Saudi Arabia vs South Africa - Cost of Living Comparison

Updated:

Livingcost

Saudi Arabia South Africa
🚶 Cost of living one person
$1254
$924
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Cost of living Family
$2906
$2166
🏠 One person rent
$640
$470
🏘️ Family rent
$1055
$833
🍽️ Food expenses
$336
$264
🚐 Transport expenses
$159
$111
💳 Monthly salary after tax
$2225
$1385
💸 GDP per capita
$32094
$6023
😃 Human freedom index
4.8
7.1
❤️ Life expectancy
77.9
61.5
👮 Corruption perceptions index
59
41
🌐 English speaking %
55%
31%
🎓 Higher education
80
82
😀 Quality of life
64
36
🏙️ Population
33M
62M

The average cost of living in Saudi Arabia ($1254) is 36% more expensive than in South Africa ($924). Saudi Arabia ranked 49th vs 94th for South Africa in the list of the most expensive countries in the world.

The average after-tax salary is enough to cover living expenses for 1.8 months in Saudi Arabia compared to 1.5 months in South Africa. Ranked 52nd and 132nd best countries to live in the world.

Salary adjustment calculator
the estimated difference in money purchasing power

Cost of living in Saudi Arabia vs South Africa infographic

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Prices in Saudi Arabia vs South Africa

We calculate prices for Saudi Arabia and South Africa as a population-weighted mean of 22 and 36 cities, respectively. Since large cities tend to have a higher cost of living, it's better to visit specific city pages below for more relevant information.

Saudi Arabia South Africa
Eating Out
🍱 Lunch Menu
$7.19
$8.19
🥂 Dinner in a Restaurant, for 2
$43.8
$33.3
🥪 Fast food meal, equiv. McDonald's
$7.83
$4.58
🍻 Beer in a Pub, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$1.81
$2.27
 Cappuccino
$3.73
$1.94
🥤 Pepsi / Coke, 0.5 L or 16.9 fl oz
$0.75
$0.98
Rent & Utilities
🏙️ 1 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$585
$462
🏡 Cheap 1 bedroom apartment, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$476
$339
🏙️ 3 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$1249
$835
🏡 Cheap 3 bedroom apartment, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$783
$654
🔌 Utility Bill one person, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$68.2
$67.6
🔌 Utility Bill for a Family, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$105
$104
🌐 Internet plan, 50 Mbps+ 1 month unlimited
$73.8
$38.4
🏦 Mortgage Interest Rate for 20 Years
4.73%
11.55%
🏙️ Apartment price to Buy in city Center, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$2117
$1135
🏡 House price to Buy in Suburbs, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$1269
$830
Transportation
🚌 Local transport ticket
$1.2
$1.62
🎟️ Monthly ticket local transport
$44.5
$47.6
🚕 Taxi Ride, 8 km or 5 mi
$18.7
$9.18
 Gas / Petrol, 1 L or 0.26 gal
$0.6
$1.22
Groceries
🥛 Milk, 1 L or 1 qt
$1.68
$1.09
🍞 Bread, 0.5 kg or 1.1 lb
$1
$0.95
🍚 Rice, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.18
$1.39
🥚 Eggs, x12
$2.68
$2.38
🧀 Cheese, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$7.63
$8.21
🐔 Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$8.25
$4.78
🥩 Round Steak, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$12.5
$6.58
🍏 Apples, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.17
$1.51
🍌 Banana, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.67
$1.43
🍊 Oranges, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.73
$1.45
🍅 Tomato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.61
$1.52
🥔 Potato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.33
$1.27
🧅 Onion, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.42
$1.29
🌊 Water, 1 L or 1 qt
$0.39
$0.61
🍹 Coca-Cola / Pepsi, 2 L or 67.6 fl oz
$2.06
$1.32
🍾 Wine (mid-priced), 750 mL bottle
$5.57
$5.35
🍺 Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$1.8
$1.32
🚬 Cigarette pack
$6.97
$2.85
💊 Cold medicince, 1 week
$3.88
$4.47
🧴 Hair Shampoo
$4.1
$3.31
🧻 Toilet paper, 4 rolls
$2.17
$1.75
👄 Toothpaste, 1 tube
$3.64
$1.24
Other
🏋️ Gym Membership, 1 month
$92.8
$29.3
🎫 Cinema Ticket, 1 person
$15.2
$6.24
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's visit
$42.4
$28
💇 Haircut, simple
$6.05
$5.66
👖 Brand Jeans
$47.4
$47.5
👟 Brand Sneakers
$91.9
$89.2
👶 Daycare or Preschool, 1 month
$393
$187
🏫 International Primary School, 1 year
$8163
$4572

Cost of living in other countries

Cost of living

Cities Comparison in Saudi Arabia vs South Africa

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Cost of Living in Popular cities

In Saudi Arabia

City Cost of living Population
Riyadh
$1637
7.01M
Jeddah
$1146
4.7M
Mecca
$979
2.43M
Dammam
$1056
903K
Medina
$1215
1.41M
Tabuk
$1078
886K
Qatif
$897
625K
Jubail
$901
379K
Yanbu
$829
299K
Unaizah
$969
250K
Abha
$910
236K
Dhahran
$1068
138K
Ha'il
$846
311K
Al-Mubarraz
$804
299K
Sakakah
$781
150K
Bareq
$902
75.4K
Ar Rass
$861
92.5K
Najran
$937
72K
Al Wajh
$961
50K
Dumat al-Jandal
$798
45.3K
Bisha
$905
31.5K
As Sulayyil
$1041
8.21K

In South Africa

City Cost of living Population
Johannesburg
$993
4.43M
Cape Town
$1071
3.78M
Soweto
$923
1.27M
Pretoria
$906
742K
Pietermaritzburg
$640
839K
Rustenburg
$889
550K
Durban
$809
595K
Randburg
$837
337K
Centurion
$807
237K
Sandton
$953
222K
East London
$766
267K
Port Elizabeth
$901
312K
Benoni
$785
159K
Kroonstad
$768
169K
Springs
$678
122K
Kimberley
$814
225K
Klerksdorp
$722
187K
Bloemfontein
$657
256K
Vanderbijlpark
$773
95.8K
Mthatha
$852
96.1K
Paarl
$1147
112K
Potchefstroom
$695
149K
Uitenhage
$840
104K
Komani
$915
68.9K
George
$743
157K
Vereeniging
$672
99K
Middelburg
$795
87.3K
Bethal
$784
60.8K
Upington
$699
121K
Brits
$820
53.5K