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

Name: South Africa
Address: ZA

😐 Solo nomad: United States is 94.1% more expensive than South Africa without rent, and 153.2% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: United States is 94.6% more expensive than South Africa without rent, and 132.6% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.22 $20.22

$8.84 R 145

128.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.7 $75.7

$38.50 R 631

96.55%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.47 $11.47

$5.07 R 83.2

126.23%

Cappuccino

$5.13 $5.13

$2.04 R 33.40

151.47%

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

$2.61 $2.61

$1.04 R 17.02

150.96%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 $2.14

$0.74 R 12.08

189.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.17 $6.17

$2.31 R 37.83

167.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.07 $7.07

$2.47 R 40.57

186.23%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$1.07 R 17.55

0.93%

White Bread (500g)

$3.74 $3.74

$1.01 R 16.51

270.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.57 $4.57

$1.57 R 25.79

191.08%

Eggs

$4.20 $4.20

$2.33 R 38.26

80.26%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.02 $13.02

$7.68 R 126

69.53%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.18 $12.18

$4.47 R 73.4

172.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.14 $16.14

$6.60 R 108

144.55%

Apples (1kg)

$5.31 $5.31

$1.56 R 25.55

240.38%

Banana (1kg)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.45 R 23.80

18.62%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.59 $4.59

$1.51 R 24.79

203.97%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.96 $4.96

$1.49 R 24.39

232.89%

Potato (1kg)

$3.00 $3.00

$1.21 R 19.91

147.93%

Onion (1kg)

$3.04 $3.04

$1.33 R 21.80

128.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.18 $2.18

$1.08 R 17.70

101.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.19 $2.19

$0.94 R 15.34

132.98%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.16 $10.16

$2.85 R 46.74

256.49%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.16 $15.16

$4.89 R 80.3

210.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.99 $1.99

$1.38 R 22.64

44.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.71 $3.71

$1.69 R 27.65

119.53%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.48 $2.48

$1.73 R 28.33

43.35%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$63.9 $63.9

$45.33 R 743

40.88%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.69 $3.69

$1.10 R 18.01

235.45%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.76 $1.76

$1.10 R 18.03

60.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.06 $30.06

$4.69 R 76.9

540.94%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.96 $0.96

$1.30 R 21.32

-26.15%

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

$30.2K $30.2K

$20.6K R 337.3K

46.95%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

$24.2K R 396.4K

8.79%

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

$207 $207

$110 R 1,811

87.69%

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

$57.0 $57.0

$32.07 R 526

77.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$71.5 $71.5

$40.81 R 669

75.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.91 $45.91

$31.33 R 514

46.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.25 $22.25

$9.44 R 155

135.70%

Cinema Ticket

$14.13 $14.13

$6.90 R 113

104.78%

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

$1,385 $1,385

$187 R 3,074

638.79%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.2K $22.2K

$4,385 R 71.9K

406.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.1 $52.1

$49.70 R 815

4.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.53 $42.53

$31.23 R 512

36.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.9 $89.9

$93.0 R 1,526

-3.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 $114

$79.7 R 1,307

43.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,743 $1,743

$443 R 7,265

293.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,422 $1,422

$369 R 6,048

285.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,821 $2,821

$890 R 14.6K

217.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,370 $2,370

$724 R 11.9K

227.12%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,338 $3,338

$1,125 R 18.5K

196.64%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,615 $2,615

$823 R 13.5K

217.64%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,230 $4,230

$1,486 R 24.4K

184.60%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.51

11.55

-43.64%

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

Last update for United States: January 13, 2026

Last update for South Africa: January 12, 2026

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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

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