Cost of Living Comparison Between Western Sahara and South Africa Cost of Living Comparison Between Western Sahara and South Africa

Name: South Africa
Address: ZA

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $641 per month in Western Sahara vs $1,019 in South Africa, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,013 per month in Western Sahara vs $1,583 in South Africa, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,384 per month in Western Sahara vs $2,146 in South Africa, rent included.

The cost of living in Western Sahara is roughly 37% lower than in South Africa on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Both Western Sahara and South Africa are more affordable than the global median – Western Sahara 52% lower, South Africa 23% lower.

The regional cost range is wider in Western Sahara ($641–$641) than in South Africa ($804–$1,358), so city choice matters more there.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.92 MAD 36.82

$8.89 R 148

-55.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.26 MAD 275

$39.93 R 665

-26.72%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.78 MAD 44.86

$4.90 R 81.7

-2.45%

Cappuccino

$1.60 MAD 14.99

$2.03 R 33.88

-21.18%

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

$0.52 MAD 4.93

$1.04 R 17.26

-50.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 MAD 2.95

$0.74 R 12.32

-58.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.51 MAD 32.97

$2.29 R 38.17

53.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.77 MAD 44.74

$2.56 R 42.69

86.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.79 MAD 7.40

$1.07 R 17.74

-26.17%

White Bread (500g)

$0.60 MAD 5.65

$1.04 R 17.27

-42.31%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.80 MAD 16.91

$1.56 R 25.96

15.38%

Eggs

$1.37 MAD 12.84

$2.22 R 37.05

-38.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.54 MAD 108

$7.93 R 132

45.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.44 MAD 32.24

$4.57 R 76.1

-24.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 MAD 88.4

$6.63 R 110

42.08%

Apples (1kg)

$1.52 MAD 14.23

$1.50 R 25.03

1.33%

Banana (1kg)

$1.14 MAD 10.68

$1.47 R 24.46

-22.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.68 MAD 6.38

$1.45 R 24.11

-53.10%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.56 MAD 5.29

$1.57 R 26.14

-64.33%

Potato (1kg)

$0.48 MAD 4.50

$1.20 R 19.97

-60.00%

Onion (1kg)

$0.36 MAD 3.41

$1.28 R 21.38

-71.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.91 MAD 8.52

$1.03 R 17.23

-11.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 MAD 5.30

$0.93 R 15.54

-39.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.94 R 48.96

Wine (Bottle)

$5.14 R 85.7

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.36 R 22.67

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.51 MAD 32.95

$1.66 R 27.66

111.45%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.60 MAD 5.62

$1.63 R 27.22

-63.19%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.75 MAD 110

$44.21 R 736

-73.42%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.76 MAD 7.15

$1.15 R 19.18

-33.91%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.64 MAD 6.03

$1.10 R 18.30

-41.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.77 R 79.5

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 MAD 12.00

$1.25 R 20.81

2.40%

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

$39.1K MAD 366.7K

$21.0K R 350.4K

85.80%

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

$26.4K MAD 247.7K

$23.4K R 390.4K

12.61%

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

$33.34 MAD 313

$114 R 1,892

-70.64%

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

$32.92 R 548

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.48 MAD 211

$40.72 R 678

-44.79%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.92 MAD 215

$31.49 R 525

-27.21%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.39 MAD 332

$9.52 R 159

271.74%

Cinema Ticket

$3.49 MAD 32.78

$6.91 R 115

-49.49%

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

$290 MAD 2,719

$188 R 3,124

54.49%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,502 MAD 32.9K

$4,300 R 71.6K

-18.56%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$34.23 MAD 321

$49.97 R 832

-31.50%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$58.3 MAD 547

$30.67 R 511

90.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.5 MAD 718

$94.3 R 1,571

-18.87%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$81.6 MAD 765

$79.9 R 1,331

2.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$350 MAD 3,282

$444 R 7,398

-21.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$177 MAD 1,659

$374 R 6,231

-52.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$702 MAD 6,587

$902 R 15.0K

-22.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$289 MAD 2,714

$720 R 12.0K

-59.84%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,102 R 18.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$756 R 12.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,494 R 24.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.55

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

Last update for Western Sahara: July 28, 2026

Last update for South Africa: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $349 in Western Sahara vs $367 in South Africa. For reference, capital cities sit at $349 in Laayoune and $399 in Pretoria.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 5% higher in South Africa.

Dining out costs 21% more in South Africa.

Public transport is 33% more expensive in South Africa.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Western Sahara vs South Africa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Western Sahara is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 69% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.

Housing costs more in South Africa, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but South Africa consistently has higher rents.

Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Western Sahara, contributing to the overall 69% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.

$800 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Western Sahara, but in South Africa it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.

Western Sahara is the budget-friendly choice for expats – lower housing and daily costs. But cost isn't everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.