South Africa vs Thailand - Cost of Living Comparison

Updated:

Livingcost

South Africa Thailand
🚶 Cost of living one person
$1016
$855
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Cost of living Family
$2301
$2208
🏠 One person rent
$520
$379
🏘️ Family rent
$843
$654
🍽️ Food expenses
$290
$271
🚐 Transport expenses
$120
$111
💳 Monthly salary after tax
$1121
$662
💸 GDP per capita
$6253
$7345
😃 Human freedom index
7.1
6.67
❤️ Life expectancy
66.1
76.4
👮 Corruption perceptions index
41
34
🌐 English speaking %
31%
27.2%
🎓 Higher education
82
78
😀 Quality of life
40
58
🏙️ Population
64M
71.7M

The average cost of living in South Africa ($1016) is 19% more expensive than in Thailand ($855). South Africa ranked 94th vs 120th 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 1.1 months in South Africa compared to 0.8 months in Thailand. Ranked 128th and 71st 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
$9.29
$2.92
🥂 Dinner in a Restaurant, for 2
$37.7
$28.4
🥪 Fast food meal, equiv. McDonald's
$4.92
$6.53
🍻 Beer in a Pub, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$2.37
$2.53
 Cappuccino
$2.1
$2.37
🥤 Pepsi / Coke, 0.5 L or 16.9 fl oz
$1.09
$0.77
Rent & Utilities
🏙️ 1 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$518
$527
🏡 Cheap 1 bedroom apartment, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$376
$254
🏙️ 3 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$933
$1542
🏡 Cheap 3 bedroom apartment, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$746
$672
🔌 Utility Bill one person, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$75.4
$52.9
🔌 Utility Bill for a Family, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$117
$81.2
🌐 Internet plan, 50 Mbps+ 1 month unlimited
$40.2
$17.5
🏦 Mortgage Interest Rate for 20 Years
11.51%
5.69%
🏙️ Apartment price to Buy in city Center, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$1209
$4569
🏡 House price to Buy in Suburbs, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$891
$2392
Transportation
🚌 Local transport ticket
$2.01
$1.06
🎟️ Monthly ticket local transport
$46.6
$31.3
🚕 Taxi Ride, 8 km or 5 mi
$10.7
$11.6
 Gas / Petrol, 1 L or 0.26 gal
$1.27
$1.25
Groceries
🥛 Milk, 1 L or 1 qt
$1.18
$1.85
🍞 Bread, 0.5 kg or 1.1 lb
$1.01
$1.44
🍚 Rice, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.56
$1.37
🥚 Eggs, x12
$2.45
$2.23
🧀 Cheese, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$8.66
$15.8
🐔 Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$5.01
$3.08
🥩 Round Steak, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$7.26
$10.3
🍏 Apples, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.67
$3.24
🍌 Banana, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.6
$1.57
🍊 Oranges, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.62
$2.11
🍅 Tomato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.65
$1.76
🥔 Potato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.35
$1.55
🧅 Onion, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.41
$1.36
🌊 Water, 1 L or 1 qt
$0.68
$0.35
🍹 Coca-Cola / Pepsi, 2 L or 67.6 fl oz
$1.44
$1.29
🍾 Wine (mid-priced), 750 mL bottle
$5.62
$17.3
🍺 Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$1.42
$1.78
🚬 Cigarette pack
$3.01
$4.32
💊 Cold medicince, 1 week
$5.02
$2.48
🧴 Hair Shampoo
$3.6
$3.95
🧻 Toilet paper, 4 rolls
$1.86
$1.79
👄 Toothpaste, 1 tube
$1.35
$1.81
Other
🏋️ Gym Membership, 1 month
$32.7
$53.7
🎫 Cinema Ticket, 1 person
$6.96
$7.26
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's visit
$29.6
$33.3
💇 Haircut, simple
$6.48
$7.39
👖 Brand Jeans
$52.4
$52.6
👟 Brand Sneakers
$96.9
$98.4
👶 Daycare or Preschool, 1 month
$201
$514
🏫 International Primary School, 1 year
$4714
$13266

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
$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

In Thailand

City Cost of living Population
Bangkok
$958
5.68M
Chiang Mai
$727
1.2M
Nonthaburi
$737
256K
Surat Thani
$593
131K
Pak Kret
$736
185K
Nakhon Ratchasima
$588
134K
Nakhon Si Thammarat
$810
106K
Udon Thani
$578
130K
Hat Yai
$592
159K
Phuket
$1014
77.6K
Klaeng
$718
130K
Chaophraya Surasak
$770
133K
Khon Kaen
$590
116K
Rangsit
$635
79.3K
Pu Chao Saming Phrai
$774
76.7K
Nakhon Pathom
$623
78.8K
Pattaya
$812
120K
Lat Luang
$774
73.9K
Ko Samui
$741
69K
Tha Khlong
$675
72.8K
Phitsanulok
$558
70.9K
Hua Hin
$724
59.4K
Nakhon Sawan
$680
86.4K
Laem Chabang
$779
77.8K
Krabi
$854
30.5K
Nong Prue
$787
70.6K
Chiang Rai
$603
70.6K
Ubon Ratchathani
$558
79K
Ko Lanta
$807
33.4K
Ao Nang
$773
14K