South AfricaSouth Africa

Vietnam

Compared with South Africa, using real observed prices.

Baseline: South AfricaSouth Africa = 1×

VietnamVietnam vs South AfricaSouth Africa
Overall verdict

VietnamVietnam is about 0.61× South AfricaSouth Africa.

Average across 4 categories, 6 items with data

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

How to read this

The centre line is South Africa. A bar running right means Vietnam 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 AfricaSouth Africa South Africa = 1× VietnamVietnam is pricier →
  • 🍔 Food & Dining 1 item
    ×0.86
  • 🎟 Leisure 1 item
    ×0.79
  • Transport 2 items
    ×0.53
  • Utilities 1 item
    ×0.37

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

In Vietnam, Big Mac costs 0.9× what it does in South Africa — but Electricity 1kWh (household) costs only 0.4×. What is expensive here is labour, not the goods that carry a world price.

Real prices. Real sources. Real dates.

  • Big Mac 1 burger ×0.86
    VietnamVietnam ZAR 47.30 VND 76,000
    South AfricaSouth Africa ZAR 54.90 ZAR 54.9
    Observed 2026-01-01 · The Economist Big Mac Index
  • PC game (Cyberpunk 2077) 1 game ×0.79
    VietnamVietnam ZAR 634.40 VND 990,000
    South AfricaSouth Africa ZAR 799.00 ZAR 799
    Observed 2026-07-27 · Steam Store
  • Diesel 1L 1 L ×0.54
    VietnamVietnam ZAR 14.71 USD 0.895
    South AfricaSouth Africa ZAR 27.44 USD 1.67
    Observed 2026-07-20 · GlobalPetrolPrices.com
  • Gasoline 1L 1 L ×0.52
    VietnamVietnam ZAR 13.34 USD 0.812
    South AfricaSouth Africa ZAR 25.62 USD 1.559
    Observed 2026-07-20 · GlobalPetrolPrices.com
  • Electricity 1kWh (household) 1 kWh ×0.37
    VietnamVietnam ZAR 1.31 USD 0.078
    South AfricaSouth Africa ZAR 3.51 USD 0.209
    Observed 2026-04-01 · GlobalPetrolPrices.com

See what really changed Vietnam

Big Mac, 2021 → 2026
At the timeUsing the exchange rate of each date
+10%
in VND
69000 → 76000
vs
At today's rateUsing today's exchange rate
+8%
in ZAR

It rose 10% in local currency, but 8% in yours. Most of what you feel is the exchange rate, not Vietnam's inflation.