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

🙂 Solo nomad: South Africa is 3.5% cheaper than Mali without rent, and 18.7% more expensive with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: South Africa is 1.7% cheaper than Mali without rent, and 9.9% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
South Africa
Mali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.70 R 143
$6.63 F CFA 3,747
31.22%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.91 R 641
$37.47 F CFA 21.2K
3.84%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.17 R 85.3
$6.46 F CFA 3,648
-19.97%
Cappuccino
$2.05 R 33.82
$1.84 F CFA 1,041
11.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.02 R 16.87
$0.73 F CFA 414
39.73%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76 R 12.51
$0.61 F CFA 343
24.59%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.26 R 37.20
$2.35 F CFA 1,328
-3.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53 R 41.77
$21.06 F CFA 11.9K
-87.99%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
South Africa
Mali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.10 R 18.20
$2.32 F CFA 1,311
-52.59%
White Bread (500g)
$0.94 R 15.51
$3.48 F CFA 1,967
-72.99%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.62 R 26.76
-
-
Eggs
$2.22 R 36.61
$4.43 F CFA 2,499
-49.89%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.52 R 124
$17.41 F CFA 9,830
-56.81%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.48 R 73.8
$17.31 F CFA 9,773
-74.12%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.61 R 109
$13.16 F CFA 7,431
-49.77%
Apples (1kg)
$1.50 R 24.74
$3.19 F CFA 1,802
-52.98%
Banana (1kg)
$1.42 R 23.41
$1.45 F CFA 821
-2.07%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.46 R 24.08
$2.80 F CFA 1,581
-47.86%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.51 R 24.91
$2.32 F CFA 1,313
-34.91%
Potato (1kg)
$1.26 R 20.70
$1.66 F CFA 936
-24.10%
Onion (1kg)
$1.29 R 21.34
$1.84 F CFA 1,039
-29.89%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.03 R 16.95
$0.10 F CFA 56.9
930.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.97 R 15.93
$2.35 F CFA 1,328
-58.72%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.87 R 47.30
$0.96 F CFA 540
198.96%
Wine (Bottle)
$4.90 R 80.7
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.31 R 21.65
$1.53 F CFA 861
-14.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73 R 28.59
$1.31 F CFA 739
32.06%
🚌 Getting Around
South Africa
Mali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.65 R 27.17
$4.75 F CFA 2,684
-65.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$44.20 R 728
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.14 R 18.79
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.09 R 17.98
$1.23 F CFA 694
-11.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.70 R 77.5
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.30 R 21.35
$1.14 F CFA 643
14.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.8K R 342.7K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.5K R 387.5K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
South Africa
Mali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$111 R 1,835
$150 F CFA 84.8K
-25.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.36 R 533
-
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.49 R 667
$57.2 F CFA 32.3K
-29.21%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
South Africa
Mali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$31.96 R 527
$68.6 F CFA 38.7K
-53.39%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.72 R 160
$3.95 F CFA 2,233
146.08%
Cinema Ticket
$6.80 R 112
$5.60 F CFA 3,165
21.43%
🧸 Childcare & Education
South Africa
Mali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$189 R 3,107
$79.0 F CFA 44.6K
138.80%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,400 R 72.5K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
South Africa
Mali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.2 R 827
-
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.53 R 503
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.5 R 1,558
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$81.3 R 1,340
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
South Africa
Mali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$453 R 7,461
$173 F CFA 97.8K
161.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$372 R 6,132
$78.5 F CFA 44.3K
373.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$906 R 14.9K
$410 F CFA 231.6K
120.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$703 R 11.6K
$303 F CFA 170.8K
132.36%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,150 R 19.0K
$10.2K F CFA 5.7M
-88.70%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$836 R 13.8K
$840 F CFA 474.2K
-0.47%
💵 Salaries & Financials
South Africa
Mali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,471 R 24.2K
$260 F CFA 146.7K
466.22%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.55
0
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CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for South Africa: March 2, 2026

Last update for Mali: March 1, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated January 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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