Cost of Living Comparison Between South Africa and Sierra Leone Cost of Living Comparison Between South Africa and Sierra Leone

😐 Solo nomad: South Africa is 27.3% more expensive than Sierra Leone without rent, and 43.3% cheaper with rent.
😐 Family of 3: South Africa is 25.5% more expensive than Sierra Leone without rent, and 54% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
South Africa
Sierra Leone
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.05 R 161
$2.95 SLL 67K
206.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.84 R 691
$32.98 SLL 748.1K
17.77%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.9 R 87.1
$10.1 SLL 229.2K
-51.49%
Cappuccino
$1.98 R 35.28
$1.78 SLL 40.3K
11.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.96 R 17.06
$0.98 SLL 22.3K
-2.04%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.75 R 13.31
$0.78 SLL 17.7K
-3.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.18 R 38.72
$1.52 SLL 34.5K
43.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.54 R 45.1
$2.95 SLL 66.8K
-13.90%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
South Africa
Sierra Leone
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.1 R 19.58
$2.48 SLL 56.3K
-55.65%
White Bread (500g)
$1.03 R 18.32
$0.64 SLL 14.5K
60.94%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.56 R 27.71
$1.3 SLL 29.5K
20.00%
Eggs
$2.25 R 39.93
$2.05 SLL 46.4K
9.76%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.67 R 136
$6.93 SLL 157.3K
10.68%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.62 R 82.2
$7.46 SLL 169.2K
-38.07%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.86 R 122
$5.27 SLL 119.5K
30.17%
Apples (1kg)
$1.58 R 28.02
$4.04 SLL 91.6K
-60.89%
Banana (1kg)
$1.42 R 25.3
$1.98 SLL 44.8K
-28.28%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.44 R 25.58
$0.73 SLL 16.7K
97.26%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.49 R 26.5
$5.13 SLL 116.3K
-70.96%
Potato (1kg)
$1.25 R 22.16
$1.95 SLL 44.3K
-35.90%
Onion (1kg)
$1.34 R 23.81
$1.59 SLL 36K
-15.72%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.09 R 19.31
$0.97 SLL 22K
12.37%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.96 R 17.15
$1.38 SLL 31.4K
-30.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.9 R 51.6
$1.91 SLL 43.3K
51.83%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.07 R 90.3
$7.25 SLL 164.4K
-30.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38 R 24.49
$1.47 SLL 33.5K
-6.12%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68 R 29.79
$2.1 SLL 47.7K
-20.00%
🚌 Getting Around
South Africa
Sierra Leone
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.71 R 30.47
$0.44 SLL 10.1K
288.64%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.01 R 801
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.1 R 19.61
$0.72 SLL 16.2K
52.78%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.09 R 19.41
$1.27 SLL 28.8K
-14.17%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.8 R 85.3
$4.86 SLL 110.2K
-1.23%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 R 23.23
$1.35 SLL 30.5K
-2.96%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21K R 374.2K
$12K SLL 272.9M
74.87%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.7K R 421.3K
$25.1K SLL 568.8M
-5.53%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
South Africa
Sierra Leone
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$113 R 2,009
$146 SLL 3.3M
-22.81%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$33.11 R 589
$17.76 SLL 402.8K
86.43%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$41.49 R 738
$74.7 SLL 1.7M
-44.47%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
South Africa
Sierra Leone
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$31.69 R 564
$50.2 SLL 1.1M
-36.92%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.45 R 168
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.7 R 119
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
South Africa
Sierra Leone
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$186 R 3,303
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,336 R 77.1K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
South Africa
Sierra Leone
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.56 R 864
$9.85 SLL 223.4K
392.99%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.74 R 547
$7.87 SLL 178.6K
290.60%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$92 R 1,636
$20.2 SLL 458.3K
355.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.6 R 1,415
$49.05 SLL 1.1M
62.22%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
South Africa
Sierra Leone
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$442 R 7,860
$822 SLL 18.6M
-46.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$370 R 6,579
$1,258 SLL 28.5M
-70.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$880 R 15.7K
$2,122 SLL 48.1M
-58.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$724 R 12.9K
$98.8 SLL 2.2M
632.56%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,021 R 18.2K
$1,082 SLL 24.5M
-5.64%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$803 R 14.3K
$1,102 SLL 25M
-27.13%
💵 Salaries & Financials
South Africa
Sierra Leone
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,406 R 25K
$1,340 SLL 30.4M
4.93%
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 Sierra Leone: October 28, 2025

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