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

🙂 Solo nomad: Burundi is 29.2% cheaper than South Africa without rent, and 49.6% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Burundi is 23.2% cheaper than South Africa without rent, and 39% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Burundi
South Africa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.81 BIF 5,265
$9.05 R 161
-80.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.7 BIF 98.3K
$38.84 R 691
-13.23%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.93 BIF 11.5K
$4.9 R 87.1
-19.80%
Cappuccino
$3.36 BIF 9,787
$1.98 R 35.28
69.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.65 BIF 4,816
$0.96 R 17.06
71.88%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.13 BIF 3,288
$0.75 R 13.31
50.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.17 BIF 6,316
$2.18 R 38.72
-0.46%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.79 BIF 16.9K
$2.54 R 45.1
127.95%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Burundi
South Africa
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.99 BIF 2,890
$1.1 R 19.58
-10.00%
White Bread (500g)
$1.17 BIF 3,403
$1.03 R 18.32
13.59%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.7 BIF 4,961
$1.56 R 27.71
8.97%
Eggs
$3.42 BIF 9,975
$2.25 R 39.93
52.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.26 BIF 29.9K
$7.67 R 136
33.77%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.94 BIF 29K
$4.62 R 82.2
115.15%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.92 BIF 28.9K
$6.86 R 122
44.61%
Apples (1kg)
$5.71 BIF 16.7K
$1.58 R 28.02
261.39%
Banana (1kg)
$0.52 BIF 1,530
$1.42 R 25.3
-63.38%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.71 BIF 4,973
$1.44 R 25.58
18.75%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.09 BIF 3,169
$1.49 R 26.5
-26.85%
Potato (1kg)
$0.41 BIF 1,195
$1.25 R 22.16
-67.20%
Onion (1kg)
$0.52 BIF 1,507
$1.34 R 23.81
-61.19%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.48 BIF 1,389
$1.09 R 19.31
-55.96%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.69 BIF 4,936
$0.96 R 17.15
76.04%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.42 BIF 7,050
$2.9 R 51.6
-16.55%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.17 BIF 50.1K
$5.07 R 90.3
238.66%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.97 BIF 5,753
$1.38 R 24.49
42.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23 BIF 9,414
$1.68 R 29.79
92.26%
🚌 Getting Around
Burundi
South Africa
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.04 BIF 3,027
$1.71 R 30.47
-39.18%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$29.43 BIF 85.8K
$45.01 R 801
-34.61%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.72 BIF 19.6K
$1.1 R 19.61
510.91%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.45 BIF 10.1K
$1.09 R 19.41
216.51%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.28 BIF 88.3K
$4.8 R 85.3
530.83%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 BIF 3,830
$1.31 R 23.23
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$21K R 374.2K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$23.7K R 421.3K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Burundi
South Africa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
-
$113 R 2,009
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.16 BIF 18K
$33.11 R 589
-81.40%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.74 BIF 57.6K
$41.49 R 738
-52.42%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Burundi
South Africa
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$31.69 R 564
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$9.45 R 168
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$6.7 R 119
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Burundi
South Africa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$104 BIF 304.3K
$186 R 3,303
-43.84%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.5K BIF 30.5M
$4,336 R 77.1K
141.09%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Burundi
South Africa
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$48.56 R 864
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$30.74 R 547
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
-
$92 R 1,636
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$79.6 R 1,415
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Burundi
South Africa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$287 BIF 837.8K
$442 R 7,860
-35.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$72.3 BIF 210.8K
$370 R 6,579
-80.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$481 BIF 1.4M
$880 R 15.7K
-45.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$288 BIF 838.6K
$724 R 12.9K
-60.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,726 BIF 8M
$1,021 R 18.2K
167.03%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,162 BIF 6.3M
$803 R 14.3K
169.07%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Burundi
South Africa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$472 BIF 1.4M
$1,406 R 25K
-66.45%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
14.17
11.55
22.68%

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

Last update for Burundi: October 28, 2025

Last update for South Africa: October 29, 2025

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