Cost of living comparison
South Africa is 34.3% more expensive than China overall.
- Restaurants
-
pay 2.1 times more in South Africa
- Groceries
-
pay 10.0% more in South Africa
- Transportation
-
pay 67.0% more in South Africa
- Housing
-
pay 2.1 times more in South Africa
- Childcare
-
pay 70.0% less in South Africa
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 5.5% more in South Africa
- Clothing
-
pay 8.1% more in South Africa
The cost of restaurants, housing, transportation, groceries, clothing, and entertainment and sports in South Africa are more expensive than in China. Notably, restaurants and housing are significantly more expensive in South Africa.
If you lived in South Africa instead of China, you would:
pay 2.1 times more for restaurants
|
China
|
South Africa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$2.85
CN¥20.90
|
$8.97
ZAR167.89
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$5.07
CN¥37.08
|
$4.77
ZAR89.27
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$0.49
CN¥3.58
|
$0.95
ZAR17.86
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$0.30
CN¥2.20
|
$0.74
ZAR13.87
|
|
pay 10.0% more for groceries
|
China
|
South Africa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$1.59
CN¥11.65
|
$0.99
ZAR18.54
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$5.85
CN¥42.83
|
$3.67
ZAR68.77
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$6.86
CN¥50.22
|
$4.20
ZAR78.56
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$1.60
CN¥11.68
|
$2.23
ZAR41.67
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$1.54
CN¥11.28
|
$2.03
ZAR37.95
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$0.76
CN¥5.58
|
$0.68
ZAR12.67
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.57
CN¥4.19
|
$0.62
ZAR11.55
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$0.65
CN¥4.79
|
$0.64
ZAR12.01
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$0.52
CN¥3.83
|
$0.70
ZAR13.07
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.32
CN¥2.35
|
$0.55
ZAR10.36
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$0.40
CN¥2.93
|
$0.61
ZAR11.39
|
|
pay 67.0% more for transportation
|
China
|
South Africa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$4.44
CN¥32.54
|
$4.99
ZAR93.35
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$22.47
CN¥164.49
|
$52.31
ZAR978.84
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$19,071.53
CN¥139,615.07
|
$20,607.77
ZAR385,612.54
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$3.97
CN¥29.10
|
$8.55
ZAR159.97
|
|
pay 2.1 times more for housing
|
China
|
South Africa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$11.70
CN¥85.61
|
$41.37
ZAR774.11
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$328.33
CN¥2,403.58
|
$382.55
ZAR7,158.34
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$205.78
CN¥1,506.43
|
$326.35
ZAR6,106.61
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$40.46
CN¥296.18
|
$80.40
ZAR1,504.41
|
|
pay 70.0% less for childcare
|
China
|
South Africa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$459.70
CN¥3,365.27
|
$174.12
ZAR3,258.07
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$18,318.08
CN¥134,099.33
|
$4,033.53
ZAR75,475.36
|
|
pay 5.5% more for entertainment and sports
|
China
|
South Africa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$1.09
CN¥7.98
|
$2.11
ZAR39.44
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$3.07
CN¥22.45
|
$1.88
ZAR35.23
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$3.23
CN¥23.67
|
$2.90
ZAR54.34
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$41.41
CN¥303.13
|
$29.50
ZAR552.01
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$5.93
CN¥43.38
|
$6.62
ZAR123.89
|
|
pay 8.1% more for clothing
|
China
|
South Africa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$48.23
CN¥353.04
|
$47.72
ZAR892.85
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$31.67
CN¥231.85
|
$32.06
ZAR599.89
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$72.53
CN¥530.94
|
$90.39
ZAR1,691.36
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$75.53
CN¥552.96
|
$81.37
ZAR1,522.54
|
|
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