Cost of living comparison
South Africa is 29.6% cheaper than United Arab Emirates overall.
- Restaurants
-
pay 1.4% less in South Africa
- Groceries
-
pay 10.5% less in South Africa
- Transportation
-
pay 5.2% more in South Africa
- Housing
-
pay 56.7% less in South Africa
- Childcare
-
pay 58.2% less in South Africa
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 61.9% less in South Africa
- Clothing
-
pay 23.8% less in South Africa
Expenses including entertainment and sports, childcare, housing, clothing, groceries, and restaurants are lower in South Africa.
If you lived in South Africa instead of United Arab Emirates, you would:
pay 1.4% less for restaurants
|
United Arab Emirates
|
South Africa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$8.01
AED29.43
|
$8.97
ZAR161.02
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$8.22
AED30.18
|
$4.77
ZAR85.62
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$1.02
AED3.73
|
$0.95
ZAR17.13
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$0.57
AED2.09
|
$0.74
ZAR13.30
|
|
pay 10.5% less for groceries
|
United Arab Emirates
|
South Africa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$1.26
AED4.64
|
$0.99
ZAR17.78
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$5.08
AED18.66
|
$3.67
ZAR65.95
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$6.80
AED24.96
|
$4.20
ZAR75.35
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$2.47
AED9.06
|
$2.23
ZAR39.97
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$3.33
AED12.21
|
$2.03
ZAR36.40
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$0.94
AED3.47
|
$0.68
ZAR12.15
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.74
AED2.72
|
$0.62
ZAR11.08
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$0.72
AED2.64
|
$0.64
ZAR11.52
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$0.56
AED2.07
|
$0.70
ZAR12.54
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.45
AED1.64
|
$0.55
ZAR9.94
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$0.47
AED1.74
|
$0.61
ZAR10.93
|
|
pay 5.2% more for transportation
|
United Arab Emirates
|
South Africa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$3.06
AED11.23
|
$4.99
ZAR89.53
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$48.60
AED178.47
|
$52.31
ZAR938.83
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$42,240.06
AED155,122.41
|
$20,607.77
ZAR369,847.80
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$8.46
AED31.06
|
$8.55
ZAR153.43
|
|
pay 56.7% less for housing
|
United Arab Emirates
|
South Africa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$95.75
AED351.64
|
$41.37
ZAR742.46
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$1,395.59
AED5,125.15
|
$382.55
ZAR6,865.69
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$985.52
AED3,619.24
|
$326.35
ZAR5,856.96
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$115.48
AED424.08
|
$80.40
ZAR1,442.91
|
|
pay 58.2% less for childcare
|
United Arab Emirates
|
South Africa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$507.75
AED1,864.68
|
$174.12
ZAR3,124.87
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$8,162.28
AED29,975.16
|
$4,033.53
ZAR72,389.75
|
|
pay 61.9% less for entertainment and sports
|
United Arab Emirates
|
South Africa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$10.55
AED38.74
|
$2.11
ZAR37.83
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$5.03
AED18.45
|
$1.88
ZAR33.79
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$6.23
AED22.87
|
$2.90
ZAR52.12
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$84.91
AED311.83
|
$29.50
ZAR529.45
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$12.83
AED47.12
|
$6.62
ZAR118.83
|
|
pay 23.8% less for clothing
|
United Arab Emirates
|
South Africa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$64.14
AED235.56
|
$47.72
ZAR856.35
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$64.91
AED238.39
|
$32.06
ZAR575.36
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$93.31
AED342.66
|
$90.39
ZAR1,622.21
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$96.50
AED354.37
|
$81.37
ZAR1,460.29
|
|
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