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

🙂 Solo nomad: South Africa is 41.6% cheaper than Australia without rent, and 53.9% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: South Africa is 43.9% cheaper than Australia without rent, and 48.6% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
South Africa
Australia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.05 R 161
$15.97 A$24.47
-43.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.84 R 691
$77.2 A$118
-49.66%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.9 R 87.1
$9.66 A$14.8
-49.28%
Cappuccino
$1.98 R 35.28
$3.57 A$5.48
-44.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.96 R 17.06
$2.64 A$4.04
-63.64%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.75 R 13.31
$2.22 A$3.41
-66.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.18 R 38.72
$6.57 A$10.06
-66.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.54 R 45.1
$6.98 A$10.7
-63.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
South Africa
Australia
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.1 R 19.58
$1.5 A$2.3
-26.67%
White Bread (500g)
$1.03 R 18.32
$2.42 A$3.7
-57.44%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.56 R 27.71
$2.02 A$3.1
-22.77%
Eggs
$2.25 R 39.93
$4.38 A$6.71
-48.63%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.67 R 136
$8.86 A$13.58
-13.43%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.62 R 82.2
$8.26 A$12.66
-44.07%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.86 R 122
$14.14 A$21.66
-51.49%
Apples (1kg)
$1.58 R 28.02
$3.24 A$4.96
-51.23%
Banana (1kg)
$1.42 R 25.3
$2.68 A$4.11
-47.01%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.44 R 25.58
$2.86 A$4.39
-49.65%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.49 R 26.5
$4.25 A$6.5
-64.94%
Potato (1kg)
$1.25 R 22.16
$2.55 A$3.91
-50.98%
Onion (1kg)
$1.34 R 23.81
$2.19 A$3.35
-38.81%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.09 R 19.31
$2.24 A$3.43
-51.34%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.96 R 17.15
$1.57 A$2.41
-38.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.9 R 51.6
$31.36 A$48.04
-90.75%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.07 R 90.3
$13.32 A$20.41
-61.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38 R 24.49
$4.61 A$7.06
-70.07%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68 R 29.79
$4.97 A$7.61
-66.20%
🚌 Getting Around
South Africa
Australia
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.71 R 30.47
$2.97 A$4.54
-42.42%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.01 R 801
$98 A$150
-54.09%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.1 R 19.61
$3.62 A$5.55
-69.61%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.09 R 19.41
$1.82 A$2.79
-40.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.8 R 85.3
$37.78 A$57.9
-87.29%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 R 23.23
$1.2 A$1.84
9.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21K R 374.2K
$29.1K A$44.6K
-27.71%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.7K R 421.3K
$22.5K A$34.5K
5.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
South Africa
Australia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$113 R 2,009
$180 A$276
-37.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$33.11 R 589
$26.23 A$40.19
26.23%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$41.49 R 738
$52.8 A$80.9
-21.47%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
South Africa
Australia
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$31.69 R 564
$46.77 A$71.7
-32.24%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.45 R 168
$16.37 A$25.08
-42.27%
Cinema Ticket
$6.7 R 119
$13.82 A$21.18
-51.52%
🧸 Childcare & Education
South Africa
Australia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$186 R 3,303
$1,599 A$2,450
-88.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,336 R 77.1K
$12.3K A$18.8K
-64.69%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
South Africa
Australia
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.56 R 864
$71.7 A$110
-32.24%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.74 R 547
$51.5 A$78.8
-40.25%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$92 R 1,636
$101 A$155
-8.96%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.6 R 1,415
$110 A$168
-27.53%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
South Africa
Australia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$442 R 7,860
$1,395 A$2,137
-68.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$370 R 6,579
$1,106 A$1,694
-66.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$880 R 15.7K
$2,271 A$3,480
-61.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$724 R 12.9K
$1,775 A$2,719
-59.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,021 R 18.2K
$6,985 A$10.7K
-85.38%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$803 R 14.3K
$5,106 A$7,823
-84.27%
💵 Salaries & Financials
South Africa
Australia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,406 R 25K
$3,626 A$5,555
-61.21%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.55
6.35
81.89%

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

Last update for South Africa: October 29, 2025

Last update for Australia: October 29, 2025

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