United States
Compared with South Africa, using real observed prices.
Baseline: 
South Africa = 1×
United States
vs
South Africa
Overall verdict
United States is about 1.12× 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 United States 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×
United States is pricier →
South Africa
South Africa = 1×
United States is pricier →
Thin bar shows the range (cheapest to priciest item in the category)
In United States, Big Mac costs 1.8× what it does in South Africa — but Gasoline 1L costs only 0.7×. What is expensive here is labour, not the goods that carry a world price.
Real prices. Real sources. Real dates.
-
Big Mac 1 burger ×1.82United States
ZAR 100.05
USD 6.12South Africa
ZAR 54.90
ZAR 54.9
-
PC game (Cyberpunk 2077) 1 game ×1.26United States
ZAR 1,009
USD 59.99South Africa
ZAR 799.00
ZAR 799
-
Electricity 1kWh (household) 1 kWh ×0.90United States
ZAR 3.15
USD 0.188South Africa
ZAR 3.51
USD 0.209
-
Diesel 1L 1 L ×0.81United States
ZAR 22.28
USD 1.356South Africa
ZAR 27.44
USD 1.67
-
Gasoline 1L 1 L ×0.74United States
ZAR 18.83
USD 1.146South Africa
ZAR 25.62
USD 1.559
See what really changed
Big Mac, 2021 → 2026At the timeUsing the exchange rate of each date
+24%
in USD
4.93 → 6.12
4.93 → 6.12
vs
At today's rateUsing today's exchange rate
+38%
in ZAR
It rose 24% in local currency, but 38% in yours. Most of what you feel is the exchange rate, not United States's inflation.
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