South Africa

Compared with China, using real observed prices.

Baseline: China = 1×

South Africa vs

China

Overall verdict

South Africa is about 1.41× China.

Average across 4 categories, 5 items with data

The shape of prices (vs China = 1×)

How to read this

The centre line is China. 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

China China = 1×

South Africa is pricier →

⚡ Utilities 1 item

×2.75
⛽ Transport 2 items

×1.45
🎟 Leisure 1 item

×1.08
🍔 Food & Dining 1 item

×0.92

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

In South Africa, Electricity 1kWh (household) costs 2.8× what it does in China — but Big Mac costs only 0.9×. 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 ×2.75

South Africa ¥1.44 USD 0.209

China ¥0.52 USD 0.076

Observed 2026-04-01 · GlobalPetrolPrices.com
Diesel 1L 1 L ×1.60

South Africa ¥11.35 USD 1.67

China ¥7.10 USD 1.045

Observed 2026-07-20 · GlobalPetrolPrices.com
Gasoline 1L 1 L ×1.32

South Africa ¥10.59 USD 1.559

China ¥8.01 USD 1.179

Observed 2026-07-20 · GlobalPetrolPrices.com
PC game (Cyberpunk 2077) 1 game ×1.08

South Africa ¥322.26 ZAR 799

China ¥298.00 CNY 298

Observed 2026-07-27 · Steam Store
Big Mac 1 burger ×0.92

South Africa ¥23.38 ZAR 54.9

China ¥25.50 CNY 25.5

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