South Africa vs Thailand - Cost of Living Comparison

Updated:

Livingcost

South Africa Thailand
🚶 Cost of living one person
$815
$790
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Cost of living Family
$1899
$2327
🏠 One person rent
$407
$352
🏘️ Family rent
$697
$908
🍽️ Food expenses
$237
$249
🚐 Transport expenses
$101
$102
💳 Monthly salary after tax
$1312
$608
💸 GDP per capita
$6766
$6910
😃 Human freedom index
6.92
6.67
❤️ Life expectancy
62.3
78.7
👮 Corruption perceptions index
41
35
🌐 English speaking %
31%
27.2%
🎓 Higher education
83
78
😀 Quality of life
41
58
🏙️ Population
60.1M
66.2M

The average cost of living in South Africa ($815) is 3% more expensive than in Thailand ($790). South Africa ranked 107th vs 114th 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 121st 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

Share this infographic!

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
$6.88
$2.43
🥂 Dinner in a Restaurant, for 2
$31.6
$22.7
🥪 Fast food meal, equiv. McDonald's
$4.04
$5.58
🍻 Beer in a Pub, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$1.92
$2.11
 Cappuccino
$1.71
$2.17
🥤 Pepsi / Coke, 0.5 L or 16.9 fl oz
$0.9
$0.58
Rent & Utilities
🏙️ 1 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$394
$493
🏡 Cheap 1 bedroom apartment, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$283
$230
🏙️ 3 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$620
$1228
🏡 Cheap 3 bedroom apartment, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$543
$707
🔌 Utility Bill one person, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$63.4
$51.8
🔌 Utility Bill for a Family, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$97.9
$80.5
🌐 Internet plan, 50 Mbps+ 1 month unlimited
$38.1
$15.7
🏦 Mortgage Interest Rate for 20 Years
11.09%
5.43%
🏙️ Apartment price to Buy in city Center, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$790
$4099
🏡 House price to Buy in Suburbs, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$670
$2095
Transportation
🚌 Local transport ticket
$1.62
$1
🎟️ Monthly ticket local transport
$46.2
$31.1
🚕 Taxi Ride, 8 km or 5 mi
$9.2
$9.94
 Gas / Petrol, 1 L or 0.26 gal
$1.17
$1.11
Groceries
🥛 Milk, 1 L or 1 qt
$1.01
$1.65
🍞 Bread, 0.5 kg or 1.1 lb
$0.85
$1.49
🍚 Rice, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.21
$1.42
🥚 Eggs, x12
$2.02
$2.15
🧀 Cheese, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$7.09
$17.8
🐔 Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$4.29
$2.88
🥩 Round Steak, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$6.07
$10.7
🍏 Apples, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.37
$2.76
🍌 Banana, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.33
$1.32
🍊 Oranges, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.24
$2.03
🍅 Tomato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.37
$1.52
🥔 Potato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.17
$1.44
🧅 Onion, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.28
$1.19
🌊 Water, 1 L or 1 qt
$0.56
$0.3
🍹 Coca-Cola / Pepsi, 2 L or 67.6 fl oz
$1.21
$1.22
🍾 Wine (mid-priced), 750 mL bottle
$5.02
$17.2
🍺 Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$1.13
$1.67
🚬 Cigarette pack
$2.6
$4.02
💊 Cold medicince, 1 week
$3.84
$2.26
🧴 Hair Shampoo
$3.16
$3.82
🧻 Toilet paper, 4 rolls
$1.59
$1.6
👄 Toothpaste, 1 tube
$0.99
$1.76
Other
🏋️ Gym Membership, 1 month
$25.9
$49
🎫 Cinema Ticket, 1 person
$5.61
$6.65
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's visit
$25
$28.8
💇 Haircut, simple
$5.4
$7.8
👖 Brand Jeans
$43
$48.5
👟 Brand Sneakers
$78.2
$88.3
👶 Daycare or Preschool, 1 month
$188
$493
🏫 International Primary School, 1 year
$3937
$11420

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
$908
4.43M
Soweto
$875
1.27M
Pretoria
$783
742K
Rustenburg
$845
550K
Cape Town
$881
434K
Randburg
$776
337K
Durban
$780
595K
Centurion
$755
237K
Sandton
$889
222K
Pietermaritzburg
$609
619K
East London
$683
267K
Port Elizabeth
$866
312K
Kimberley
$753
225K
Kroonstad
$701
169K
Benoni
$741
159K
Klerksdorp
$621
187K
Bloemfontein
$601
256K
Springs
$631
122K
Vereeniging
$637
99K
Paarl
$773
112K
Worcester
$632
97.1K
Potchefstroom
$625
149K
Vanderbijlpark
$698
95.8K
Uitenhage
$805
104K
George
$684
157K
Mthatha
$689
96.1K
Upington
$643
121K
Middelburg
$866
87.3K
Bethal
$746
60.8K
Brits
$751
53.5K

In Thailand

City Cost of living Population
Bangkok
$902
5.68M
Chiang Mai
$659
1.2M
Nonthaburi
$704
256K
Pak Kret
$677
185K
Nakhon Pathom
$481
78.8K
Surat Thani
$554
131K
Klaeng
$619
130K
Chaophraya Surasak
$647
133K
Nakhon Ratchasima
$518
134K
Nakhon Si Thammarat
$642
106K
Udon Thani
$500
130K
Hat Yai
$520
159K
Rangsit
$594
79.3K
Pattaya
$665
116K
Pu Chao Saming Phrai
$714
76.7K
Tha Khlong
$617
72.8K
Nakhon Sawan
$615
86.4K
Lat Luang
$716
73.9K
Khon Kaen
$532
116K
Phuket
$870
77.6K
Ko Samui
$642
69K
Laem Chabang
$648
77.8K
Hua Hin
$614
59.4K
Nong Prue
$653
70.6K
Ubon Ratchathani
$534
79K
Phitsanulok
$496
70.9K
Chiang Rai
$462
70.6K
Krabi
$739
30.5K
Ko Lanta
$697
33.4K
Ao Nang
$653
14K