South Africa

Compared with Qatar, using real observed prices.

Baseline: Qatar = 1×

South Africa vs

Qatar

Overall verdict

South Africa is about 2.37× Qatar.

Average across 3 categories, 5 items with data

The shape of prices (vs Qatar = 1×)

How to read this

The centre line is Qatar. 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

Qatar Qatar = 1×

South Africa is pricier →

⚡ Utilities 1 item

×6.53
⛽ Transport 2 items

×2.84
🍔 Food & Dining 1 item

×0.72

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

In South Africa, Electricity 1kWh (household) costs 6.5× what it does in Qatar — 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 ×6.53

South Africa QAR 0.76 USD 0.209

Qatar QAR 0.12 USD 0.032

Observed 2026-04-01 · GlobalPetrolPrices.com
Diesel 1L 1 L ×2.97

South Africa QAR 6.08 USD 1.67

Qatar QAR 2.05 USD 0.562

Observed 2026-07-20 · GlobalPetrolPrices.com
Gasoline 1L 1 L ×2.71

South Africa QAR 5.68 USD 1.559

Qatar QAR 2.10 USD 0.576

Observed 2026-07-20 · GlobalPetrolPrices.com
Big Mac 1 burger ×0.72

South Africa QAR 12.23 ZAR 54.9

Qatar QAR 17.00 QAR 17

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