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

😐 Solo nomad: South Africa is 1.1% more expensive than Mali without rent, and 21% more expensive with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: South Africa is 19.4% cheaper than Mali without rent, and 12.4% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
South Africa
Mali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.05 R 161
$6.57 F CFA 3,717
37.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.84 R 691
$38.06 F CFA 21.5K
2.05%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.9 R 87.1
$6.24 F CFA 3,531
-21.47%
Cappuccino
$1.98 R 35.28
$1.9 F CFA 1,078
4.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.96 R 17.06
$0.76 F CFA 428
26.32%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.75 R 13.31
$0.57 F CFA 320
31.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.18 R 38.72
$2.45 F CFA 1,388
-11.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.54 R 45.1
$21.35 F CFA 12.1K
-88.10%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
South Africa
Mali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.1 R 19.58
$2.35 F CFA 1,331
-53.19%
White Bread (500g)
$1.03 R 18.32
$3.33 F CFA 1,887
-69.07%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.56 R 27.71
-
-
Eggs
$2.25 R 39.93
$4.49 F CFA 2,542
-49.89%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.67 R 136
$17.95 F CFA 10.2K
-57.27%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.62 R 82.2
$17.26 F CFA 9,772
-73.23%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.86 R 122
$13.22 F CFA 7,483
-48.11%
Apples (1kg)
$1.58 R 28.02
$3.08 F CFA 1,741
-48.70%
Banana (1kg)
$1.42 R 25.3
$1.45 F CFA 823
-2.07%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.44 R 25.58
$2.86 F CFA 1,617
-49.65%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.49 R 26.5
$2.31 F CFA 1,305
-35.50%
Potato (1kg)
$1.25 R 22.16
$1.57 F CFA 890
-20.38%
Onion (1kg)
$1.34 R 23.81
$1.82 F CFA 1,031
-26.37%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.09 R 19.31
$0.1 F CFA 53.8
990.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.96 R 17.15
$2.32 F CFA 1,316
-58.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.9 R 51.6
$0.95 F CFA 538
205.26%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.07 R 90.3
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38 R 24.49
$1.48 F CFA 836
-6.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68 R 29.79
$1.3 F CFA 736
29.23%
🚌 Getting Around
South Africa
Mali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.71 R 30.47
$4.53 F CFA 2,567
-62.25%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.01 R 801
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.1 R 19.61
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.09 R 19.41
$1.21 F CFA 687
-9.92%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.8 R 85.3
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 R 23.23
$1.2 F CFA 681
9.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21K R 374.2K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.7K R 421.3K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
South Africa
Mali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$113 R 2,009
$150 F CFA 85.1K
-24.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$33.11 R 589
-
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$41.49 R 738
$57.5 F CFA 32.5K
-27.81%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
South Africa
Mali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$31.69 R 564
$67.4 F CFA 38.1K
-52.96%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.45 R 168
$4.11 F CFA 2,327
129.93%
Cinema Ticket
$6.7 R 119
$5.57 F CFA 3,152
20.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
South Africa
Mali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$186 R 3,303
$77.9 F CFA 44.1K
138.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,336 R 77.1K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
South Africa
Mali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.56 R 864
-
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.74 R 547
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$92 R 1,636
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.6 R 1,415
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
South Africa
Mali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$442 R 7,860
$172 F CFA 97.2K
157.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$370 R 6,579
$80 F CFA 45.3K
362.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$880 R 15.7K
$398 F CFA 225.4K
121.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$724 R 12.9K
$295 F CFA 166.7K
145.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,021 R 18.2K
$10.3K F CFA 5.8M
-90.06%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$803 R 14.3K
$832 F CFA 471K
-3.46%
💵 Salaries & Financials
South Africa
Mali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,406 R 25K
$267 F CFA 151.1K
426.74%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.55
0
-

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

Last update for South Africa: October 29, 2025

Last update for Mali: October 29, 2025

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