South Africa vs Thailand - Cost of Living Comparison

Updated:

Livingcost

South Africa Thailand
🚶 Cost of living one person
$972
$876
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Cost of living Family
$2272
$2537
🏠 One person rent
$492
$377
🏘️ Family rent
$860
$922
🍽️ Food expenses
$276
$286
🚐 Transport expenses
$121
$119
💳 Monthly salary after tax
$1527
$696
💸 GDP per capita
$6253
$7172
😃 Human freedom index
6.92
6.67
❤️ Life expectancy
61.5
79.7
👮 Corruption perceptions index
41
35
🌐 English speaking %
31%
27.2%
🎓 Higher education
83
78
😀 Quality of life
37
56
🏙️ Population
62M
66.2M

The average cost of living in South Africa ($972) is 11% more expensive than in Thailand ($876). South Africa ranked 90th vs 106th for Thailand 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 South Africa compared to 0.8 months in Thailand. Ranked 124th and 66th best countries to live in the world.

Salary adjustment calculator
the estimated difference in money purchasing power

Cost of living in South Africa vs Thailand infographic

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Prices in South Africa vs Thailand

We calculate prices for South Africa and Thailand as a population-weighted mean of 36 and 35 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 Thailand
Eating Out
🍱 Lunch Menu
$8.2
$3.4
🥂 Dinner in a Restaurant, for 2
$35.1
$27.9
🥪 Fast food meal, equiv. McDonald's
$4.71
$6.35
🍻 Beer in a Pub, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$2.23
$2.82
 Cappuccino
$2.03
$2.54
🥤 Pepsi / Coke, 0.5 L or 16.9 fl oz
$0.98
$0.66
Rent & Utilities
🏙️ 1 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$491
$503
🏡 Cheap 1 bedroom apartment, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$357
$256
🏙️ 3 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$867
$1332
🏡 Cheap 3 bedroom apartment, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$678
$694
🔌 Utility Bill one person, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$66.3
$55.4
🔌 Utility Bill for a Family, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$102
$84.8
🌐 Internet plan, 50 Mbps+ 1 month unlimited
$41.6
$16.1
🏦 Mortgage Interest Rate for 20 Years
11.47%
5.85%
🏙️ Apartment price to Buy in city Center, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$1199
$4556
🏡 House price to Buy in Suburbs, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$888
$2354
Transportation
🚌 Local transport ticket
$1.77
$1.05
🎟️ Monthly ticket local transport
$53.1
$36.1
🚕 Taxi Ride, 8 km or 5 mi
$9.36
$11.7
 Gas / Petrol, 1 L or 0.26 gal
$1.32
$1.23
Groceries
🥛 Milk, 1 L or 1 qt
$1.12
$1.91
🍞 Bread, 0.5 kg or 1.1 lb
$0.99
$1.63
🍚 Rice, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.45
$1.5
🥚 Eggs, x12
$2.48
$2.36
🧀 Cheese, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$8.56
$20.5
🐔 Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$5.09
$3.26
🥩 Round Steak, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$6.88
$10.8
🍏 Apples, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.57
$3.09
🍌 Banana, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.53
$1.53
🍊 Oranges, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.5
$2.16
🍅 Tomato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.59
$2.01
🥔 Potato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.39
$1.64
🧅 Onion, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.41
$1.37
🌊 Water, 1 L or 1 qt
$0.64
$0.35
🍹 Coca-Cola / Pepsi, 2 L or 67.6 fl oz
$1.37
$1.28
🍾 Wine (mid-priced), 750 mL bottle
$5.62
$19
🍺 Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$1.37
$1.85
🚬 Cigarette pack
$2.94
$4.33
💊 Cold medicince, 1 week
$4.76
$2.52
🧴 Hair Shampoo
$3.55
$4.39
🧻 Toilet paper, 4 rolls
$1.85
$1.82
👄 Toothpaste, 1 tube
$1.31
$1.99
Other
🏋️ Gym Membership, 1 month
$30.6
$52.5
🎫 Cinema Ticket, 1 person
$6.65
$6.87
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's visit
$29.9
$35.5
💇 Haircut, simple
$6.65
$7.88
👖 Brand Jeans
$50.4
$54.1
👟 Brand Sneakers
$91.9
$94.8
👶 Daycare or Preschool, 1 month
$203
$554
🏫 International Primary School, 1 year
$4974
$13110

Cost of living in other countries

Cost of living

Cities Comparison in South Africa vs Thailand

More countries to compare

Cost of Living in Popular cities

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

In Thailand

City Cost of living Population
Bangkok
$994
5.68M
Chiang Mai
$742
1.2M
Nonthaburi
$759
256K
Pak Kret
$739
185K
Surat Thani
$635
131K
Nakhon Pathom
$564
78.8K
Nakhon Si Thammarat
$795
106K
Klaeng
$703
130K
Nakhon Ratchasima
$564
134K
Hat Yai
$561
159K
Chaophraya Surasak
$758
133K
Udon Thani
$555
130K
Rangsit
$613
79.3K
Phuket
$985
77.6K
Pu Chao Saming Phrai
$786
76.7K
Ko Samui
$745
69K
Pattaya
$800
120K
Tha Khlong
$664
72.8K
Lat Luang
$787
73.9K
Khon Kaen
$608
116K
Nakhon Sawan
$674
86.4K
Laem Chabang
$769
77.8K
Hua Hin
$676
59.4K
Nong Prue
$773
70.6K
Krabi
$807
30.5K
Phitsanulok
$559
70.9K
Ko Lanta
$799
33.4K
Ubon Ratchathani
$561
79K
Chiang Rai
$513
70.6K
Ao Nang
$822
14K