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

😐 Solo nomad: South Africa is 106% more expensive than India without rent, and 140.4% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: South Africa is 110.8% more expensive than India without rent, and 128.5% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
South Africa
India
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.05 R 161
$2.49 ₹213
263.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.84 R 691
$14.06 ₹1,202
176.24%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.9 R 87.1
$4.1 ₹351
19.51%
Cappuccino
$1.98 R 35.28
$1.82 ₹156
8.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.96 R 17.06
$0.44 ₹37.72
118.18%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.75 R 13.31
$0.17 ₹14.36
341.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.18 R 38.72
$1.94 ₹166
12.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.54 R 45.1
$3.53 ₹302
-28.05%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
South Africa
India
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.1 R 19.58
$0.73 ₹62.1
50.68%
White Bread (500g)
$1.03 R 18.32
$0.48 ₹41.19
114.58%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.56 R 27.71
$0.72 ₹61.4
116.67%
Eggs
$2.25 R 39.93
$0.94 ₹80.1
139.36%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.67 R 136
$5.23 ₹448
46.65%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.62 R 82.2
$3.14 ₹269
47.13%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.86 R 122
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$1.58 R 28.02
$2.2 ₹188
-28.18%
Banana (1kg)
$1.42 R 25.3
$0.72 ₹61.2
97.22%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.44 R 25.58
$1.09 ₹93.2
32.11%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.49 R 26.5
$0.57 ₹49.11
161.40%
Potato (1kg)
$1.25 R 22.16
$0.42 ₹36.21
197.62%
Onion (1kg)
$1.34 R 23.81
$0.45 ₹38.73
197.78%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.09 R 19.31
$0.55 ₹46.97
98.18%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.96 R 17.15
$0.33 ₹27.96
190.91%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.9 R 51.6
$4.08 ₹349
-28.92%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.07 R 90.3
$7.99 ₹683
-36.55%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38 R 24.49
$1.92 ₹164
-28.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68 R 29.79
$2.89 ₹248
-41.87%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
-
$5.92 ₹506
-
🚌 Getting Around
South Africa
India
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.71 R 30.47
$0.34 ₹28.83
402.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.01 R 801
$10.01 ₹856
349.65%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.1 R 19.61
$0.97 ₹83
13.40%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.09 R 19.41
$0.28 ₹23.62
289.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.8 R 85.3
$1.77 ₹151
171.19%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 R 23.23
$1.24 ₹106
5.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21K R 374.2K
$14K ₹1.2M
50.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.7K R 421.3K
$22.2K ₹1.9M
6.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
South Africa
India
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$113 R 2,009
$40.79 ₹3,489
176.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$33.11 R 589
$3.79 ₹324
773.61%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$41.49 R 738
$8.13 ₹695
410.33%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
South Africa
India
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$31.69 R 564
$16 ₹1,368
98.06%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.45 R 168
$7.59 ₹649
24.51%
Cinema Ticket
$6.7 R 119
$3.45 ₹295
94.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
South Africa
India
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$186 R 3,303
$69.7 ₹5,958
166.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,336 R 77.1K
$1,847 ₹158K
134.71%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
South Africa
India
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.56 R 864
$25.29 ₹2,163
92.01%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.74 R 547
$26.99 ₹2,309
13.89%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$92 R 1,636
$44.67 ₹3,821
105.95%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.6 R 1,415
$33.23 ₹2,842
139.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
South Africa
India
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$442 R 7,860
$179 ₹15.3K
146.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$370 R 6,579
$114 ₹9,770
223.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$880 R 15.7K
$414 ₹35.4K
112.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$724 R 12.9K
$260 ₹22.2K
178.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,021 R 18.2K
$1,499 ₹128.2K
-31.91%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$803 R 14.3K
$830 ₹71K
-3.25%
💵 Salaries & Financials
South Africa
India
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,406 R 25K
$500 ₹42.8K
181.02%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.55
9.02
28.05%

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

Last update for South Africa: October 29, 2025

Last update for India: October 29, 2025

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