Cost of living in San Francisco, California (United States) is 178% more expensive than in Cape Town (South Africa)
We need your help!
Expatistan is a collaborative effort. The data gets better with every new price that you enter.
Do you know the prices in Cape Town or in San Francisco, California? You can help!
Improve the prices for Cape Town! Improve the prices for San Francisco, California!
WARNING! This comparison is based on only a few data points. At this point it is only a guess. It is based on 802 prices entered by 110 different people.
Full price comparison, by category
(click to expand each category)
Currency:
| Food | + 151% | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Food in San Francisco, California (United States) is 151% more expensive than in Cape Town (South Africa) | ||||
| Update prices | Update prices | |||
| San Francisco, California | Cape Town | Diff | ||
| Basic lunchtime menu (including a drink) in the business district | $20 (R 364) | R 184 | + 98% | |
| Combo meal in fast food restaurant (big mac meal or similar) | $12 (R 216) | R 77 | + 181% | |
| 500 gr (1 lb.) of boneless chicken breast | $8 (R 138) | R 41 | + 234% | |
| 1 liter (1 qt.) of whole fat milk | $1.44 (R 26) | R 18 | + 44% | |
| 12 eggs, large | $7 (R 126) | R 49 | + 156% | |
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of tomatoes | $5.57 (R 101) | R 19 | + 442% | |
| 500 gr (16 oz.) of local cheese | $7 (R 131) | R 69 | + 90% | |
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of apples | $4.18 (R 76) | R 28 | + 167% | |
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of potatoes | $2.24 (R 41) | R 22 | + 81% | |
| 0.5 l (16 oz) domestic beer in the supermarket | $4.42 (R 80) | R 23 | + 255% | |
| 1 bottle of red table wine, good quality | $16 (R 294) | R 136 | + 116% | |
| 2 liters of coca-cola | $2.64 (R 48) | R 27 | + 78% | |
| Bread for 2 people for 1 day | $2.69 (R 49) | R 18 | + 172% | |
| Housing | + 323% | |||
| Housing in San Francisco, California (United States) is 323% more expensive than in Cape Town (South Africa) | ||||
| Update prices | Update prices | |||
| San Francisco, California | Cape Town | Diff | ||
| Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in expensive area | $4,594 (R 83,472) | R 17,647 | + 373% | |
| Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in normal area | $3,407 (R 61,913) | R 11,794 | + 425% | |
| Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 2 people in 85m2 flat | $157 (R 2,851) | R 1,252 | + 128% | |
| Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in expensive area | $3,674 (R 66,758) | R 13,379 | + 399% | |
| Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in normal area | $2,524 (R 45,860) | R 7,979 | + 475% | |
| Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 1 person in 45 m2 (480 sqft) studio | $101 (R 1,839) | R 996 | + 85% | |
| Internet 8 mbps (1 month) | $55 (R 994) | R 548 | + 81% | |
| 40” flat screen tv | $358 (R 6,512) | R 5,038 | + 29% | |
| Microwave 800/900 watt (bosch, panasonic, lg, sharp, or equivalent brands) | $178 (R 3,237) | R 1,336 | + 142% | |
| Laundry detergent (3 l. ~ 100 oz.) | $12 (R 221) | R 110 | + 101% | |
| Hourly rate for cleaning help | $42 (R 768) | R 71 | + 983% | |
| Clothes | + 19% | |||
| Clothes in San Francisco, California (United States) is 19% more expensive than in Cape Town (South Africa) | ||||
| Update prices | Update prices | |||
| San Francisco, California | Cape Town | Diff | ||
| 1 pair of jeans (levis 501 or similar) | $72 (R 1,310) | R 949 | + 38% | |
| 1 summer dress in a high street store (zara, h&m or similar retailers) | $37 (R 663) | R 690 | - 4% | |
| 1 pair of sport shoes (nike, adidas, or equivalent brands) | $115 (R 2,097) | R 1,863 | + 13% | |
| 1 pair of men’s leather business shoes | $168 (R 3,052) | R 1,445 | + 111% | |
| Transportation | + 110% | |||
| Transportation in San Francisco, California (United States) is 110% more expensive than in Cape Town (South Africa) | ||||
| Update prices | Update prices | |||
| San Francisco, California | Cape Town | Diff | ||
| Volkswagen golf 1.4 tsi 150 cv (or equivalent), with no extras, new | $33,029 (R 600,138) | R 360,963 | + 66% | |
| 1 liter (1/4 gallon) of gas | $1.48 (R 27) | R 23 | + 16% | |
| Monthly ticket public transport | $81 (R 1,464) | R 532 | + 175% | |
| Taxi trip on a business day, basic tariff, 8 km. (5 miles) | $19 (R 340) | R 162 | + 110% | |
| Personal Care | + 134% | |||
| Personal Care in San Francisco, California (United States) is 134% more expensive than in Cape Town (South Africa) | ||||
| Update prices | Update prices | |||
| San Francisco, California | Cape Town | Diff | ||
| Cold medicine for 6 days (tylenol, frenadol, coldrex, or equivalent brands) | $9 (R 160) | R 82 | + 95% | |
| 1 box of antibiotics (12 doses) | $11 (R 203) | R 248 | - 18% | |
| Short visit to private doctor (15 minutes) | $132 (R 2,406) | R 513 | + 369% | |
| 1 box of 32 tampons (tampax, ob, ...) | $7 (R 129) | R 47 | + 174% | |
| Deodorant, roll-on (50ml ~ 1.5 oz.) | $4.46 (R 81) | R 33 | + 147% | |
| Hair shampoo 2-in-1 (400 ml ~ 12 oz.) | $9 (R 166) | R 71 | + 134% | |
| 4 rolls of toilet paper | $5.23 (R 95) | R 30 | + 216% | |
| Tube of toothpaste | $2.38 (R 43) | R 23 | + 87% | |
| Standard men's haircut in expat area of the city | $30 (R 550) | R 198 | + 177% | |
| Entertainment | + 157% | |||
| Entertainment in San Francisco, California (United States) is 157% more expensive than in Cape Town (South Africa) | ||||
| Update prices | Update prices | |||
| San Francisco, California | Cape Town | Diff | ||
| Basic dinner out for two in neighborhood pub | $59 (R 1,068) | R 422 | + 153% | |
| 2 tickets to the movies | $30 (R 549) | R 219 | + 151% | |
| 2 tickets to the theater (best available seats) | $351 (R 6,377) | R 762 | + 736% | |
| Dinner for two at an italian restaurant in the expat area including appetisers, main course, wine and dessert | $125 (R 2,278) | R 756 | + 201% | |
| 1 cocktail drink in downtown club | $17 (R 308) | R 69 | + 343% | |
| Cappuccino in expat area of the city | $5.67 (R 103) | R 33 | + 211% | |
| 1 beer in neighbourhood pub (500ml or 1pt.) | $9 (R 156) | R 39 | + 302% | |
| Ipad wi-fi 128gb | $343 (R 6,233) | R 8,213 | - 24% | |
| 1 min. of prepaid mobile tariff (no discounts or plans) | $0.24 (R 4.31) | R 1.38 | + 211% | |
| 1 month of gym membership in business district | $79 (R 1,431) | R 766 | + 87% | |
| 1 package of marlboro cigarettes | $14 (R 247) | R 53 | + 368% | |
 |
TOTAL | + 178% | ||
WARNING! This comparison is based on only a few data points. At this point it is only a guess. It is based on 802 prices entered by 110 different people.
These prices were last updated on March 27, 2023.
Exchange rate:
18.170
ZAR
/
USD
Detailed prices for each city individually
Recent Comparisons
- Cost of living in New York City is 22% more expensive than in London
- Cost of living in Dubai is 208% more expensive than in Delhi
- Cost of living in Dubai is 25% cheaper than in London
- Cost of living in Helsinki is 28% cheaper than in London
- Cost of living in Sydney is 347% more expensive than in Lahore
- Cost of living in Mexico City is 49% more expensive than in Bogotá
- Cost of living in Orlando, Florida is 24% cheaper than in Miami, Florida
- Cost of living in Toronto is 32% cheaper than in New York City
- Cost of living in Hong Kong is 18% cheaper than in Singapore
- Cost of living in Bangkok is 87% more expensive than in Delhi
Compare other countries
For example, you would need at least R 138,755 ($7,636) in San Francisco, California to maintain the same standard of living that you can have with R 50,000 in Cape Town.
Do you live in Cape Town? We need your help!
Cost of Living and Prices in Similar Cities
- Cost of Living, Prices in Pretoria (South Africa)
- Cost of Living, Prices in San Antonio, California (United States)
- Cost of Living, Prices in Edmonton (Canada)
- Cost of Living, Prices in Durban (South Africa)
- Cost of Living, Prices in Nairobi (Kenya)
- Cost of Living, Prices in San Jose, California (United States)
- Cost of Living, Prices in Johannesburg (South Africa)
- Cost of Living, Prices in Omaha, Nebraska (United States)
Prices recently added
- Basic lunchtime menu (including a drink) in the business district in Cluj-Napoca costs 40 lei (about 1 hour ago)
- 1 liter of whole fat milk in Indore costs ₨60 (about 5 hours ago)
- 2 liters of coca-cola in Port Louis costs ₨75 (about 5 hours ago)
- 125 ml tube of toothpaste in Lagos costs 876 ₦ (about 5 hours ago)
- Basic lunchtime menu (including a drink) in the business district in Chihuahua costs Mex$ 800 (about 6 hours ago)
- Monthly rent - 85 m2 furnished accommodation in expensive area in Munich costs €2,000 (about 6 hours ago)