South Africa

Compared with Saudi Arabia, using real observed prices.

Baseline: Saudi Arabia = 1×

South Africa vs

Saudi Arabia

Overall verdict

South Africa is about 1.57× Saudi Arabia.

Average across 4 categories, 5 items with data

The shape of prices (vs Saudi Arabia = 1×)

How to read this

The centre line is Saudi Arabia. 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

Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia = 1×

South Africa is pricier →

⚡ Utilities 1 item

×4.02
⛽ Transport 2 items

×2.97
🎟 Leisure 1 item

×0.78
🍔 Food & Dining 1 item

×0.66

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

In South Africa, Electricity 1kWh (household) costs 4.0× what it does in Saudi Arabia — 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 ×4.02

South Africa SAR 0.78 USD 0.209

Saudi Arabia SAR 0.20 USD 0.052

Observed 2026-04-01 · GlobalPetrolPrices.com
Diesel 1L 1 L ×3.50

South Africa SAR 6.26 USD 1.67

Saudi Arabia SAR 1.79 USD 0.477

Observed 2026-07-20 · GlobalPetrolPrices.com
Gasoline 1L 1 L ×2.51

South Africa SAR 5.85 USD 1.559

Saudi Arabia SAR 2.33 USD 0.62

Observed 2026-07-20 · GlobalPetrolPrices.com
PC game (Cyberpunk 2077) 1 game ×0.78

South Africa SAR 178.08 ZAR 799

Saudi Arabia SAR 229.00 SAR 229

Observed 2026-07-27 · Steam Store
Big Mac 1 burger ×0.66

South Africa SAR 12.59 ZAR 54.9

Saudi Arabia SAR 19.00 SAR 19

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