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 $1,019 per month in South Africa vs $748 in Ivory Coast, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,583 per month in South Africa vs $1,181 in Ivory Coast, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,146 per month in South Africa vs $1,613 in Ivory Coast, rent included.

The cost of living in South Africa is about 36% 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 23% lower, Ivory Coast 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.89 R 148

$3.54 F CFA 2,026

151.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$39.93 R 665

$60.8 F CFA 34.7K

-34.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.90 R 81.7

$10.50 F CFA 6,000

-53.33%

Cappuccino

$2.03 R 33.88

$2.18 F CFA 1,246

-6.88%

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

$1.04 R 17.26

$0.85 F CFA 484

22.35%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.74 R 12.32

$0.85 F CFA 484

-12.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.29 R 38.17

$1.03 F CFA 591

122.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.56 R 42.69

$1.71 F CFA 979

49.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.07 R 17.74

$2.31 F CFA 1,323

-53.68%

White Bread (500g)

$1.04 R 17.27

$0.64 F CFA 364

62.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.56 R 25.96

$1.18 F CFA 673

32.20%

Eggs

$2.22 R 37.05

$2.35 F CFA 1,341

-5.53%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.93 R 132

$17.76 F CFA 10.2K

-55.35%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.57 R 76.1

$7.96 F CFA 4,549

-42.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.63 R 110

$6.50 F CFA 3,715

2.00%

Apples (1kg)

$1.50 R 25.03

$3.70 F CFA 2,116

-59.46%

Banana (1kg)

$1.47 R 24.46

$1.06 F CFA 605

38.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.45 R 24.11

$2.00 F CFA 1,142

-27.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.57 R 26.14

$1.87 F CFA 1,072

-16.04%

Potato (1kg)

$1.20 R 19.97

$1.54 F CFA 882

-22.08%

Onion (1kg)

$1.28 R 21.38

$1.76 F CFA 1,004

-27.27%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 R 17.23

$0.88 F CFA 504

17.05%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.93 R 15.54

$0.85 F CFA 489

9.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.94 R 48.96

$1.77 F CFA 1,013

66.10%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.14 R 85.7

$6.03 F CFA 3,448

-14.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.36 R 22.67

$1.05 F CFA 601

29.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.66 R 27.66

$1.36 F CFA 779

22.06%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.63 R 27.22

$0.86 F CFA 492

89.53%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.21 R 736

$48.21 F CFA 27.6K

-8.30%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.15 R 19.18

$1.80 F CFA 1,027

-36.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.10 R 18.30

$1.56 F CFA 889

-29.49%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.77 R 79.5

$26.04 F CFA 14.9K

-81.68%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 R 20.81

$1.54 F CFA 878

-18.83%

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

$21.0K R 350.4K

$31.2K F CFA 17.8M

-32.56%

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

$23.4K R 390.4K

$28.7K F CFA 16.4M

-18.37%

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

$114 R 1,892

$175 F CFA 100.2K

-35.22%

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

$32.92 R 548

$35.71 F CFA 20.4K

-7.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$40.72 R 678

$46.74 F CFA 26.7K

-12.88%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.49 R 525

$78.4 F CFA 44.8K

-59.81%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.52 R 159

$22.31 F CFA 12.8K

-57.33%

Cinema Ticket

$6.91 R 115

$9.02 F CFA 5,156

-23.39%

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

$188 R 3,124

$292 F CFA 167.0K

-35.82%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,300 R 71.6K

$3,307 F CFA 1.9M

30.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.97 R 832

$87.3 F CFA 49.9K

-42.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.67 R 511

$55.0 F CFA 31.4K

-44.22%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 R 1,571

$85.8 F CFA 49.0K

9.93%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$79.9 R 1,331

$142 F CFA 81.2K

-43.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$444 R 7,398

$586 F CFA 334.8K

-24.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 R 6,231

$366 F CFA 209.2K

2.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$902 R 15.0K

$1,845 F CFA 1.1M

-51.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$720 R 12.0K

$918 F CFA 524.6K

-21.55%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,102 R 18.4K

$2,273 F CFA 1.3M

-51.52%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$756 R 12.6K

$684 F CFA 390.8K

10.52%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,494 R 24.9K

$222 F CFA 127.1K

571.92%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.55

14.5

-20.34%

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

Last update for South Africa: July 27, 2026

Last update for Ivory Coast: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average salary: $1,498 in South Africa vs $222 in Ivory Coast. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 145% higher in South Africa.

Dining out costs 20% more in Ivory Coast.

Public transport is 60% more expensive in South Africa.

Salaries are 575% 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 62% 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 62% 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.