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

πŸ™‚ Solo nomad: South Africa is 44.2% cheaper than Canada without rent, and 54.8% cheaper with rent.
πŸ™‚ Family of 3: South Africa is 44.7% cheaper than Canada without rent, and 51% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
South Africa
Canada
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.05 RΒ 161
$18.65 CA$25.39
-51.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.84 RΒ 691
$74.3 CA$101
-47.71%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.9 RΒ 87.1
$11.02 CA$15
-55.54%
Cappuccino
$1.98 RΒ 35.28
$3.75 CA$5.11
-47.20%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.96 RΒ 17.06
$2.17 CA$2.95
-55.76%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.75 RΒ 13.31
$1.68 CA$2.29
-55.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.18 RΒ 38.72
$5.83 CA$7.94
-62.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.54 RΒ 45.1
$5.74 CA$7.81
-55.75%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
South Africa
Canada
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.1 RΒ 19.58
$2.24 CA$3.04
-50.89%
White Bread (500g)
$1.03 RΒ 18.32
$2.66 CA$3.62
-61.28%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.56 RΒ 27.71
$3.6 CA$4.9
-56.67%
Eggs
$2.25 RΒ 39.93
$3.53 CA$4.8
-36.26%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.67 RΒ 136
$11.32 CA$15.41
-32.24%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.62 RΒ 82.2
$12.46 CA$16.96
-62.92%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.86 RΒ 122
$15.28 CA$20.8
-55.10%
Apples (1kg)
$1.58 RΒ 28.02
$4.17 CA$5.68
-62.11%
Banana (1kg)
$1.42 RΒ 25.3
$1.5 CA$2.05
-5.33%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.44 RΒ 25.58
$4 CA$5.45
-64.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.49 RΒ 26.5
$4.07 CA$5.54
-63.39%
Potato (1kg)
$1.25 RΒ 22.16
$2.78 CA$3.78
-55.04%
Onion (1kg)
$1.34 RΒ 23.81
$2.73 CA$3.72
-50.92%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.09 RΒ 19.31
$2.63 CA$3.58
-58.56%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.96 RΒ 17.15
$1.82 CA$2.48
-47.25%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.9 RΒ 51.6
$14.61 CA$19.88
-80.15%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.07 RΒ 90.3
$13.08 CA$17.8
-61.24%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38 RΒ 24.49
$3.01 CA$4.1
-54.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68 RΒ 29.79
$3.34 CA$4.55
-49.70%
🚌 Getting Around
South Africa
Canada
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.71 RΒ 30.47
$2.56 CA$3.49
-33.20%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.01 RΒ 801
$78.4 CA$107
-42.57%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.1 RΒ 19.61
$3.55 CA$4.83
-69.01%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.09 RΒ 19.41
$1.55 CA$2.11
-29.68%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.8 RΒ 85.3
$28.91 CA$39.35
-83.40%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 RΒ 23.23
$1.16 CA$1.58
12.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21K RΒ 374.2K
$24.6K CA$33.5K
-14.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.7K RΒ 421.3K
$20.9K CA$28.5K
13.33%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
South Africa
Canada
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$113 RΒ 2,009
$155 CA$211
-27.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$33.11 RΒ 589
$45.2 CA$61.5
-26.75%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$41.49 RΒ 738
$62.4 CA$84.9
-33.50%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
South Africa
Canada
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$31.69 RΒ 564
$42.82 CA$58.3
-25.99%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.45 RΒ 168
$17.72 CA$24.11
-46.67%
Cinema Ticket
$6.7 RΒ 119
$11.25 CA$15.31
-40.44%
🧸 Childcare & Education
South Africa
Canada
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$186 RΒ 3,303
$804 CA$1,094
-76.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,336 RΒ 77.1K
$12K CA$16.4K
-63.99%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
South Africa
Canada
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.56 RΒ 864
$56.7 CA$77.2
-14.31%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.74 RΒ 547
$41.61 CA$56.6
-26.12%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$92 RΒ 1,636
$90.2 CA$123
2.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.6 RΒ 1,415
$108 CA$147
-26.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
South Africa
Canada
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$442 RΒ 7,860
$1,364 CA$1,857
-67.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$370 RΒ 6,579
$1,208 CA$1,645
-69.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$880 RΒ 15.7K
$2,179 CA$2,966
-59.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$724 RΒ 12.9K
$1,835 CA$2,497
-60.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,021 RΒ 18.2K
$6,152 CA$8,374
-83.41%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$803 RΒ 14.3K
$4,409 CA$6,001
-81.78%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
South Africa
Canada
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,406 RΒ 25K
$2,867 CA$3,903
-50.94%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.55
6.33
82.46%

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

Last update for South Africa: October 29, 2025

Last update for Canada: October 28, 2025

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