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

Name: Brazil
Address: BR

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,020 per month in South Africa vs $765 in Brazil, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,587 per month in South Africa vs $1,224 in Brazil, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,154 per month in South Africa vs $1,682 in Brazil, rent included.

The cost of living in South Africa is about 33% higher than in Brazil on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Both South Africa and Brazil are more affordable than the global median – South Africa 24% lower, Brazil 43% lower.

Cost ranges are similar: South Africa spans $803–$1,362, Brazil $569–$1,054. City choice affects budget similarly in either country.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.14 R 151

$5.26 R$26.89

73.76%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$39.14 R 648

$29.40 R$150

33.13%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.19 R 85.9

$6.32 R$32.30

-17.88%

Cappuccino

$1.98 R 32.73

$1.71 R$8.75

15.79%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.00 R 16.57

$1.08 R$5.54

-7.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.79 R 13.01

$0.71 R$3.65

11.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 R 36.61

$1.76 R$8.99

25.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.57 R 42.58

$2.67 R$13.66

-3.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.12 R 18.56

$0.97 R$4.96

15.46%

White Bread (500g)

$0.97 R 16.01

$1.48 R$7.55

-34.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.54 R 25.55

$1.22 R$6.26

26.23%

Eggs

$2.25 R 37.22

$2.10 R$10.72

7.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.86 R 130

$8.58 R$43.85

-8.39%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.58 R 75.8

$3.69 R$18.86

24.12%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.68 R 111

$7.53 R$38.47

-11.29%

Apples (1kg)

$1.57 R 26.06

$2.10 R$10.76

-25.24%

Banana (1kg)

$1.47 R 24.35

$1.29 R$6.57

13.95%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 R 25.18

$1.19 R$6.06

27.73%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.51 R 24.98

$1.42 R$7.25

6.34%

Potato (1kg)

$1.26 R 20.85

$1.17 R$5.98

7.69%

Onion (1kg)

$1.27 R 21.11

$1.09 R$5.59

16.51%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.09 R 17.99

$0.70 R$3.60

55.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.97 R 16.04

$0.66 R$3.36

46.97%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.84 R 46.95

$2.20 R$11.26

29.09%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.20 R 86.1

$7.79 R$39.83

-33.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.38 R 22.91

$1.19 R$6.07

15.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.72 R 28.44

$2.20 R$11.25

-21.82%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.72 R 28.50

$0.86 R$4.38

100.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.22 R 732

$40.96 R$209

7.96%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.15 R 19.06

$1.11 R$5.65

3.60%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.07 R 17.64

$0.88 R$4.48

21.59%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.74 R 78.4

$7.15 R$36.53

-33.71%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 R 21.24

$1.09 R$5.56

17.43%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$20.4K R 337.1K

$21.6K R$110.3K

-5.66%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$24.0K R 397.0K

$28.0K R$143.3K

-14.48%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$113 R 1,869

$68.7 R$351

64.38%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$32.35 R 536

$13.97 R$71.4

131.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$41.46 R 686

$18.99 R$97.1

118.33%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.04 R 514

$22.60 R$116

37.35%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.72 R 161

$22.90 R$117

-57.55%

Cinema Ticket

$6.67 R 110

$6.45 R$32.94

3.41%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$186 R 3,072

$283 R$1,447

-34.45%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,399 R 72.8K

$7,455 R$38.1K

-40.99%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.2 R 830

$48.29 R$247

3.87%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.37 R 503

$43.14 R$220

-29.60%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.4 R 1,546

$74.9 R$383

24.61%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.4 R 1,332

$62.1 R$318

29.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$439 R 7,261

$327 R$1,672

34.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$372 R 6,155

$227 R$1,158

64.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$903 R 14.9K

$650 R$3,320

38.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$705 R 11.7K

$450 R$2,301

56.63%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,116 R 18.5K

$1,866 R$9,537

-40.19%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$793 R 13.1K

$1,259 R$6,432

-37.00%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,506 R 24.9K

$527 R$2,693

185.76%

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Brazil: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $368 in South Africa vs $305 in Brazil. For reference, capital cities sit at $292 in Bloemfontein and $409 in Brasilia.

Average salary: $1,513 in South Africa vs $484 in Brazil. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 21% higher in South Africa.

Dining out costs 30% more in South Africa.

Public transport is 144% more expensive in Brazil.

Salaries are 213% higher in South Africa, and purchasing power comes out stronger in South Africa.

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 Brazil: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Brazil is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 33% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.

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.

Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Brazil, contributing to the overall 33% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.

$2,000 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Brazil, but in South Africa it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.

Brazil 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.