Travel budget and cost of living in South Africa how much does a trip cost?

Travel budget in South Africa

South Africa: calculate your travel budget

South Africa: sample budgets by traveller type

These example budgets assume a 2-week holiday in South Africa for 2 people.

* Estimated local budget for 2 people for 2 weeks. This represents an average across the country (budget may vary depending on the city or region visited).

Cost of living in South Africa in 2023

Cost of living: South Africa VS United States

On average, the cost of living in South Africa in 2023 is 52% less than in the United States (USA).

The graphic below shows the percentage of variation between prices United States in in the United States (USA) and United States by types of expenses:

Cost of living in South Africa by city

See the table below for the variation in the cost of living in different cities in South Africa compared to the national average.

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Local prices in South Africa by expense type

South Africa: Restaurant budget

Lunch

$ 8.8/person
($ 4.8 to $ 18)

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60% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 23

3 course dinner

$ 18/person
($ 12 to $ 30)

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57% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 42

McDonald's meal

$ 4.8/person
($ 3.6 to $ 5.4)

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57% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 12

Local beer

$ 2 for 500ml
($ 1.2 to $ 3)

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68% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 6.7

Imported beer

$ 1.8 for 330ml
($ 1 to $ 3)

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52% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.8

Cappuccino

$ 1.9/cup
($ 1.2 to $ 2.6)

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64% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.4

Fizzy drink

$ 1/can
($ 0.7 to $ 1.4)

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64% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.6

Water bottle

$ 0.7/bottle
($ 0.6 to $ 1.2)

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65% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.1

South Africa: Hotel and accommodation budget

1-star hotel

$ 53/night
($ 51 to $ 57)

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58% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 126

2-star hotel

$ 59/night
($ 45 to $ 96)

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60% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 150

3-star hotel

$ 91/night
($ 52 to $ 186)

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57% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 214

4-star hotel

$ 143/night
($ 89 to $ 278)

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55% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 321

5-star hotel

$ 326/night
($ 234 to $ 523)

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52% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 690

Hostel/Youth Hostel

$ 41/month
($ 35 to $ 48)

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70% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 137

Room with kitchen

$ 115/month
($ 73 to $ 230)

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46% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 214

Hotel with swimming pool

$ 120/month
($ 61 to $ 288)

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39% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 196

Cottage or guest house

$ 93/month
($ 63 to $ 149)

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65% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 269

Family room

$ 182/month
($ 103 to $ 376)

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10% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 202

South Africa: Supermarket food budget

Milk

$ 1.1/litre
($ 0.7 to $ 1.7)

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7% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.1

Bread

$ 1/500g
($ 0.6 to $ 1.3)

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76% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4

Rice

$ 1.6/kg
($ 0.8 to $ 2.5)

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70% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.1

Eggs

$ 1.9/12 eggs
($ 1.1 to $ 3)

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61% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.8

Chicken

$ 4.7/kg
($ 2.6 to $ 7)

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65% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 14

Apples

$ 1.4/kg
($ 0.8 to $ 2)

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75% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.9

Tomatoes

$ 1.4/kg
($ 0.8 to $ 2)

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71% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.1

Potatoes

$ 1.2/kg
($ 0.5 to $ 2.2)

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65% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.4

Water bottle

$ 1
($ 0.7 to $ 1.3)

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59% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.4

South Africa: Public and private transport budget

Bus ticket

$ 1.6/ticket
($ 1 to $ 3.6)

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42% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.8

Taxi (per km)

$ 0.8/km
($ 0.6 to $ 1.4)

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53% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.9

Petrol

$ 1.3/litre
($ 1.2 to $ 1.6)

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22% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.1

Taxi (initial pick-up charge)

$ 1.2
($ 0.7 to $ 2.4)

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69% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.9

Car hire

$ 14/24hrs
($ 4.8 to $ 70)

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63% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 36

South Africa: Leisure activity budget

Cinema

$ 6/ticket
($ 4.8 to $ 9.4)

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58% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 15

Tennis

$ 8/hr
($ 3 to $ 15)

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63% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 22

South Africa: Budget for clothes and price of cigarettes

Cigarettes

$ 3/pack
($ 2.6 to $ 3.6)

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70% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 10

Levi's jeans

$ 48
($ 24 to $ 72)

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17% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 58

Summer dress

$ 32
($ 15 to $ 53)

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33% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 47

Plane ticket budget

London → Cape Town

$ 846
(fair price: $ 770)

London → Johannesburg

$ 709
(fair price: $ 640)

Sydney → Johannesburg

$ 1990
(fair price: $ 1616)

Manchester → Cape Town

$ 970
(fair price: $ 831)

Manchester → Johannesburg

$ 774
(fair price: $ 671)

New York City → Cape Town

$ 1318
(fair price: $ 1099)