South Korea

Compared with South Africa, using real observed prices.

Baseline: South Africa = 1×

South Korea vs

South Africa

Overall verdict

South Korea is about 0.87× South Africa.

Average across 4 categories, 7 items with data

The shape of prices (vs South Africa = 1×)

How to read this

The centre line is South Africa. A bar running right means South Korea 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

South Africa South Africa = 1×

South Korea is pricier →

🍔 Food & Dining 1 item

×1.11
🎟 Leisure 1 item

×0.95
⛽ Transport 2 items

×0.88
⚡ Utilities 1 item

×0.61

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

In South Korea, Big Mac costs 1.1× what it does in South Africa — but Electricity 1kWh (household) costs only 0.6×. What is expensive here is labour, not the goods that carry a world price.

Real prices. Real sources. Real dates.

Big Mac 1 burger ×1.11

South Korea ZAR 61.18 KRW 5,500

South Africa ZAR 54.90 ZAR 54.9

Observed 2026-01-01 · The Economist Big Mac Index
PC game (Cyberpunk 2077) 1 game ×0.95

South Korea ZAR 759.15 KRW 66,000

South Africa ZAR 799.00 ZAR 799

Observed 2026-07-27 · Steam Store
Gasoline 1L 1 L ×0.92

South Korea ZAR 23.45 USD 1.427

South Africa ZAR 25.62 USD 1.559

Observed 2026-07-20 · GlobalPetrolPrices.com
Diesel 1L 1 L ×0.85

South Korea ZAR 23.25 USD 1.415

South Africa ZAR 27.44 USD 1.67

Observed 2026-07-20 · GlobalPetrolPrices.com
Electricity 1kWh (household) 1 kWh ×0.61

South Korea ZAR 2.13 USD 0.127

South Africa ZAR 3.51 USD 0.209

Observed 2026-04-01 · GlobalPetrolPrices.com