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 48.5% cheaper than United States without rent, and 60.5% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: South Africa is 48.6% cheaper than United States without rent, and 57% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.84 R 145

$20.22 $20.22

-56.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.50 R 631

$75.7 $75.7

-49.12%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.07 R 83.2

$11.47 $11.47

-55.80%

Cappuccino

$2.04 R 33.40

$5.13 $5.13

-60.23%

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

$1.04 R 17.02

$2.61 $2.61

-60.15%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.74 R 12.08

$2.14 $2.14

-65.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.31 R 37.83

$6.17 $6.17

-62.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 R 40.57

$7.07 $7.07

-65.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.07 R 17.55

$1.08 $1.08

-0.93%

White Bread (500g)

$1.01 R 16.51

$3.74 $3.74

-72.99%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 R 25.79

$4.57 $4.57

-65.65%

Eggs

$2.33 R 38.26

$4.20 $4.20

-44.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.68 R 126

$13.02 $13.02

-41.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.47 R 73.4

$12.18 $12.18

-63.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.60 R 108

$16.14 $16.14

-59.11%

Apples (1kg)

$1.56 R 25.55

$5.31 $5.31

-70.62%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 R 23.80

$1.72 $1.72

-15.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.51 R 24.79

$4.59 $4.59

-67.10%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.49 R 24.39

$4.96 $4.96

-69.96%

Potato (1kg)

$1.21 R 19.91

$3.00 $3.00

-59.67%

Onion (1kg)

$1.33 R 21.80

$3.04 $3.04

-56.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 R 17.70

$2.18 $2.18

-50.46%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.94 R 15.34

$2.19 $2.19

-57.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.85 R 46.74

$10.16 $10.16

-71.95%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.89 R 80.3

$15.16 $15.16

-67.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.38 R 22.64

$1.99 $1.99

-30.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.69 R 27.65

$3.71 $3.71

-54.45%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.73 R 28.33

$2.48 $2.48

-30.24%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$45.33 R 743

$63.9 $63.9

-29.02%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.10 R 18.01

$3.69 $3.69

-70.19%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.10 R 18.03

$1.76 $1.76

-37.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.69 R 76.9

$30.06 $30.06

-84.40%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.30 R 21.32

$0.96 $0.96

35.42%

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

$20.6K R 337.3K

$30.2K $30.2K

-31.95%

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

$24.2K R 396.4K

$26.3K $26.3K

-8.08%

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

$110 R 1,811

$207 $207

-46.72%

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

$32.07 R 526

$57.0 $57.0

-43.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$40.81 R 669

$71.5 $71.5

-42.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.33 R 514

$45.91 $45.91

-31.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.44 R 155

$22.25 $22.25

-57.57%

Cinema Ticket

$6.90 R 113

$14.13 $14.13

-51.17%

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

$187 R 3,074

$1,385 $1,385

-86.46%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,385 R 71.9K

$22.2K $22.2K

-80.26%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.70 R 815

$52.1 $52.1

-4.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.23 R 512

$42.53 $42.53

-26.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.0 R 1,526

$89.9 $89.9

3.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$79.7 R 1,307

$114 $114

-30.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$443 R 7,265

$1,743 $1,743

-74.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$369 R 6,048

$1,422 $1,422

-74.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$890 R 14.6K

$2,821 $2,821

-68.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$724 R 11.9K

$2,370 $2,370

-69.43%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,125 R 18.5K

$3,338 $3,338

-66.29%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$823 R 13.5K

$2,615 $2,615

-68.52%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,486 R 24.4K

$4,230 $4,230

-64.86%

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: January 12, 2026

Last update for United States: January 13, 2026

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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

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