Sri Lanka

Compared with South Africa, using real observed prices.

Baseline: South Africa = 1×

Sri Lanka vs

South Africa

Overall verdict

Sri Lanka is about 0.94× South Africa.

Average across 3 categories, 4 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 Sri Lanka 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×

Sri Lanka is pricier →

🍔 Food & Dining 1 item

×1.69
⛽ Transport 2 items

×0.90
⚡ Utilities 1 item

×0.55

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

In Sri Lanka, Big Mac costs 1.7× what it does in South Africa — but Electricity 1kWh (household) costs only 0.5×. What is expensive here is labour, not the goods that carry a world price.

Real prices. Real sources. Real dates.

Big Mac 1 burger ×1.69

Sri Lanka ZAR 109.14 LKR 1,820

South Africa ZAR 54.90 ZAR 54.9

Observed 2024-01-01 · The Economist Big Mac Index
Gasoline 1L 1 L ×0.94

Sri Lanka ZAR 24.21 USD 1.473

South Africa ZAR 25.62 USD 1.559

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

Sri Lanka ZAR 23.37 USD 1.422

South Africa ZAR 27.44 USD 1.67

Observed 2026-07-20 · GlobalPetrolPrices.com
Electricity 1kWh (household) 1 kWh ×0.55

Sri Lanka ZAR 1.91 USD 0.114

South Africa ZAR 3.51 USD 0.209

Observed 2026-04-01 · GlobalPetrolPrices.com