South Africa
Compared with Guatemala, using real observed prices.
Baseline: 
Guatemala = 1×
South Africa
vs
Guatemala
Overall verdict
South Africa is about 0.86× Guatemala.
Average across 3 categories, 5 items with data
The shape of prices (vs Guatemala = 1×)
How to read this
The centre line is Guatemala. 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 Guatemala
Guatemala = 1×
South Africa is pricier →
Guatemala
Guatemala = 1×
South Africa is pricier →
Thin bar shows the range (cheapest to priciest item in the category)
In South Africa, Diesel 1L costs 1.2× what it does in Guatemala — but Electricity 1kWh (household) costs only 0.7×. What is expensive here is energy, not the goods that carry a world price.
Real prices. Real sources. Real dates.
-
Diesel 1L 1 L ×1.19South Africa
GTQ 12.80
USD 1.67Guatemala
GTQ 10.78
USD 1.406
-
Gasoline 1L 1 L ×1.11South Africa
GTQ 11.95
USD 1.559Guatemala
GTQ 10.79
USD 1.407
-
Big Mac 1 burger ×0.78South Africa
GTQ 25.74
ZAR 54.9Guatemala
GTQ 33.00
GTQ 33
-
Electricity 1kWh (household) 1 kWh ×0.70South Africa
GTQ 1.60
USD 0.209Guatemala
GTQ 2.29
USD 0.299
See what really changed
Big Mac, 2021 → 2026At the timeUsing the exchange rate of each date
+64%
in ZAR
33.5 → 54.9
33.5 → 54.9
vs
At today's rateUsing today's exchange rate
+45%
in GTQ
It rose 64% in local currency, but 45% in yours. Most of what you feel is the exchange rate, not South Africa's inflation.
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