Cost of living comparison
South Africa is 60.9% more expensive than Kenya overall.
- Restaurants
-
pay 74.3% more in South Africa
- Groceries
-
pay 39.2% more in South Africa
- Transportation
-
pay 13.3% more in South Africa
- Housing
-
pay 2.4 times more in South Africa
- Childcare
-
pay 5.4% less in South Africa
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 0.3% less in South Africa
- Clothing
-
pay 2.6 times more in South Africa
The cost of clothing, housing, restaurants, groceries, and transportation in South Africa are more expensive than in Kenya. Expenses including childcare and entertainment and sports are lower in South Africa. Notably, clothing and housing are significantly more expensive in South Africa.
If you lived in South Africa instead of Kenya, you would:
pay 74.3% more for restaurants
Kenya
|
South Africa
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$3.25
KES420.11
|
$8.97
ZAR165.03
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$5.64
KES729.85
|
$4.77
ZAR87.75
|
|
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$0.55
KES71.13
|
$0.95
ZAR17.56
|
|
Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$0.45
KES58.84
|
$0.74
ZAR13.63
|
|
pay 39.2% more for groceries
Kenya
|
South Africa
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$0.50
KES64.89
|
$0.99
ZAR18.22
|
|
Local cheese (8 oz) |
$3.85
KES498.54
|
$3.67
ZAR67.60
|
|
Milk (1 gallon) |
$2.73
KES353.03
|
$4.20
ZAR77.23
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$1.59
KES205.50
|
$2.23
ZAR40.96
|
|
Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$2.20
KES284.50
|
$2.03
ZAR37.31
|
|
Apples (1 lb) |
$1.10
KES142.66
|
$0.68
ZAR12.45
|
|
Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.44
KES56.87
|
$0.62
ZAR11.35
|
|
Oranges (1 lb) |
$0.66
KES85.04
|
$0.64
ZAR11.81
|
|
Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$0.33
KES42.06
|
$0.70
ZAR12.85
|
|
Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.30
KES38.95
|
$0.55
ZAR10.18
|
|
Onions (1 lb) |
$0.40
KES51.14
|
$0.61
ZAR11.20
|
|
pay 13.3% more for transportation
Kenya
|
South Africa
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$5.65
KES731.33
|
$4.99
ZAR91.76
|
|
Monthly public transit pass |
$32.71
KES4,231.26
|
$52.31
ZAR962.21
|
|
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$16,627.25
KES2,150,734.66
|
$20,607.77
ZAR379,059.27
|
|
Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$10.53
KES1,362.38
|
$8.55
ZAR157.25
|
|
pay 2.4 times more for housing
Kenya
|
South Africa
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$38.26
KES4,948.44
|
$41.37
ZAR760.95
|
|
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$175.35
KES22,681.67
|
$382.55
ZAR7,036.69
|
|
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$99.93
KES12,925.46
|
$326.35
ZAR6,002.83
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$24.70
KES3,195.30
|
$80.40
ZAR1,478.84
|
|
pay 5.4% less for childcare
Kenya
|
South Africa
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$135.79
KES17,565.05
|
$174.12
ZAR3,202.70
|
|
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$6,611.54
KES855,202.53
|
$4,033.53
ZAR74,192.70
|
|
pay 0.3% less for entertainment and sports
Kenya
|
South Africa
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$1.99
KES257.76
|
$2.11
ZAR38.77
|
|
Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$2.16
KES279.66
|
$1.88
ZAR34.63
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$2.93
KES378.81
|
$2.90
ZAR53.42
|
|
Monthly membership at local gym |
$28.98
KES3,748.85
|
$29.50
ZAR542.63
|
|
Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$6.33
KES818.85
|
$6.62
ZAR121.79
|
|
pay 2.6 times more for clothing
Kenya
|
South Africa
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$12.19
KES1,576.61
|
$47.72
ZAR877.67
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$19.75
KES2,554.66
|
$32.06
ZAR589.69
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$35.28
KES4,563.88
|
$90.39
ZAR1,662.61
|
|
Men's business shoes (leather) |
$34.91
KES4,515.55
|
$81.37
ZAR1,496.66
|
|
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