South Africa vs United Arab Emirates - Cost of Living Comparison

Updated:

Livingcost

South Africa United Arab Emirates
🚶 Cost of living one person
$924
$2025
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Cost of living Family
$2166
$4864
🏠 One person rent
$470
$1361
🏘️ Family rent
$833
$2797
🍽️ Food expenses
$264
$408
🚐 Transport expenses
$111
$125
💳 Monthly salary after tax
$1385
$3498
💸 GDP per capita
$6023
$49041
😃 Human freedom index
7.1
5.9
❤️ Life expectancy
61.5
79.2
👮 Corruption perceptions index
41
68
🌐 English speaking %
31%
65%
🎓 Higher education
82
68
😀 Quality of life
36
79
🏙️ Population
62M
9.89M

The average cost of living in South Africa ($924) is 54% less expensive than in the United Arab Emirates ($2025). South Africa ranked 94th vs 14th for the United Arab Emirates 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 1.7 months in the United Arab Emirates. Ranked 132nd and 29th best countries to live in the world.

Salary adjustment calculator
the estimated difference in money purchasing power

Cost of living in South Africa vs United Arab Emirates infographic

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Prices in South Africa vs the United Arab Emirates

We calculate prices for South Africa and the United Arab Emirates as a population-weighted mean of 36 and 9 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 United Arab Emirates
Eating Out
🍱 Lunch Menu
$8.19
$9.37
🥂 Dinner in a Restaurant, for 2
$33.3
$51.7
🥪 Fast food meal, equiv. McDonald's
$4.58
$9
🍻 Beer in a Pub, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$2.27
$11
 Cappuccino
$1.94
$5.56
🥤 Pepsi / Coke, 0.5 L or 16.9 fl oz
$0.98
$1.07
Rent & Utilities
🏙️ 1 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$462
$1480
🏡 Cheap 1 bedroom apartment, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$339
$1070
🏙️ 3 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$835
$3301
🏡 Cheap 3 bedroom apartment, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$654
$2335
🔌 Utility Bill one person, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$67.6
$113
🔌 Utility Bill for a Family, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$104
$174
🌐 Internet plan, 50 Mbps+ 1 month unlimited
$38.4
$95.4
🏦 Mortgage Interest Rate for 20 Years
11.55%
4.73%
🏙️ Apartment price to Buy in city Center, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$1135
$5794
🏡 House price to Buy in Suburbs, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$830
$3621
Transportation
🚌 Local transport ticket
$1.62
$1.68
🎟️ Monthly ticket local transport
$47.6
$59.2
🚕 Taxi Ride, 8 km or 5 mi
$9.18
$9.38
 Gas / Petrol, 1 L or 0.26 gal
$1.22
$0.78
Groceries
🥛 Milk, 1 L or 1 qt
$1.09
$1.84
🍞 Bread, 0.5 kg or 1.1 lb
$0.95
$1.32
🍚 Rice, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.39
$2.03
🥚 Eggs, x12
$2.38
$2.88
🧀 Cheese, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$8.21
$9.98
🐔 Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$4.78
$8.27
🥩 Round Steak, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$6.58
$10.7
🍏 Apples, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.51
$2.25
🍌 Banana, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.43
$1.73
🍊 Oranges, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.45
$1.79
🍅 Tomato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.52
$1.44
🥔 Potato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.27
$1.11
🧅 Onion, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.29
$1.22
🌊 Water, 1 L or 1 qt
$0.61
$0.4
🍹 Coca-Cola / Pepsi, 2 L or 67.6 fl oz
$1.32
$2.19
🍾 Wine (mid-priced), 750 mL bottle
$5.35
$13.3
🍺 Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$1.32
$2.36
🚬 Cigarette pack
$2.85
$6.12
💊 Cold medicince, 1 week
$4.47
$6.97
🧴 Hair Shampoo
$3.31
$5.26
🧻 Toilet paper, 4 rolls
$1.75
$3.03
👄 Toothpaste, 1 tube
$1.24
$3.33
Other
🏋️ Gym Membership, 1 month
$29.3
$69.9
🎫 Cinema Ticket, 1 person
$6.24
$13.1
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's visit
$28
$72.2
💇 Haircut, simple
$5.66
$8.5
👖 Brand Jeans
$47.5
$58.6
👟 Brand Sneakers
$89.2
$97.2
👶 Daycare or Preschool, 1 month
$187
$679
🏫 International Primary School, 1 year
$4572
$10373

Cost of living in other countries

Cost of living

Cities Comparison in South Africa vs the United Arab Emirates

More countries to compare

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 the United Arab Emirates

City Cost of living Population
Dubai
$2379
3.33M
Abu Dhabi
$1828
1.48M
Al Ain
$1844
767K
Sharjah
$1494
1.25M
Ajman
$2240
490K
Fujairah
$1239
119K
Ras al-Khaimah
$1540
116K
Umm al-Quwain
$1196
44.4K
Madinat Zayed
$1721
29.1K