and daily costs. But cost isn't everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.