Cost of Living Comparison Between South Africa and Ivory Coast Cost of Living Comparison Between South Africa and Ivory Coast

Name: Ivory Coast
Address: CI

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,143 per month in South Africa vs $704 in Ivory Coast, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,781 per month in South Africa vs $1,188 in Ivory Coast, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,419 per month in South Africa vs $1,671 in Ivory Coast, rent included.

The cost of living in South Africa is about 62% higher than in Ivory Coast on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Both South Africa and Ivory Coast are more affordable than the global median – South Africa 17% lower, Ivory Coast 49% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.30 R 182

$2.65 F CFA 1,495

326.42%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.51 R 717

$71.7 F CFA 40.5K

-37.94%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.90 R 95.0

$10.52 F CFA 5,942

-43.92%

Cappuccino

$2.44 R 39.22

$1.99 F CFA 1,123

22.61%

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

$1.16 R 18.64

$0.73 F CFA 412

58.90%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.96 R 15.39

$0.73 F CFA 415

31.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.56 R 41.29

$1.05 F CFA 591

143.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.08 R 49.60

$1.81 F CFA 1,021

70.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.28 R 20.57

$2.26 F CFA 1,278

-43.36%

White Bread (500g)

$1.13 R 18.15

$0.47 F CFA 265

140.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.83 R 29.55

$1.17 F CFA 662

56.41%

Eggs

$2.55 R 41.12

$2.38 F CFA 1,345

7.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.35 R 134

$22.13 F CFA 12.5K

-62.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.44 R 87.6

$5.68 F CFA 3,212

-4.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.88 R 127

$5.98 F CFA 3,380

31.77%

Apples (1kg)

$1.90 R 30.61

$3.88 F CFA 2,190

-51.03%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 R 27.36

$1.12 F CFA 633

51.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.81 R 29.14

$2.13 F CFA 1,204

-15.02%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.88 R 30.23

$2.16 F CFA 1,221

-12.96%

Potato (1kg)

$1.54 R 24.76

$1.81 F CFA 1,024

-14.92%

Onion (1kg)

$1.49 R 24.03

$1.90 F CFA 1,073

-21.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.33 R 21.45

$0.71 F CFA 401

87.32%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 R 19.09

$0.88 F CFA 495

35.23%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.41 R 55.0

$1.75 F CFA 991

94.86%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.08 R 81.7

$5.39 F CFA 3,047

-5.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.51 R 24.28

$1.08 F CFA 612

39.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 R 32.64

$1.35 F CFA 762

50.37%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.76 R 28.39

$0.93 F CFA 526

89.25%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$63.1 R 1,016

$44.01 F CFA 24.9K

43.40%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.12 R 17.97

$1.75 F CFA 986

-36.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.01 R 16.33

$1.82 F CFA 1,026

-44.51%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.07 R 130

$26.85 F CFA 15.2K

-69.94%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.46 R 23.53

$1.52 F CFA 860

-3.95%

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

$36.8K R 592.8K

$29.1K F CFA 16.5M

26.31%

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

$32.5K R 523.6K

$28.0K F CFA 15.8M

16.20%

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

$136 R 2,185

$173 F CFA 97.8K

-21.64%

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

$35.72 R 575

$24.99 F CFA 14.1K

42.94%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$41.40 R 667

$34.56 F CFA 19.5K

19.79%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.96 R 563

$72.3 F CFA 40.9K

-51.67%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.46 R 201

$21.75 F CFA 12.3K

-42.71%

Cinema Ticket

$7.62 R 123

$8.88 F CFA 5,019

-14.19%

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

$231 R 3,725

$371 F CFA 209.6K

-37.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,726 R 92.2K

$4,825 F CFA 2.7M

18.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.4 R 908

$94.3 F CFA 53.3K

-40.26%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.91 R 546

$37.57 F CFA 21.2K

-9.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 R 1,639

$79.1 F CFA 44.7K

28.73%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$93.0 R 1,497

$146 F CFA 82.7K

-36.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$506 R 8,154

$714 F CFA 403.5K

-29.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$418 R 6,727

$359 F CFA 202.6K

16.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$979 R 15.8K

$2,639 F CFA 1.5M

-62.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$838 R 13.5K

$1,029 F CFA 581.5K

-18.54%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,151 R 18.5K

$2,281 F CFA 1.3M

-49.52%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$800 R 12.9K

$708 F CFA 400.1K

13.03%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,554 R 25.0K

$228 F CFA 128.9K

581.40%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.24

15.75

-28.63%

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

Last update for South Africa: September 8, 2026

Last update for Ivory Coast: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average salary: $1,553 in South Africa vs $224 in Ivory Coast. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 220% higher in South Africa.

Dining out costs 40% more in Ivory Coast.

Public transport is 89% more expensive in South Africa.

Salaries are 593% 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 Ivory Coast: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ivory Coast is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 101% 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 Ivory Coast, contributing to the overall 101% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.

$1,000 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Ivory Coast, but in South Africa it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.

Ivory Coast 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.