South Africa

Compared with United Arab Emirates, using real observed prices.

Baseline: United Arab Emirates = 1×

South Africa vs

United Arab Emirates

Overall verdict

South Africa is about 1.22× United Arab Emirates.

Average across 4 categories, 5 items with data

The shape of prices (vs United Arab Emirates = 1×)

How to read this

The centre line is United Arab Emirates. 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

United Arab Emirates United Arab Emirates = 1×

South Africa is pricier →

⚡ Utilities 1 item

×2.61
⛽ Transport 2 items

×1.72
🎟 Leisure 1 item

×0.76
🍔 Food & Dining 1 item

×0.65

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

In South Africa, Electricity 1kWh (household) costs 2.6× what it does in United Arab Emirates — 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 ×2.61

South Africa AED 0.77 USD 0.209

United Arab Emirates AED 0.29 USD 0.08

Observed 2026-04-01 · GlobalPetrolPrices.com
Gasoline 1L 1 L ×1.74

South Africa AED 5.73 USD 1.559

United Arab Emirates AED 3.29 USD 0.896

Observed 2026-07-20 · GlobalPetrolPrices.com
Diesel 1L 1 L ×1.70

South Africa AED 6.13 USD 1.67

United Arab Emirates AED 3.60 USD 0.98

Observed 2026-07-20 · GlobalPetrolPrices.com
PC game (Cyberpunk 2077) 1 game ×0.76

South Africa AED 174.40 ZAR 799

United Arab Emirates AED 229.00 AED 229

Observed 2026-07-27 · Steam Store
Big Mac 1 burger ×0.65

South Africa AED 12.33 ZAR 54.9

United Arab Emirates AED 19.00 AED 19

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