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

😐 Solo nomad: South Africa is 15.7% more expensive than Brazil without rent, and 32.3% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: South Africa is 19.5% more expensive than Brazil without rent, and 28.9% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
South Africa
Brazil
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.71 R 142
$5.29 R$26.42
64.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$39.43 R 643
$29.02 R$145
35.87%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.16 R 84.1
$6.19 R$30.88
-16.64%
Cappuccino
$2.03 R 33.09
$1.71 R$8.56
18.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.03 R 16.83
$1.07 R$5.34
-3.74%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.79 R 12.83
$0.66 R$3.30
19.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.30 R 37.53
$1.78 R$8.90
29.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.55 R 41.59
$2.62 R$13.08
-2.67%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
South Africa
Brazil
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.11 R 18.16
$0.95 R$4.73
16.84%
White Bread (500g)
$1.04 R 16.92
$1.53 R$7.63
-32.03%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.54 R 25.17
$1.23 R$6.11
25.20%
Eggs
$2.24 R 36.56
$2.12 R$10.57
5.66%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.86 R 128
$8.71 R$43.49
-9.76%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.73 R 77.2
$3.67 R$18.30
28.88%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.65 R 108
$7.44 R$37.14
-10.62%
Apples (1kg)
$1.51 R 24.66
$2.12 R$10.57
-28.77%
Banana (1kg)
$1.41 R 22.93
$1.33 R$6.62
6.02%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.49 R 24.31
$1.14 R$5.67
30.70%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.56 R 25.47
$1.50 R$7.50
4.00%
Potato (1kg)
$1.19 R 19.47
$1.18 R$5.90
0.85%
Onion (1kg)
$1.30 R 21.13
$1.11 R$5.55
17.12%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.04 R 16.99
$0.75 R$3.74
38.67%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.96 R 15.69
$0.70 R$3.48
37.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.92 R 47.67
$2.13 R$10.64
37.09%
Wine (Bottle)
$4.80 R 78.3
$7.78 R$38.84
-38.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33 R 21.75
$1.17 R$5.82
13.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72 R 28.08
$2.16 R$10.79
-20.37%
🚌 Getting Around
South Africa
Brazil
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.70 R 27.72
$0.94 R$4.71
80.85%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.20 R 737
$40.50 R$202
11.60%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.09 R 17.81
$1.05 R$5.26
3.81%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.05 R 17.13
$0.87 R$4.35
20.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.73 R 77.1
$7.34 R$36.65
-35.56%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.29 R 21.10
$1.09 R$5.43
18.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.1K R 343.2K
$21.5K R$107.3K
-2.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.6K R 384.2K
$28.1K R$140.2K
-16.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
South Africa
Brazil
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$112 R 1,818
$67.9 R$339
64.40%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$31.97 R 521
$13.96 R$69.7
129.01%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.41 R 659
$19.11 R$95.4
111.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
South Africa
Brazil
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$31.85 R 519
$23.13 R$115
37.70%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.68 R 158
$22.65 R$113
-57.26%
Cinema Ticket
$6.64 R 108
$6.17 R$30.77
7.62%
🧸 Childcare & Education
South Africa
Brazil
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$190 R 3,100
$289 R$1,443
-34.26%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,317 R 70.4K
$7,313 R$36.5K
-40.97%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
South Africa
Brazil
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.50 R 791
$49.43 R$247
-1.88%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.47 R 497
$42.74 R$213
-28.71%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.3 R 1,536
$76.9 R$384
22.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$81.4 R 1,327
$62.4 R$311
30.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
South Africa
Brazil
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$453 R 7,380
$336 R$1,677
34.70%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$371 R 6,047
$230 R$1,148
61.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$881 R 14.4K
$647 R$3,227
36.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$705 R 11.5K
$447 R$2,229
57.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,147 R 18.7K
$1,885 R$9,404
-39.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$818 R 13.3K
$1,276 R$6,369
-35.93%
💵 Salaries & Financials
South Africa
Brazil
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,476 R 24.1K
$535 R$2,670
175.97%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.55
11.16
3.49%

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

Last update for South Africa: April 12, 2026

Last update for Brazil: April 12, 2026

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

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