For one person, living is cheaper in South Africa: $1,214 a month against $1,401 in the Comoros, rent and utilities included – about $2,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
How much you'll spend in the Comoros and in South Africa
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in the Comoros and in South Africa actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
A single person spends $1,401 per month in the Comoros vs $1,214 in South Africa, rent included.
Comoros $1,401
South Africa $1,214
A couple spends around $2,092 per month in the Comoros vs $1,908 in South Africa, rent included.
Comoros $2,092
South Africa $1,908
A family of three spends $2,782 per month in the Comoros vs $2,602 in South Africa, rent included.
Comoros $2,782
South Africa $2,602
📏
The regional cost range is wider in the Comoros ($1,409–$1,409) than in South Africa ($627–$1,599), so city choice matters more there.
🌍
The cost of living in the Comoros is about 15% higher than in South Africa on average.
📊
The Comoros sits 3% above the global median, while South Africa is 10% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Comoros
South Africa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.10KMF 2,667
$11.17R 184
-45.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.42KMF 8,060
$42.79R 705
-56.95%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.75KMF 3,390
$5.75R 94.8
34.78%
Cappuccino
$1.71KMF 749
$2.35R 38.68
-27.23%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.01KMF 444
$1.14R 18.73
-11.40%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.62KMF 270
$0.86R 14.23
-27.91%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.06KMF 462
$2.38R 39.19
-55.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.82KMF 795
$3.07R 50.6
-40.72%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Comoros
South Africa
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$4.23KMF 1,849
$1.22R 20.13
246.72%
White Bread(500g)
$0.56KMF 244
$1.10R 18.10
-49.09%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.67KMF 729
$1.74R 28.66
-4.02%
Eggs
$5.09KMF 2,226
$2.61R 42.98
95.02%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.73KMF 3,384
$8.46R 139
-8.63%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
-
$5.17R 85.1
-
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.48KMF 5,460
$7.81R 129
59.80%
Apples(1kg)
$5.01KMF 2,190
$1.79R 29.52
179.89%
Banana(1kg)
-
$1.75R 28.87
-
Oranges(1kg)
-
$1.73R 28.50
-
Tomato(1kg)
$4.19KMF 1,834
$1.79R 29.47
134.08%
Potato(1kg)
$4.48KMF 1,961
$1.44R 23.75
211.11%
Onion(1kg)
$3.06KMF 1,340
$1.52R 24.97
101.32%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.19KMF 957
$1.25R 20.59
75.20%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.29KMF 563
$1.10R 18.18
17.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
-
$3.43R 56.5
-
Wine(Bottle)
$16.65KMF 7,287
$4.90R 80.7
239.80%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.99KMF 432
$1.53R 25.21
-35.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.90KMF 3,020
$2.00R 32.96
245.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Comoros
South Africa
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.60KMF 261
$1.57R 25.85
-61.78%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$32.23KMF 14.1K
$59.7R 983
-46.00%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.70KMF 308
$1.07R 17.58
-34.58%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.04KMF 453
$1.04R 17.17
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$11.52KMF 5,039
$7.74R 128
48.84%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.94KMF 1,286
$1.50R 24.75
96.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.2KKMF 8.4M
$36.4KR 600.2K
-47.37%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.5KKMF 7.7M
$33.1KR 545.0K
-47.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Comoros
South Africa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$111KMF 48.7K
$132R 2,172
-15.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$33.69KMF 14.7K
$35.19R 580
-4.26%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$74.8KMF 32.7K
$39.82R 656
87.82%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Comoros
South Africa
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$33.82R 557
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.29KMF 5,815
$11.61R 191
14.47%
Cinema Ticket
$6.58KMF 2,881
$7.15R 118
-7.97%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Comoros
South Africa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$402KMF 176.1K
$227R 3,740
77.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.2KKMF 6.2M
$5,604R 92.3K
154.22%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Comoros
South Africa
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.4KMF 26.0K
$53.1R 874
11.89%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$61.5KMF 26.9K
$34.46R 568
78.44%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$112KMF 48.9K
$102R 1,680
9.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.1KMF 36.8K
$90.0R 1,482
-6.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Comoros
South Africa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$718KMF 314.1K
$488R 8,036
47.17%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$600KMF 262.5K
$403R 6,634
49.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,423KMF 622.6K
$960R 15.8K
48.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,143KMF 500.2K
$824R 13.6K
38.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,600KMF 699.9K
$1,115R 18.4K
43.51%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,347KMF 589.2K
$803R 13.2K
67.78%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Comoros
South Africa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$665KMF 291.0K
$1,482R 24.4K
-55.12%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.8
11.23
-66.16%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for the Comoros: October 19, 2026
Last update for South Africa: October 20, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Comoros
$600 42.8%
South Africa
$403 33.2% ↓ 32.9%$197
🛒Groceries & Markets
Comoros
$277 * 19.8%
South Africa
$198 16.3% ↓ 28.7%$80
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Comoros
$220 15.7%
South Africa
$207 17% ↓ 5.9%$13
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Comoros
$143 10.2%
South Africa
$126 10.4% ↓ 11.7%$17
🍽Eating Out
Comoros
$108 7.7%
South Africa
$161 13.3% ↑ 49%$53
🚌Getting Around
Comoros
$40 2.9%
South Africa
$72 6% ↑ 78.4%$32
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Comoros
$13 * 0.9%
South Africa
$48 4% ↑ 265%$35
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Comoros
$1.1K 41.1%
South Africa
$824 31.7% ↓ 27.9%$319
🛒Groceries & Markets
Comoros
$640 * 23%
South Africa
$458 17.6% ↓ 28.5%$182
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Comoros
$253 9.1%
South Africa
$242 9.3% ↓ 4.5%$11
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Comoros
$317 11.4%
South Africa
$279 10.7% ↓ 11.7%$37
🍽Eating Out
Comoros
$307 11%
South Africa
$544 20.9% ↑ 77%$236
🚌Getting Around
Comoros
$82 3%
South Africa
$148 5.7% ↑ 79.7%$65
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Comoros
$40 * 1.4%
South Africa
$108 4.1% ↑ 172%$68
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
Cost Breakdown
🏠Average rent: $730 in the Comoros vs $429 in South Africa. For reference, capital cities sit at $730 in Moroni and $455 in Pretoria.
💰Average salary: $653 in the Comoros vs $1,501 in South Africa. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 70% higher in the Comoros.
⭐Dining out costs 117% more in South Africa.
⭐Public transport is 94% more expensive in the Comoros.
⭐Salaries are 130% higher in South Africa, and purchasing power comes out stronger in South Africa.
Comoros→South Africa2,620 km≈ 3 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
Comoros
South Africa
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
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
Comoros vs South Africa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do the Comoros and South Africa compare in cost of living?
South Africa is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 15% lower on average.
How do rents compare between the Comoros and South Africa?
Housing costs more in the Comoros: a central one-bedroom averages $730 versus $429 in South Africa.
How far does $1,500 go in the Comoros compared to South Africa?
$1,500 buys a comfortable lifestyle in South Africa, but in the Comoros it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.
How do I choose between living in the Comoros and in South Africa?
South Africa 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.