Saudi Arabia vs South Africa - Cost of Living Comparison

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Livingcost

Saudi Arabia South Africa
🚶 Cost of living one person
$1194
$972
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Cost of living Family
$2731
$2272
🏠 One person rent
$601
$492
🏘️ Family rent
$961
$860
🍽️ Food expenses
$330
$276
🚐 Transport expenses
$145
$121
💳 Monthly salary after tax
$2263
$1527
💸 GDP per capita
$28895
$6253
😃 Human freedom index
4.53
6.92
❤️ Life expectancy
77.9
61.5
👮 Corruption perceptions index
52
41
🌐 English speaking %
55%
31%
🎓 Higher education
80
83
😀 Quality of life
63
37
🏙️ Population
33M
62M

The average cost of living in Saudi Arabia ($1194) is 23% more expensive than in South Africa ($972). Saudi Arabia ranked 53rd vs 90th 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 1.9 months in Saudi Arabia compared to 1.6 months in South Africa. Ranked 55th and 124th 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
$6.76
$8.2
🥂 Dinner in a Restaurant, for 2
$45.8
$35.1
🥪 Fast food meal, equiv. McDonald's
$7.7
$4.71
🍻 Beer in a Pub, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$1.78
$2.23
 Cappuccino
$3.86
$2.03
🥤 Pepsi / Coke, 0.5 L or 16.9 fl oz
$0.77
$0.98
Rent & Utilities
🏙️ 1 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$574
$491
🏡 Cheap 1 bedroom apartment, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$437
$357
🏙️ 3 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$1160
$867
🏡 Cheap 3 bedroom apartment, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$697
$678
🔌 Utility Bill one person, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$63.6
$66.3
🔌 Utility Bill for a Family, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$97.8
$102
🌐 Internet plan, 50 Mbps+ 1 month unlimited
$73.2
$41.6
🏦 Mortgage Interest Rate for 20 Years
4.69%
11.47%
🏙️ Apartment price to Buy in city Center, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$1903
$1199
🏡 House price to Buy in Suburbs, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$1194
$888
Transportation
🚌 Local transport ticket
$1.13
$1.77
🎟️ Monthly ticket local transport
$45.5
$53.1
🚕 Taxi Ride, 8 km or 5 mi
$15.8
$9.36
 Gas / Petrol, 1 L or 0.26 gal
$0.6
$1.32
Groceries
🥛 Milk, 1 L or 1 qt
$1.7
$1.12
🍞 Bread, 0.5 kg or 1.1 lb
$1.03
$0.99
🍚 Rice, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.09
$1.45
🥚 Eggs, x12
$2.6
$2.48
🧀 Cheese, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$7.36
$8.56
🐔 Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$7.54
$5.09
🥩 Round Steak, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$12.6
$6.88
🍏 Apples, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.18
$1.57
🍌 Banana, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.64
$1.53
🍊 Oranges, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.65
$1.5
🍅 Tomato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.6
$1.59
🥔 Potato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.27
$1.39
🧅 Onion, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.32
$1.41
🌊 Water, 1 L or 1 qt
$0.4
$0.64
🍹 Coca-Cola / Pepsi, 2 L or 67.6 fl oz
$2.05
$1.37
🍾 Wine (mid-priced), 750 mL bottle
$5.4
$5.62
🍺 Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$1.82
$1.37
🚬 Cigarette pack
$7.01
$2.94
💊 Cold medicince, 1 week
$3.78
$4.76
🧴 Hair Shampoo
$4.27
$3.55
🧻 Toilet paper, 4 rolls
$2.3
$1.85
👄 Toothpaste, 1 tube
$3.44
$1.31
Other
🏋️ Gym Membership, 1 month
$96.2
$30.6
🎫 Cinema Ticket, 1 person
$15.4
$6.65
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's visit
$38.9
$29.9
💇 Haircut, simple
$5.86
$6.65
👖 Brand Jeans
$44.6
$50.4
👟 Brand Sneakers
$93
$91.9
👶 Daycare or Preschool, 1 month
$336
$203
🏫 International Primary School, 1 year
$7809
$4974

Cost of living in other countries

Cost of living

Cities Comparison in Saudi Arabia vs South Africa

More countries to compare

Cost of Living in Popular cities

In Saudi Arabia

City Cost of living Population
Riyadh
$1586
7.01M
Jeddah
$1123
4.7M
Mecca
$940
2.43M
Medina
$853
1.41M
Dammam
$989
903K
Tabuk
$988
886K
Qatif
$878
625K
Jubail
$928
379K
Yanbu
$837
299K
Al-Mubarraz
$783
299K
Unaizah
$940
250K
Abha
$915
236K
Dhahran
$870
138K
Ha'il
$944
311K
Sakakah
$806
150K
Ar Rass
$828
92.5K
Bareq
$895
75.4K
Najran
$934
72K
Al Wajh
$879
50K
Dumat al-Jandal
$821
45.3K
Bisha
$895
31.5K
As Sulayyil
$1021
8.21K

In South Africa

City Cost of living Population
Johannesburg
$1079
4.43M
Cape Town
$1120
3.78M
Soweto
$971
1.27M
Pretoria
$909
742K
Pietermaritzburg
$674
839K
Rustenburg
$943
550K
Durban
$834
595K
Randburg
$874
337K
Centurion
$838
237K
East London
$703
267K
Sandton
$997
222K
Port Elizabeth
$970
312K
Benoni
$822
159K
Kroonstad
$788
169K
Springs
$696
122K
Klerksdorp
$689
187K
Kimberley
$859
225K
Bloemfontein
$696
256K
Paarl
$850
112K
Vereeniging
$717
99K
Vanderbijlpark
$768
95.8K
Mthatha
$862
96.1K
Potchefstroom
$717
149K
Uitenhage
$901
104K
Komani
$953
68.9K
George
$790
157K
Middelburg
$841
87.3K
Bethal
$819
60.8K
Upington
$741
121K
Brits
$848
53.5K