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

Name: United States
Address: US

🙂 Solo nomad: South Africa is 48.1% cheaper than United States without rent, and 62.2% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: South Africa is 47.6% cheaper than United States without rent, and 58.6% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.05 R 161

$20.33 $20.33

-55.48%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.84 R 691

$74.4 $74.4

-47.77%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.9 R 87.1

$11.49 $11.49

-57.35%

Cappuccino

$1.98 R 35.28

$5.09 $5.09

-61.10%

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

$0.96 R 17.06

$2.54 $2.54

-62.20%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.75 R 13.31

$2.11 $2.11

-64.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.18 R 38.72

$6.09 $6.09

-64.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.54 R 45.1

$7.1 $7.1

-64.23%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.1 R 19.58

$1.08 $1.08

1.85%

White Bread (500g)

$1.03 R 18.32

$3.7 $3.7

-72.16%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.56 R 27.71

$4.65 $4.65

-66.45%

Eggs

$2.25 R 39.93

$4.21 $4.21

-46.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.67 R 136

$12.75 $12.75

-39.84%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.62 R 82.2

$12.24 $12.24

-62.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.86 R 122

$16.08 $16.08

-57.34%

Apples (1kg)

$1.58 R 28.02

$5.41 $5.41

-70.79%

Banana (1kg)

$1.42 R 25.3

$1.73 $1.73

-17.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.44 R 25.58

$4.37 $4.37

-67.05%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.49 R 26.5

$4.94 $4.94

-69.84%

Potato (1kg)

$1.25 R 22.16

$2.88 $2.88

-56.60%

Onion (1kg)

$1.34 R 23.81

$3.07 $3.07

-56.35%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.09 R 19.31

$2.25 $2.25

-51.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.96 R 17.15

$2.21 $2.21

-56.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.9 R 51.6

$10.09 $10.09

-71.26%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.07 R 90.3

$14.73 $14.73

-65.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.38 R 24.49

$1.91 $1.91

-27.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.68 R 29.79

$3.54 $3.54

-52.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.71 R 30.47

$2.56 $2.56

-33.20%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$45.01 R 801

$63.9 $63.9

-29.51%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.1 R 19.61

$3.81 $3.81

-71.13%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.09 R 19.41

$1.77 $1.77

-38.42%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.8 R 85.3

$30.4 $30.4

-84.21%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 R 23.23

$0.94 $0.94

39.36%

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

$21K R 374.2K

$30K $30K

-29.77%

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

$23.7K R 421.3K

$25.8K $25.8K

-8.12%

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

$113 R 2,009

$209 $209

-45.87%

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

$33.11 R 589

$57.9 $57.9

-42.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$41.49 R 738

$71.1 $71.1

-41.64%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.69 R 564

$45.88 $45.88

-30.93%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.45 R 168

$22.25 $22.25

-57.53%

Cinema Ticket

$6.7 R 119

$14.14 $14.14

-52.62%

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

$186 R 3,303

$1,373 $1,373

-86.47%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,336 R 77.1K

$22.4K $22.4K

-80.60%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.56 R 864

$51.5 $51.5

-5.73%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.74 R 547

$41.96 $41.96

-26.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92 R 1,636

$88.3 $88.3

4.15%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$79.6 R 1,415

$112 $112

-28.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$442 R 7,860

$1,731 $1,731

-74.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$370 R 6,579

$1,446 $1,446

-74.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$880 R 15.7K

$2,846 $2,846

-69.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$724 R 12.9K

$2,366 $2,366

-69.41%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,021 R 18.2K

$3,245 $3,245

-68.54%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$803 R 14.3K

$2,667 $2,667

-69.87%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,406 R 25K

$4,312 $4,312

-67.38%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.55

6.51

77.42%

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 States: October 27, 2025

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