South Africa vs South Korea - Cost of Living Comparison

Updated:

Livingcost

South Africa South Korea
🚶 Cost of living one person
$924
$1116
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Cost of living Family
$2166
$3042
🏠 One person rent
$470
$466
🏘️ Family rent
$833
$1019
🍽️ Food expenses
$264
$454
🚐 Transport expenses
$111
$93.9
💳 Monthly salary after tax
$1385
$2217
💸 GDP per capita
$6023
$33121
😃 Human freedom index
7.1
8.23
❤️ Life expectancy
61.5
82.7
👮 Corruption perceptions index
41
64
🌐 English speaking %
31%
20%
🎓 Higher education
82
87
😀 Quality of life
36
84
🏙️ Population
62M
51.5M

The average cost of living in South Africa ($924) is 17% less expensive than in South Korea ($1116). South Africa ranked 94th vs 64th for South Korea in the list of the most expensive countries in the world.

The average after-tax salary is enough to cover living expenses for 1.5 months in South Africa compared to 2 months in South Korea. Ranked 132nd and 23rd best countries to live in the world.

Salary adjustment calculator
the estimated difference in money purchasing power

Cost of living in South Africa vs South Korea infographic

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Prices in South Africa vs South Korea

We calculate prices for South Africa and South Korea as a population-weighted mean of 36 and 87 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.

South Africa South Korea
Eating Out
🍱 Lunch Menu
$8.19
$6.8
🥂 Dinner in a Restaurant, for 2
$33.3
$35.8
🥪 Fast food meal, equiv. McDonald's
$4.58
$5.46
🍻 Beer in a Pub, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$2.27
$3.21
 Cappuccino
$1.94
$3.5
🥤 Pepsi / Coke, 0.5 L or 16.9 fl oz
$0.98
$1.53
Rent & Utilities
🏙️ 1 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$462
$484
🏡 Cheap 1 bedroom apartment, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$339
$320
🏙️ 3 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$835
$1204
🏡 Cheap 3 bedroom apartment, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$654
$767
🔌 Utility Bill one person, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$67.6
$93.7
🔌 Utility Bill for a Family, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$104
$145
🌐 Internet plan, 50 Mbps+ 1 month unlimited
$38.4
$20.1
🏦 Mortgage Interest Rate for 20 Years
11.55%
4.52%
🏙️ Apartment price to Buy in city Center, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$1135
$10274
🏡 House price to Buy in Suburbs, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$830
$6790
Transportation
🚌 Local transport ticket
$1.62
$1.02
🎟️ Monthly ticket local transport
$47.6
$42
🚕 Taxi Ride, 8 km or 5 mi
$9.18
$8.77
 Gas / Petrol, 1 L or 0.26 gal
$1.22
$1.15
Groceries
🥛 Milk, 1 L or 1 qt
$1.09
$2.01
🍞 Bread, 0.5 kg or 1.1 lb
$0.95
$2.89
🍚 Rice, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.39
$2.8
🥚 Eggs, x12
$2.38
$3.01
🧀 Cheese, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$8.21
$11.8
🐔 Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$4.78
$8.28
🥩 Round Steak, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$6.58
$26.5
🍏 Apples, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.51
$6.94
🍌 Banana, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.43
$3.23
🍊 Oranges, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.45
$5.68
🍅 Tomato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.52
$5.28
🥔 Potato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.27
$3.8
🧅 Onion, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.29
$2.78
🌊 Water, 1 L or 1 qt
$0.61
$0.72
🍹 Coca-Cola / Pepsi, 2 L or 67.6 fl oz
$1.32
$2.32
🍾 Wine (mid-priced), 750 mL bottle
$5.35
$16.7
🍺 Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$1.32
$2.03
🚬 Cigarette pack
$2.85
$3.12
💊 Cold medicince, 1 week
$4.47
$4.67
🧴 Hair Shampoo
$3.31
$5.24
🧻 Toilet paper, 4 rolls
$1.75
$2.2
👄 Toothpaste, 1 tube
$1.24
$2.07
Other
🏋️ Gym Membership, 1 month
$29.3
$48.6
🎫 Cinema Ticket, 1 person
$6.24
$9.93
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's visit
$28
$42.5
💇 Haircut, simple
$5.66
$7.71
👖 Brand Jeans
$47.5
$64.9
👟 Brand Sneakers
$89.2
$78.9
👶 Daycare or Preschool, 1 month
$187
$407
🏫 International Primary School, 1 year
$4572
$18055

Cost of living in other countries

Cost of living

Cities Comparison in South Africa vs South Korea

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Cost of Living in Popular cities

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

In South Korea

City Cost of living Population
Seoul
$1334
9.67M
Busan
$1060
3.45M
Incheon
$1092
2.94M
Daegu
$995
2.38M
Suwon
$1022
1.23M
Daejeon
$992
1.48M
Gwangju
$1101
1.49M
Ulsan
$1059
1.13M
Cheongju
$936
852K
Seongnam
$1400
919K
Yongin
$1127
1.08M
Changwon
$1075
1.01M
Hwaseong
$1089
941K
Goyang
$1171
1.06M
Namyangju
$1129
732K
Gimhae
$959
534K
Siheung
$1283
520K
Jeju Island
$1080
678K
Bucheon
$1163
772K
Pyeongtaek
$984
590K
Cheonan
$1151
657K
Pohang
$988
504K
Uijeongbu
$955
463K
Ansan
$1070
623K
Paju
$1075
498K
Gwangju
$1165
397K
Jeju
$1037
492K
Hanam
$1161
330K
Sejong
$1019
386K
Gunsan
$1005
275K