Cost of living comparison
United States is 2.8 times more expensive than South Africa.
If you lived in United States instead of South Africa, you would:
pay 2.4 times more for restaurants
|
South Africa
|
United States
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$8.97
ZAR161.76
|
$18.59
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$4.77
ZAR86.01
|
$10.47
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$0.95
ZAR17.21
|
$2.50
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$0.74
ZAR13.36
|
$1.96
|
|
pay 2.4 times more for groceries
|
South Africa
|
United States
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$0.99
ZAR17.86
|
$3.49
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$3.67
ZAR66.26
|
$6.33
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$4.20
ZAR75.69
|
$3.91
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$2.23
ZAR40.15
|
$3.56
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$2.03
ZAR36.57
|
$5.16
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$0.68
ZAR12.20
|
$2.33
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.62
ZAR11.13
|
$0.78
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$0.64
ZAR11.57
|
$2.00
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$0.70
ZAR12.59
|
$2.16
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.55
ZAR9.98
|
$1.34
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$0.61
ZAR10.98
|
$1.38
|
|
pay 39.6% more for transportation
|
South Africa
|
United States
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$4.99
ZAR89.94
|
$3.61
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$52.31
ZAR943.11
|
$65.15
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$20,607.77
ZAR371,535.37
|
$31,583.67
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$8.55
ZAR154.13
|
$17.81
|
|
pay 3.0 times more for housing
|
South Africa
|
United States
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$41.37
ZAR745.85
|
$67.50
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$382.55
ZAR6,897.02
|
$1,655.99
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$326.35
ZAR5,883.69
|
$1,423.40
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$80.40
ZAR1,449.49
|
$148.34
|
|
pay 6.6 times more for childcare
|
South Africa
|
United States
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$174.12
ZAR3,139.13
|
$1,351.84
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$4,033.53
ZAR72,720.06
|
$22,265.44
|
|
pay 2.5 times more for entertainment and sports
|
South Africa
|
United States
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$2.11
ZAR38.00
|
$5.78
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$1.88
ZAR33.94
|
$5.04
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$2.90
ZAR52.36
|
$9.68
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$29.50
ZAR531.86
|
$50.84
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$6.62
ZAR119.37
|
$13.30
|
|
pay 15.9% more for clothing
|
South Africa
|
United States
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$47.72
ZAR860.25
|
$50.38
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$32.06
ZAR577.99
|
$40.66
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$90.39
ZAR1,629.61
|
$85.52
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$81.37
ZAR1,466.96
|
$111.08
|
|
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