South Africa

Compared with Sri Lanka, using real observed prices.

Baseline: Sri Lanka = 1×

South Africa vs

Sri Lanka

Overall verdict

South Africa is about 1.06× Sri Lanka.

Average across 3 categories, 5 items with data

The shape of prices (vs Sri Lanka = 1×)

How to read this

The centre line is Sri Lanka. 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

Sri Lanka Sri Lanka = 1×

South Africa is pricier →

⚡ Utilities 1 item

×1.83
⛽ Transport 2 items

×1.11
🍔 Food & Dining 1 item

×0.59

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

In South Africa, Electricity 1kWh (household) costs 1.8× what it does in Sri Lanka — but Big Mac costs only 0.6×. 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 ×1.83

South Africa LKR 66.87 USD 0.209

Sri Lanka LKR 36.47 USD 0.114

Observed 2026-04-01 · GlobalPetrolPrices.com
Diesel 1L 1 L ×1.17

South Africa LKR 534.32 USD 1.67

Sri Lanka LKR 454.97 USD 1.422

Observed 2026-07-20 · GlobalPetrolPrices.com
Gasoline 1L 1 L ×1.06

South Africa LKR 498.80 USD 1.559

Sri Lanka LKR 471.29 USD 1.473

Observed 2026-07-20 · GlobalPetrolPrices.com
Big Mac 1 burger ×0.59

South Africa LKR 1,074 ZAR 54.9

Sri Lanka LKR 1,820 LKR 1,820

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