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

😐 Solo nomad: Canada is 79.3% more expensive than South Africa without rent, and 121.5% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Canada is 80.7% more expensive than South Africa without rent, and 104.1% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Canada
South Africa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.65 CA$25.39
$9.05 RΒ 161
106.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.3 CA$101
$38.84 RΒ 691
91.25%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.02 CA$15
$4.9 RΒ 87.1
124.90%
Cappuccino
$3.75 CA$5.11
$1.98 RΒ 35.28
89.39%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17 CA$2.95
$0.96 RΒ 17.06
126.04%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68 CA$2.29
$0.75 RΒ 13.31
124.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.83 CA$7.94
$2.18 RΒ 38.72
167.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.74 CA$7.81
$2.54 RΒ 45.1
125.98%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Canada
South Africa
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.24 CA$3.04
$1.1 RΒ 19.58
103.64%
White Bread (500g)
$2.66 CA$3.62
$1.03 RΒ 18.32
158.25%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.6 CA$4.9
$1.56 RΒ 27.71
130.77%
Eggs
$3.53 CA$4.8
$2.25 RΒ 39.93
56.89%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.32 CA$15.41
$7.67 RΒ 136
47.59%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.46 CA$16.96
$4.62 RΒ 82.2
169.70%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.28 CA$20.8
$6.86 RΒ 122
122.74%
Apples (1kg)
$4.17 CA$5.68
$1.58 RΒ 28.02
163.92%
Banana (1kg)
$1.5 CA$2.05
$1.42 RΒ 25.3
5.63%
Oranges (1kg)
$4 CA$5.45
$1.44 RΒ 25.58
177.78%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.07 CA$5.54
$1.49 RΒ 26.5
173.15%
Potato (1kg)
$2.78 CA$3.78
$1.25 RΒ 22.16
122.40%
Onion (1kg)
$2.73 CA$3.72
$1.34 RΒ 23.81
103.73%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.63 CA$3.58
$1.09 RΒ 19.31
141.28%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.82 CA$2.48
$0.96 RΒ 17.15
89.58%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.61 CA$19.88
$2.9 RΒ 51.6
403.79%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.08 CA$17.8
$5.07 RΒ 90.3
157.99%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.01 CA$4.1
$1.38 RΒ 24.49
118.12%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.34 CA$4.55
$1.68 RΒ 29.79
98.81%
🚌 Getting Around
Canada
South Africa
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.56 CA$3.49
$1.71 RΒ 30.47
49.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$78.4 CA$107
$45.01 RΒ 801
74.12%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.55 CA$4.83
$1.1 RΒ 19.61
222.73%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.55 CA$2.11
$1.09 RΒ 19.41
42.20%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$28.91 CA$39.35
$4.8 RΒ 85.3
502.29%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.16 CA$1.58
$1.31 RΒ 23.23
-11.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.6K CA$33.5K
$21K RΒ 374.2K
16.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.9K CA$28.5K
$23.7K RΒ 421.3K
-11.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Canada
South Africa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$155 CA$211
$113 RΒ 2,009
37.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$45.2 CA$61.5
$33.11 RΒ 589
36.51%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$62.4 CA$84.9
$41.49 RΒ 738
50.37%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Canada
South Africa
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.82 CA$58.3
$31.69 RΒ 564
35.12%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.72 CA$24.11
$9.45 RΒ 168
87.51%
Cinema Ticket
$11.25 CA$15.31
$6.7 RΒ 119
67.91%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Canada
South Africa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$804 CA$1,094
$186 RΒ 3,303
332.86%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12K CA$16.4K
$4,336 RΒ 77.1K
177.72%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Canada
South Africa
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.7 CA$77.2
$48.56 RΒ 864
16.70%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.61 CA$56.6
$30.74 RΒ 547
35.36%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$90.2 CA$123
$92 RΒ 1,636
-1.97%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 CA$147
$79.6 RΒ 1,415
35.74%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Canada
South Africa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,364 CA$1,857
$442 RΒ 7,860
208.66%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,208 CA$1,645
$370 RΒ 6,579
226.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,179 CA$2,966
$880 RΒ 15.7K
147.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,835 CA$2,497
$724 RΒ 12.9K
153.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,152 CA$8,374
$1,021 RΒ 18.2K
502.62%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,409 CA$6,001
$803 RΒ 14.3K
448.82%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Canada
South Africa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,867 CA$3,903
$1,406 RΒ 25K
103.84%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.33
11.55
-45.19%

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

Last update for Canada: October 28, 2025

Last update for South Africa: October 29, 2025

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