South Africa

Compared with Bahrain, using real observed prices.

Baseline: Bahrain = 1×

South Africa vs

Bahrain

Overall verdict

South Africa is about 1.99× Bahrain.

Average across 3 categories, 5 items with data

The shape of prices (vs Bahrain = 1×)

How to read this

The centre line is Bahrain. A bar running right means South Africa is pricier; running left means cheaper. The thin bar behind shows the range from the cheapest to the priciest item in that category.

← Cheaper than

Bahrain Bahrain = 1×

South Africa is pricier →

⚡ Utilities 1 item

×4.35
⛽ Transport 2 items

×2.56
🍔 Food & Dining 1 item

×0.70

Thin bar shows the range (cheapest to priciest item in the category)

In South Africa, Electricity 1kWh (household) costs 4.4× what it does in Bahrain — but Big Mac costs only 0.7×. What is expensive here is energy, not the goods that carry a world price.

Real prices. Real sources. Real dates.

Electricity 1kWh (household) 1 kWh ×4.35

South Africa BHD 0.08 USD 0.209

Bahrain BHD 0.02 USD 0.048

Observed 2026-04-01 · GlobalPetrolPrices.com
Diesel 1L 1 L ×2.75

South Africa BHD 0.63 USD 1.67

Bahrain BHD 0.23 USD 0.607

Observed 2026-07-20 · GlobalPetrolPrices.com
Gasoline 1L 1 L ×2.38

South Africa BHD 0.59 USD 1.559

Bahrain BHD 0.25 USD 0.655

Observed 2026-07-20 · GlobalPetrolPrices.com
Big Mac 1 burger ×0.70

South Africa BHD 1.27 ZAR 54.9

Bahrain BHD 1.80 BHD 1.8

Observed 2026-01-01 · The Economist Big Mac Index