South Africa vs Thailand - Cost of Living Comparison

Updated:

Livingcost

South Africa Thailand
🚶 Cost of living one person
$1102
$914
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Cost of living Family
$2487
$2348
🏠 One person rent
$568
$414
🏘️ Family rent
$919
$715
🍽️ Food expenses
$316
$288
🚐 Transport expenses
$124
$112
💳 Monthly salary after tax
$1286
$561
💸 GDP per capita
$6267
$7347
😃 Human freedom index
7.07
6.79
❤️ Life expectancy
66.1
76.4
👮 Corruption perceptions index
41
33
🌐 English speaking %
31%
27.2%
🎓 Higher education
82
78
😀 Quality of life
42
56
🏙️ Population
64M
71.7M

The average cost of living in South Africa ($1102) is 21% more expensive than in Thailand ($914). South Africa ranked 81st vs 110th 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 1.2 months in South Africa compared to 0.6 months in Thailand. Ranked 124th and 78th best countries to live in the world.

Salary adjustment calculator
the estimated difference in money purchasing power

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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
$10.5
$3.07
🥂 Dinner in a Restaurant, for 2
$40.8
$30.1
🥪 Fast food meal, equiv. McDonald's
$5.34
$6.83
🍻 Beer in a Pub, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$2.57
$2.86
 Cappuccino
$2.32
$2.62
🥤 Pepsi / Coke, 0.5 L or 16.9 fl oz
$1.2
$0.78
Rent & Utilities
🏙️ 1 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$579
$553
🏡 Cheap 1 bedroom apartment, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$416
$283
🏙️ 3 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$1083
$1776
🏡 Cheap 3 bedroom apartment, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$849
$717
🔌 Utility Bill one person, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$84.3
$58.7
🔌 Utility Bill for a Family, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$130
$90.6
🌐 Internet plan, 50 Mbps+ 1 month unlimited
$39.4
$20.2
🏦 Mortgage Interest Rate for 20 Years
11.19%
5.72%
🏙️ Apartment price to Buy in city Center, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$1265
$4946
🏡 House price to Buy in Suburbs, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$951
$2732
Transportation
🚌 Local transport ticket
$1.95
$1.09
🎟️ Monthly ticket local transport
$53.8
$35.7
🚕 Taxi Ride, 8 km or 5 mi
$9.1
$11.2
 Gas / Petrol, 1 L or 0.26 gal
$1.35
$1.25
Groceries
🥛 Milk, 1 L or 1 qt
$1.29
$1.92
🍞 Bread, 0.5 kg or 1.1 lb
$1.12
$1.67
🍚 Rice, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.79
$1.43
🥚 Eggs, x12
$2.59
$2.48
🧀 Cheese, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$8.89
$16.8
🐔 Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$5.51
$3.37
🥩 Round Steak, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$7.92
$11.3
🍏 Apples, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.83
$3.45
🍌 Banana, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.75
$1.72
🍊 Oranges, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.83
$2.19
🍅 Tomato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.81
$1.99
🥔 Potato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.54
$1.68
🧅 Onion, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.58
$1.42
🌊 Water, 1 L or 1 qt
$0.76
$0.39
🍹 Coca-Cola / Pepsi, 2 L or 67.6 fl oz
$1.56
$1.31
🍾 Wine (mid-priced), 750 mL bottle
$6.03
$16.8
🍺 Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$1.56
$1.88
🚬 Cigarette pack
$3.29
$4.64
💊 Cold medicince, 1 week
$5.69
$2.56
🧴 Hair Shampoo
$4.01
$4.07
🧻 Toilet paper, 4 rolls
$2.13
$1.8
👄 Toothpaste, 1 tube
$1.42
$1.87
Other
🏋️ Gym Membership, 1 month
$36
$62.4
🎫 Cinema Ticket, 1 person
$7.67
$7.78
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's visit
$31.8
$34
💇 Haircut, simple
$7.36
$7.35
👖 Brand Jeans
$57
$58
👟 Brand Sneakers
$104
$102
👶 Daycare or Preschool, 1 month
$227
$590
🏫 International Primary School, 1 year
$5433
$15181

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
$1171
4.8M
Soweto
$1057
1.27M
Cape Town
$1366
3.78M
Pretoria
$1049
742K
Pietermaritzburg
$716
839K
Rustenburg
$1017
550K
Durban
$948
595K
Sandton
$1089
222K
Centurion
$967
237K
East London
$795
267K
Kimberley
$927
225K
Benoni
$892
159K
Randburg
$958
337K
George
$927
157K
Kroonstad
$875
169K
Springs
$792
122K
Klerksdorp
$826
187K
Potchefstroom
$791
149K
Vereeniging
$765
99.8K
Paarl
$1345
112K
Uitenhage
$980
104K
Middelburg
$899
87.3K
Port Elizabeth
$1036
312K
Komani
$1050
99K
Vanderbijlpark
$865
95.8K
Mthatha
$952
96.1K
Upington
$811
121K
Bloemfontein
$763
256K
Makhanda
$874
67.3K
Worcester
$718
97.1K

In Thailand

City Cost of living Population
Bangkok
$1027
5.68M
Chiang Mai
$780
1.2M
Nonthaburi
$789
256K
Pak Kret
$788
190K
Surat Thani
$612
131K
Nakhon Ratchasima
$610
134K
Udon Thani
$581
130K
Hat Yai
$622
159K
Chaophraya Surasak
$823
133K
Nakhon Si Thammarat
$834
106K
Khon Kaen
$621
116K
Klaeng
$768
130K
Phuket
$1059
77.6K
Rangsit
$656
79.3K
Pattaya
$874
120K
Lat Luang
$833
73.9K
Nakhon Pathom
$658
78.8K
Tha Khlong
$710
72.8K
Pu Chao Saming Phrai
$829
76.7K
Ko Samui
$782
69K
Nakhon Sawan
$730
86.4K
Laem Chabang
$838
77.8K
Phitsanulok
$585
70.9K
Hua Hin
$784
59.4K
Krabi
$891
30.5K
Nong Prue
$846
70.6K
Chiang Rai
$626
70.6K
Ubon Ratchathani
$583
79K
Ko Lanta
$846
33.4K
Ao Nang
$808
14K