Cost of living comparison
United States is 2.9 times more expensive than South Africa.
If you lived in United States instead of South Africa, you would:
pay 2.5 times more for restaurants
South Africa
|
United States
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$8.29
ZAR150.84
|
$18.02
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$4.51
ZAR82.13
|
$10.37
|
|
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$0.93
ZAR16.92
|
$2.44
|
|
Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$0.69
ZAR12.61
|
$1.98
|
|
pay 2.5 times more for groceries
South Africa
|
United States
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$0.93
ZAR16.90
|
$3.43
|
|
Local cheese (8 oz) |
$3.52
ZAR63.98
|
$6.30
|
|
Milk (1 gallon) |
$4.04
ZAR73.60
|
$3.93
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$2.09
ZAR37.97
|
$3.52
|
|
Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$1.97
ZAR35.78
|
$5.12
|
|
Apples (1 lb) |
$0.64
ZAR11.71
|
$2.31
|
|
Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.62
ZAR11.22
|
$0.76
|
|
Oranges (1 lb) |
$0.59
ZAR10.69
|
$2.03
|
|
Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$0.69
ZAR12.56
|
$2.13
|
|
Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.49
ZAR8.98
|
$1.32
|
|
Onions (1 lb) |
$0.61
ZAR11.15
|
$1.38
|
|
pay 43.9% more for transportation
South Africa
|
United States
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$4.81
ZAR87.47
|
$3.61
|
|
Monthly public transit pass |
$50.85
ZAR925.60
|
$65.73
|
|
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$19,587.45
ZAR356,511.21
|
$31,580.82
|
|
Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$8.44
ZAR153.62
|
$17.71
|
|
pay 3.1 times more for housing
South Africa
|
United States
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$40.70
ZAR740.86
|
$67.34
|
|
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$363.07
ZAR6,608.23
|
$1,635.84
|
|
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$324.06
ZAR5,898.21
|
$1,397.18
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$76.48
ZAR1,391.99
|
$148.42
|
|
pay 7.0 times more for childcare
South Africa
|
United States
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$170.15
ZAR3,096.99
|
$1,344.29
|
|
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$3,782.54
ZAR68,846.06
|
$23,001.10
|
|
pay 2.6 times more for entertainment and sports
South Africa
|
United States
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$2.04
ZAR37.14
|
$5.73
|
|
Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$1.79
ZAR32.59
|
$4.97
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$2.68
ZAR48.81
|
$9.54
|
|
Monthly membership at local gym |
$28.55
ZAR519.56
|
$51.32
|
|
Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$5.94
ZAR108.07
|
$13.21
|
|
pay 24.8% more for clothing
South Africa
|
United States
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$44.73
ZAR814.08
|
$50.12
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$30.20
ZAR549.65
|
$40.92
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$81.48
ZAR1,482.98
|
$85.55
|
|
Men's business shoes (leather) |
$77.16
ZAR1,404.30
|
$113.11
|
|
Change currency:
ASK THE ELSEWHERE COMMUNITY
Join the Elsewhere community and ask a question about United States or South Africa. It's a free, question-and-answer based forum to discuss what life is like in countries and cities around the world.