South Africa

Compared with Kuwait, using real observed prices.

Baseline: Kuwait = 1×

South Africa vs

Kuwait

Overall verdict

South Africa is about 2.60× Kuwait.

Average across 3 categories, 5 items with data

The shape of prices (vs Kuwait = 1×)

How to read this

The centre line is Kuwait. 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

Kuwait Kuwait = 1×

South Africa is pricier →

⚡ Utilities 1 item

×5.22
⛽ Transport 2 items

×4.56
🍔 Food & Dining 1 item

×0.74

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

In South Africa, Electricity 1kWh (household) costs 5.2× what it does in Kuwait — 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 ×5.22

South Africa KWD 0.06 USD 0.209

Kuwait KWD 0.01 USD 0.04

Observed 2026-04-01 · GlobalPetrolPrices.com
Gasoline 1L 1 L ×4.61

South Africa KWD 0.48 USD 1.559

Kuwait KWD 0.10 USD 0.338

Observed 2026-07-20 · GlobalPetrolPrices.com
Diesel 1L 1 L ×4.50

South Africa KWD 0.51 USD 1.67

Kuwait KWD 0.11 USD 0.371

Observed 2026-07-20 · GlobalPetrolPrices.com
Big Mac 1 burger ×0.74

South Africa KWD 1.04 ZAR 54.9

Kuwait KWD 1.40 KWD 1.4

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