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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,020 per month in South Africa vs $187 in Angola, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,598 per month in South Africa vs $542 in Angola, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,175 per month in South Africa vs $897 in Angola, rent included.

South Africa costs about 445% more than Angola on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Both South Africa and Angola are more affordable than the global median – South Africa 24% lower, Angola 86% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
South Africa
Angola
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.05 R 150
$5.78 AOA 5,277
56.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$39.48 R 654
$47.82 AOA 43.7K
-17.44%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.94 R 81.8
$8.14 AOA 7,429
-39.31%
Cappuccino
$2.06 R 34.09
$3.69 AOA 3,365
-44.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.95 R 15.68
$1.49 AOA 1,363
-36.24%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.81 R 13.38
$1.26 AOA 1,155
-35.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.21 R 36.57
$1.83 AOA 1,671
20.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48 R 41.09
$1.73 AOA 1,582
43.35%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
South Africa
Angola
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.11 R 18.41
$2.00 AOA 1,822
-44.50%
White Bread (500g)
$1.02 R 16.95
$1.15 AOA 1,050
-11.30%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.56 R 25.75
$1.43 AOA 1,309
9.09%
Eggs
$2.34 R 38.76
$2.20 AOA 2,011
6.36%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.73 R 128
$12.41 AOA 11.3K
-37.71%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.49 R 74.4
$4.47 AOA 4,082
0.45%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.73 R 111
$8.99 AOA 8,209
-25.14%
Apples (1kg)
$1.56 R 25.87
$2.45 AOA 2,236
-36.33%
Banana (1kg)
$1.43 R 23.66
$1.14 AOA 1,039
25.44%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.44 R 23.92
$2.98 AOA 2,720
-51.68%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.51 R 25.00
$2.06 AOA 1,882
-26.70%
Potato (1kg)
$1.22 R 20.18
$1.83 AOA 1,672
-33.33%
Onion (1kg)
$1.28 R 21.13
$1.53 AOA 1,399
-16.34%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.04 R 17.21
$1.96 AOA 1,794
-46.94%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.94 R 15.49
$0.43 AOA 390
118.60%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.99 R 49.46
$2.42 AOA 2,207
23.55%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.16 R 85.4
$6.09 AOA 5,559
-15.27%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39 R 22.97
$0.61 AOA 556
127.87%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66 R 27.43
$1.27 AOA 1,159
30.71%
🚌 Getting Around
South Africa
Angola
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.63 R 26.98
$0.37 AOA 335
340.54%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.05 R 746
$33.34 AOA 30.4K
35.12%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.13 R 18.75
$1.17 AOA 1,066
-3.42%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.10 R 18.26
$0.89 AOA 814
23.60%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.86 R 80.4
$5.81 AOA 5,306
-16.35%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.24 R 20.52
$0.38 AOA 347
226.32%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.3K R 336.4K
$20.2K AOA 18.5M
0.55%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.5K R 388.5K
$27.8K AOA 25.4M
-15.51%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
South Africa
Angola
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$113 R 1,878
$94.2 AOA 86.0K
20.38%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.36 R 536
$19.86 AOA 18.1K
62.94%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$41.45 R 686
$132 AOA 120.6K
-68.62%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
South Africa
Angola
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$31.59 R 523
$43.52 AOA 39.7K
-27.41%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.61 R 159
$14.57 AOA 13.3K
-34.04%
Cinema Ticket
$6.83 R 113
$4.52 AOA 4,129
51.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
South Africa
Angola
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$187 R 3,096
$707 AOA 645.3K
-73.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,362 R 72.2K
$14.7K AOA 13.4M
-70.33%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
South Africa
Angola
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.50 R 819
$98.4 AOA 89.8K
-49.68%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.42 R 504
$77.8 AOA 71.0K
-60.90%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.7 R 1,517
$130 AOA 118.8K
-29.55%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.9 R 1,305
$250 AOA 228.3K
-68.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
South Africa
Angola
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$442 R 7,309
$591 AOA 540.0K
-25.34%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$367 R 6,074
$287 AOA 262.4K
27.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$884 R 14.6K
$2,362 AOA 2.2M
-62.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$723 R 12.0K
$1,336 AOA 1.2M
-45.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,090 R 18.1K
$8,964 AOA 8.2M
-87.84%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$780 R 12.9K
$1,860 AOA 1.7M
-58.08%
💵 Salaries & Financials
South Africa
Angola
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,558 R 25.8K
$3,556 AOA 3.2M
-56.20%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.55
25
-53.80%

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

Last update for South Africa: May 31, 2026

Last update for Angola: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $368 in South Africa vs $164 in Angola. For reference, capital cities sit at $765 in Cape Town and $521 in Luanda.

Average salary: $1,520 in South Africa vs $2,152 in Angola. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 124% higher in South Africa.

Dining out costs 400% more in South Africa.

Public transport is 220% more expensive in South Africa.

Salaries are 42% higher in Angola, giving Angola stronger purchasing power.

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
South Africa vs Angola: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do Angola and South Africa compare in cost of living?
Angola is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 74% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.
How do rents compare between Angola and South Africa?
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.
Where are groceries and transport cheaper: Angola or South Africa?
Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Angola, contributing to the overall 74% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
How far does $2,000 go in Angola vs South Africa?
$2,000 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Angola, but in South Africa it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.
How do I choose between living in Angola and South Africa?
Angola 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.

South Africa vs other spots: cost of living compared

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