Cost of Living Comparison Between South Africa and United Kingdom Cost of Living Comparison Between South Africa and United Kingdom

πŸ™‚ Solo nomad: South Africa is 41.8% cheaper than United Kingdom without rent, and 57% cheaper with rent.
πŸ™‚ Family of 3: South Africa is 44.3% cheaper than United Kingdom without rent, and 52.6% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
South Africa
United Kingdom
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.05 RΒ 161
$20.1 Β£14.79
-54.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.84 RΒ 691
$89.9 Β£66.2
-56.81%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.9 RΒ 87.1
$10.03 Β£7.38
-51.15%
Cappuccino
$1.98 RΒ 35.28
$4.71 Β£3.46
-57.96%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.96 RΒ 17.06
$2.46 Β£1.81
-60.98%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.75 RΒ 13.31
$1.69 Β£1.24
-55.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.18 RΒ 38.72
$6.59 Β£4.85
-66.92%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.54 RΒ 45.1
$6.27 Β£4.62
-59.49%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
South Africa
United Kingdom
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.1 RΒ 19.58
$1.65 Β£1.22
-33.33%
White Bread (500g)
$1.03 RΒ 18.32
$1.66 Β£1.22
-37.95%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.56 RΒ 27.71
$2.26 Β£1.67
-30.97%
Eggs
$2.25 RΒ 39.93
$4.08 Β£3.01
-44.85%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.67 RΒ 136
$9.78 Β£7.2
-21.57%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.62 RΒ 82.2
$8.74 Β£6.43
-47.14%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.86 RΒ 122
$14.34 Β£10.55
-52.16%
Apples (1kg)
$1.58 RΒ 28.02
$3.04 Β£2.24
-48.03%
Banana (1kg)
$1.42 RΒ 25.3
$1.67 Β£1.23
-14.97%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.44 RΒ 25.58
$2.9 Β£2.13
-50.34%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.49 RΒ 26.5
$3.47 Β£2.56
-57.06%
Potato (1kg)
$1.25 RΒ 22.16
$1.62 Β£1.19
-22.84%
Onion (1kg)
$1.34 RΒ 23.81
$1.6 Β£1.18
-16.25%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.09 RΒ 19.31
$1.12 Β£0.82
-2.68%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.96 RΒ 17.15
$1.57 Β£1.15
-38.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.9 RΒ 51.6
$20.41 Β£15.02
-85.79%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.07 RΒ 90.3
$10.52 Β£7.74
-51.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38 RΒ 24.49
$2.83 Β£2.08
-51.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68 RΒ 29.79
$3.3 Β£2.43
-49.09%
🚌 Getting Around
South Africa
United Kingdom
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.71 RΒ 30.47
$3.33 Β£2.45
-48.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.01 RΒ 801
$94.8 Β£69.7
-52.50%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.1 RΒ 19.61
$5.46 Β£4.02
-79.85%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.09 RΒ 19.41
$1.55 Β£1.14
-29.68%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.8 RΒ 85.3
$26.83 Β£19.74
-82.11%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 RΒ 23.23
$2 Β£1.47
-34.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21K RΒ 374.2K
$37.7K Β£27.7K
-44.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.7K RΒ 421.3K
$41.3K Β£30.4K
-42.71%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
South Africa
United Kingdom
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$113 RΒ 2,009
$319 Β£235
-64.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$33.11 RΒ 589
$17.53 Β£12.9
88.88%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$41.49 RΒ 738
$41.82 Β£30.78
-0.79%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
South Africa
United Kingdom
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$31.69 RΒ 564
$45.9 Β£33.78
-30.96%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.45 RΒ 168
$15.86 Β£11.67
-40.42%
Cinema Ticket
$6.7 RΒ 119
$13.71 Β£10.09
-51.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
South Africa
United Kingdom
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$186 RΒ 3,303
$1,756 Β£1,293
-89.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,336 RΒ 77.1K
$21.2K Β£15.6K
-79.59%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
South Africa
United Kingdom
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.56 RΒ 864
$90.6 Β£66.7
-46.42%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.74 RΒ 547
$44.44 Β£32.71
-30.83%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$92 RΒ 1,636
$101 Β£74.3
-8.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.6 RΒ 1,415
$103 Β£76
-22.90%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
South Africa
United Kingdom
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$442 RΒ 7,860
$1,427 Β£1,050
-69.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$370 RΒ 6,579
$1,157 Β£851
-68.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$880 RΒ 15.7K
$2,327 Β£1,713
-62.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$724 RΒ 12.9K
$1,846 Β£1,359
-60.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,021 RΒ 18.2K
$6,050 Β£4,452
-83.13%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$803 RΒ 14.3K
$4,820 Β£3,547
-83.33%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
South Africa
United Kingdom
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,406 RΒ 25K
$3,133 Β£2,306
-55.11%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.55
5.75
100.87%

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

Last update for South Africa: October 29, 2025

Last update for United Kingdom: October 29, 2025

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