Saudi Arabia vs South Africa - Cost of Living Comparison

Updated:

Livingcost

Saudi Arabia South Africa
🚶 Cost of living one person
$1266
$1016
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Cost of living Family
$2869
$2301
🏠 One person rent
$654
$520
🏘️ Family rent
$1021
$843
🍽️ Food expenses
$333
$290
🚐 Transport expenses
$159
$120
💳 Monthly salary after tax
$2089
$1121
💸 GDP per capita
$35057
$6253
😃 Human freedom index
4.8
7.1
❤️ Life expectancy
78.7
66.1
👮 Corruption perceptions index
59
41
🌐 English speaking %
55%
31%
🎓 Higher education
80
82
😀 Quality of life
67
40
🏙️ Population
35.3M
64M

The average cost of living in Saudi Arabia ($1266) is 25% more expensive than in South Africa ($1016). Saudi Arabia ranked 56th 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 1.6 months in Saudi Arabia compared to 1.1 months in South Africa. Ranked 55th and 128th 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
$6.62
$9.29
🥂 Dinner in a Restaurant, for 2
$42.1
$37.7
🥪 Fast food meal, equiv. McDonald's
$7.87
$4.92
🍻 Beer in a Pub, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$1.83
$2.37
 Cappuccino
$3.58
$2.1
🥤 Pepsi / Coke, 0.5 L or 16.9 fl oz
$0.76
$1.09
Rent & Utilities
🏙️ 1 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$603
$518
🏡 Cheap 1 bedroom apartment, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$501
$376
🏙️ 3 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$1248
$933
🏡 Cheap 3 bedroom apartment, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$826
$746
🔌 Utility Bill one person, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$62.6
$75.4
🔌 Utility Bill for a Family, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$96.6
$117
🌐 Internet plan, 50 Mbps+ 1 month unlimited
$70.3
$40.2
🏦 Mortgage Interest Rate for 20 Years
4.78%
11.51%
🏙️ Apartment price to Buy in city Center, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$2253
$1209
🏡 House price to Buy in Suburbs, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$1440
$891
Transportation
🚌 Local transport ticket
$1.21
$2.01
🎟️ Monthly ticket local transport
$45.4
$46.6
🚕 Taxi Ride, 8 km or 5 mi
$18.6
$10.7
 Gas / Petrol, 1 L or 0.26 gal
$0.6
$1.27
Groceries
🥛 Milk, 1 L or 1 qt
$1.65
$1.18
🍞 Bread, 0.5 kg or 1.1 lb
$1.01
$1.01
🍚 Rice, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.2
$1.56
🥚 Eggs, x12
$2.68
$2.45
🧀 Cheese, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$7.42
$8.66
🐔 Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$8.52
$5.01
🥩 Round Steak, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$13
$7.26
🍏 Apples, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.18
$1.67
🍌 Banana, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.65
$1.6
🍊 Oranges, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.71
$1.62
🍅 Tomato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.6
$1.65
🥔 Potato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.29
$1.35
🧅 Onion, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.39
$1.41
🌊 Water, 1 L or 1 qt
$0.4
$0.68
🍹 Coca-Cola / Pepsi, 2 L or 67.6 fl oz
$2.19
$1.44
🍾 Wine (mid-priced), 750 mL bottle
$5.76
$5.62
🍺 Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$1.73
$1.42
🚬 Cigarette pack
$7.1
$3.01
💊 Cold medicince, 1 week
$3.86
$5.02
🧴 Hair Shampoo
$4.29
$3.6
🧻 Toilet paper, 4 rolls
$2.09
$1.86
👄 Toothpaste, 1 tube
$3.49
$1.35
Other
🏋️ Gym Membership, 1 month
$90.8
$32.7
🎫 Cinema Ticket, 1 person
$15.4
$6.96
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's visit
$42.2
$29.6
💇 Haircut, simple
$6.31
$6.48
👖 Brand Jeans
$49.3
$52.4
👟 Brand Sneakers
$93.7
$96.9
👶 Daycare or Preschool, 1 month
$407
$201
🏫 International Primary School, 1 year
$7971
$4714

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
$1627
7.01M
Jeddah
$1155
4.7M
Mecca
$1162
2.43M
Dammam
$1008
903K
Medina
$1182
1.41M
Tabuk
$1069
886K
Qatif
$873
625K
Jubail
$930
379K
Yanbu
$791
299K
Unaizah
$967
250K
Abha
$911
236K
Ha'il
$825
311K
Al-Mubarraz
$806
299K
Dhahran
$908
138K
Sakakah
$769
150K
Bareq
$903
75.4K
Ar Rass
$862
92.5K
Najran
$860
72K
Al Wajh
$940
50K
Bisha
$918
31.5K
Dumat al-Jandal
$791
45.3K
As Sulayyil
$1008
8.21K

In South Africa

City Cost of living Population
Johannesburg
$1082
4.43M
Soweto
$984
1.27M
Cape Town
$1231
3.78M
Pretoria
$975
742K
Pietermaritzburg
$705
839K
Rustenburg
$940
550K
Durban
$892
595K
Centurion
$892
237K
Sandton
$984
222K
Randburg
$890
337K
East London
$784
267K
Kimberley
$861
225K
Benoni
$826
159K
George
$857
157K
Klerksdorp
$762
187K
Springs
$740
122K
Kroonstad
$808
169K
Paarl
$1243
112K
Potchefstroom
$731
149K
Vereeniging
$706
99K
Middelburg
$830
87.3K
Makhanda
$814
67.3K
Uitenhage
$946
104K
Worcester
$666
97.1K
Vanderbijlpark
$799
95.8K
Port Elizabeth
$1005
312K
Upington
$746
121K
Mthatha
$901
96.1K
Bloemfontein
$698
256K
Komani
$988
68.9K