what is the cost of living in south africa like compared to the UK?

Answer 1

Property is much cheaper, so assume general col is cheaper.

Answer 2

If going on holiday there your money will go far - around R14 to a pound. Eating out is cheap and there isn't that much difference in price between going to a fast food place and eating in a nice restaurant. Prices of food in the supermarkets is relatively expensive - around 10% or 20% cheaper than the UK (this is okay if earning in pounds but SA wages are less than half of UK wages). Petrol and diesel is still fairly cheap (R6 per litre - under 50p!) Utility bills seem to be less than in the UK, but people have to pay increased insurance and most people pay armed response fees to companies to look after their properties. Water is metered, but still reasonbly priced. Would need to buy private medical cover if staying out there. Cars are more expensive than in the UK (and they aren't as luxurious either). Cars don't need to have an annual MOT, but they do require road tax. House prices were an absolute bargain around 3 years ago, but they have risen by 25-35% annually since then. People are still expecting rises of 10-15% this year, but many SA residents are being priced out of the housing market. Lots of foreign buyers are coming in and buying holiday houses (especially near Cape Town) and this is keeping the prices up. One problem with SA is the widely varying exchange rate - under R12/£ in March and now over R14/£, so you get almost 20% more rand for your pound now.

Answer 3

Most things are much cheaper in South Africa. Property seems to be nearly half the price of the property in Southern England. Food, eating out, clothes, laundry, alcohol, public transport are all very cheap. The reason for this is that labour is very poorly paid. A labourer (building) gets about £10 per day, and no employment rights, thats why houses are cheap! I would`nt like to live there though, its too dangerous. White people are virtual prisoners in their homes during the hours of darkness.

Answer 4

Cost of living is lower in SA, but so is the average salary, so unless you are living in SA with a UK salary or Pension, quality of live isnt much better, although it differs in many aspects.
Housing is very cheap, for example; my family own a fully detached house in a coastal resort in South Africa with a garden and pool. My father paid £30.000 for it 10 years ago, and it is now worth £70.000. For £70.000. in London you can only buy a terraced house in a very bad neighbourhood (Hackney or Lambeth) and further North, like Scotland you can maybe get a semi for that price, but not a whole house and garden.
Cars on the other hand are more expensive. For £6.000-£10.000 you can get a good quality car in the UK, and I have friends who have bought second hand cars that are no older than 5 years and in a good state for under £1.000. In SA for the same prices you'll only get very small cars (like Ford Fiesta's) brand new, and nothing younger than 10 years secondhand for that price.
Food and clothes are cheaper, but a few designer stuff will still go for similiar prices, eg Nike running shoes for £50 (R500) in both SA and UK. SA's clothes are not of the same quality as UK, but I put that down more to material having to be of better quality in the UK due to the cold.
But as I said earlier, despite the low cost of living salaries arent that great either. As a student I work part time (20 hours a week) here in London, yet in 2 weeks (40 hours) I make the same amount as what my father earns working full time in SA in a month.
But compaired to my father, my expenses are very high. I spend £200 (R2000) a month on rent, and I share a house with 6 other people. In SA, depending on the area of course, I know of flats that are rented for a similiar price.
I also spend a futher £200 (R2000) on food for my boyfriend and I alone, compaired to SA thats scandalous.
In UK, I'm on the NHS and 80% of my healthcare is for free, and I can get a Doctors appointment for free, within a week.
In SA the only free medicine you get is from a clinic, and for that you have to que on a first come first serve basis. For the same quality of healthcare as the UK NHS, you have to go private in SA.
But then again SA dentists are cheaper than NHS dentists, with a SA dentist charging me £10 for a filling and £6 for a check up, compaired to the UK £42 for a filling £8 for a check up.
All of these are just rough figures, but they should give you a comparison between the two.

Answer 5

It depends on what you mean. They have a lot of hidden expenses like payment for Healthcare,Education,Security etc.Taxes are high and travel distances much further. Housing is more expensive to buy in the UK but rentals are much the same. Cars are more expensive in SA as is clothing and of poorer quality. Food is about the same depending on the exchange rate for their mickey mouse currency. Not easy to make a direct comparison because it also depends on where in the UK i.e. London is more expensive than anywhere else.
Regarding Roger G's comments- he is talking shite. The quality of clothing in SA is inferior to that in the UK simply because they use a heavier cloth weight. Yes- you get the brand names but many are fakes from the East so you have to be careful. If you do not have private healthcare costing around £200 per month you have 2 chances of seeing any Doctor in the Public Health field. Health care is economics driven and they want to see the colour of your money before they treat you.

Answer 6

an average individual spends most of his income on his home and car...

property is cheaper and thats a plus...but get ready to pay a whole lot more on your car.

I visited UK once for two weeks and the one thing I wished I could take home 'cause I was so so affordable was their cars.

Answer 7

it style of feels that SA continues to be extra decrease priced than the place I stay in Israel. Lamb: R300/kg Loaf of Bread: R12 Banana's according to KG: R16/kg LRG Packet of Fritos (Crisps) R15 Beaverbrook: R80 according to 250gr Peter Stuvesant Blue R32 Petrol according to Litre: R16/liter Pantene Shampoo R35 24 Jumbo Eggs R50 Rice R26/kg

Answer 8

Regarding Alf Garnets comment on clothing he is talking rubbish it is like ever where else depends on what you want I go to SA on holiday and buy all my clothing there ( billa-bong and other brand names), visit the factory shops if you decide to move to Cape Town. The medical, you might have to pay for it but you don't need to WAIT to see Dr's or have Surgery, housing to buy is very cheap, but beware the cost of living goes up on average 15% pa.

Answer 9

i live in johannesburg , the cost of everything houses , food etc. is much cheaper and the pound is worth 13-14 times more than the rand .

Answer 10

much cheaper than uk