Cost of living in Johannesburg (South Africa) is about the same as in Tirana (Albania)
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 Tirana or in Johannesburg? You can help!
Improve the prices for Tirana! Improve the prices for Johannesburg!

This comparison is lacking data. It provides a decent comparison, but it is not yet reliable. It is based on 182 prices entered by 47 different people.
Full price comparison, by category
(click to expand each category)
Currency:
Food | - 19% | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Food in Johannesburg (South Africa) is 19% cheaper than in Tirana (Albania) | ||||
Update prices | Update prices | |||
Johannesburg | Tirana | Diff | ||
Basic lunchtime menu (including a drink) in the business district | R 177 (902 Lek) | 963 Lek | - 6% | |
Combo meal in fast food restaurant (big mac meal or similar) | R 91 (461 Lek) | 741 Lek | - 38% | |
500 gr (1 lb.) of boneless chicken breast | R 52 (262 Lek) | 372 Lek | - 29% | |
1 liter (1 qt.) of whole fat milk | R 24 (120 Lek) | 167 Lek | - 28% | |
12 eggs, large | R 52 (266 Lek) | 337 Lek | - 21% | |
1 kg (2 lb.) of tomatoes | R 29 (148 Lek) | 152 Lek | - 2% | |
500 gr (16 oz.) of local cheese | R 121 (618 Lek) | 509 Lek | + 21% | |
1 kg (2 lb.) of apples | R 30 (152 Lek) | 140 Lek | + 8% | |
1 kg (2 lb.) of potatoes | R 24 (124 Lek) | 100 Lek | + 24% | |
0.5 l (16 oz) domestic beer in the supermarket | R 23 (115 Lek) | 96 Lek | + 20% | |
1 bottle of red table wine, good quality | R 124 (628 Lek) | 1,260 Lek | - 50% | |
2 liters of coca-cola | R 26 (133 Lek) | 182 Lek | - 27% | |
Bread for 2 people for 1 day | R 14 (72 Lek) | 80 Lek | - 11% | |
Housing | + 9% | |||
Housing in Johannesburg (South Africa) is 9% more expensive than in Tirana (Albania) | ||||
Update prices | Update prices | |||
Johannesburg | Tirana | Diff | ||
Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in expensive area | R 14,758 (75,080 Lek) | 76,438 Lek | - 2% | |
Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in normal area | R 12,628 (64,246 Lek) | 46,107 Lek | + 39% | |
Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 2 people in 85m2 flat | R 2,181 (11,097 Lek) | 13,261 Lek | - 16% | |
Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in expensive area | R 9,335 (47,492 Lek) | 54,935 Lek | - 14% | |
Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in normal area | R 7,457 (37,939 Lek) | 34,459 Lek | + 10% | |
Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 1 person in 45 m2 (480 sqft) studio | R 1,928 (9,808 Lek) | 10,875 Lek | - 10% | |
Internet 8 mbps (1 month) | R 662 (3,367 Lek) | 1,759 Lek | + 91% | |
40” flat screen tv | R 5,457 (27,765 Lek) | 38,446 Lek | - 28% | |
Microwave 800/900 watt (bosch, panasonic, lg, sharp, or equivalent brands) | R 1,736 (8,834 Lek) | 12,785 Lek | - 31% | |
Laundry detergent (3 l. ~ 100 oz.) | R 128 (652 Lek) | 926 Lek | - 30% | |
Hourly rate for cleaning help | R 115 (584 Lek) | 507 Lek | + 15% | |
Clothes | - 13% | |||
Clothes in Johannesburg (South Africa) is 13% cheaper than in Tirana (Albania) | ||||
Update prices | Update prices | |||
Johannesburg | Tirana | Diff | ||
1 pair of jeans (levis 501 or similar) | R 887 (4,515 Lek) | 4,776 Lek | - 5% | |
1 summer dress in a high street store (zara, h&m or similar retailers) | R 768 (3,907 Lek) | 4,074 Lek | - 4% | |
1 pair of sport shoes (nike, adidas, or equivalent brands) | R 1,646 (8,373 Lek) | 9,739 Lek | - 14% | |
1 pair of men’s leather business shoes | R 1,348 (6,857 Lek) | 13,852 Lek | - 50% | |
Transportation | + 47% | |||
Transportation in Johannesburg (South Africa) is 47% more expensive than in Tirana (Albania) | ||||
Update prices | Update prices | |||
Johannesburg | Tirana | Diff | ||
Volkswagen golf 1.4 tsi 150 cv (or equivalent), with no extras, new | R 440,461 (2,240,870 Lek) | 1,647,080 Lek | + 36% | |
1 liter (1/4 gallon) of gas | R 25 (125 Lek) | 225 Lek | - 45% | |
Monthly ticket public transport | R 988 (5,027 Lek) | 1,542 Lek | + 226% | |
Taxi trip on a business day, basic tariff, 8 km. (5 miles) | R 194 (989 Lek) | 2,045 Lek | - 52% | |
Personal Care | - 22% | |||
Personal Care in Johannesburg (South Africa) is 22% cheaper than in Tirana (Albania) | ||||
Update prices | Update prices | |||
Johannesburg | Tirana | Diff | ||
Cold medicine for 6 days (tylenol, frenadol, coldrex, or equivalent brands) | R 89 (453 Lek) | 596 Lek | - 24% | |
1 box of antibiotics (12 doses) | R 248 (1,261 Lek) | 920 Lek | + 37% | |
Short visit to private doctor (15 minutes) | R 522 (2,653 Lek) | 2,926 Lek | - 9% | |
1 box of 32 tampons (tampax, ob, ...) | R 52 (266 Lek) | 532 Lek | - 50% | |
Deodorant, roll-on (50ml ~ 1.5 oz.) | R 39 (199 Lek) | 390 Lek | - 49% | |
Hair shampoo 2-in-1 (400 ml ~ 12 oz.) | R 72 (368 Lek) | 466 Lek | - 21% | |
4 rolls of toilet paper | R 34 (175 Lek) | 263 Lek | - 33% | |
Tube of toothpaste | R 26 (133 Lek) | 315 Lek | - 58% | |
Standard men's haircut in expat area of the city | R 137 (697 Lek) | 631 Lek | + 11% | |
Entertainment | - 35% | |||
Entertainment in Johannesburg (South Africa) is 35% cheaper than in Tirana (Albania) | ||||
Update prices | Update prices | |||
Johannesburg | Tirana | Diff | ||
Basic dinner out for two in neighborhood pub | R 498 (2,536 Lek) | 2,719 Lek | - 7% | |
2 tickets to the movies | R 249 (1,267 Lek) | 1,753 Lek | - 28% | |
2 tickets to the theater (best available seats) | R 963 (4,899 Lek) | 3,803 Lek | + 29% | |
Dinner for two at an italian restaurant in the expat area including appetisers, main course, wine and dessert | R 690 (3,512 Lek) | 4,508 Lek | - 22% | |
1 cocktail drink in downtown club | R 102 (517 Lek) | 813 Lek | - 36% | |
Cappuccino in expat area of the city | R 35 (179 Lek) | 208 Lek | - 14% | |
1 beer in neighbourhood pub (500ml or 1pt.) | R 39 (200 Lek) | 319 Lek | - 37% | |
Ipad wi-fi 128gb | R 9,905 (50,394 Lek) | 70,450 Lek | - 28% | |
1 min. of prepaid mobile tariff (no discounts or plans) | R 1.72 (9 Lek) | 29 Lek | - 70% | |
1 month of gym membership in business district | R 649 (3,302 Lek) | 3,967 Lek | - 17% | |
1 package of marlboro cigarettes | R 54 (277 Lek) | 349 Lek | - 21% | |
![]() |
TOTAL | + 0% |

These prices were last updated on February 07, 2025.
Exchange rate:
5.088
ALL
/
ZAR
Detailed prices for each city individually
Recent Comparisons
- Cost of living in London is 103% more expensive than in Tokyo
- Cost of living in Barcelona, Spain is about the same as in Madrid
- Cost of living in Sydney is 61% more expensive than in Seoul
- Cost of living in Riyadh is about the same as in Jeddah
- Cost of living in Copenhagen is 13% more expensive than in Oslo
- Cost of living in Paris is 27% cheaper than in London
- Cost of living in Buenos Aires is 23% more expensive than in Santiago, Chile
- Cost of living in Manchester is 36% cheaper than in London
- Cost of living in Dubai is 30% cheaper than in London
- Cost of living in Tokyo is 29% cheaper than in Dubai
Compare other countries
For example, you would need at least 244,934 Lek (R 48,144) in Johannesburg to maintain the same standard of living that you can have with 244,000 Lek in Tirana.
Do you live in Tirana? We need your help!
Cost of Living and Prices in Similar Cities
- Cost of Living, Prices in Soweto (South Africa)
- Cost of Living, Prices in Harare (Zimbabwe)
- Cost of Living, Prices in Valletta (Malta)
- Cost of Living, Prices in Thessaloniki (Greece)
- Cost of Living, Prices in Bologna (Italy)
- Cost of Living, Prices in Pretoria (South Africa)
- Cost of Living, Prices in Cape Town (South Africa)
- Cost of Living, Prices in Bratislava (Slovakia)
Prices recently added
- Public transport in Leicester costs £75 (about 1 hour ago)
- Basic lunchtime menu (including a drink) in the business district in Ipatinga costs R$ 25 (about 4 hours ago)
- 1 liter of whole fat milk in Pereira costs COL$3,000 (about 5 hours ago)
- Basic lunchtime menu (including a drink) in the business district in Portland, Oregon costs $20 (about 5 hours ago)
- 1 pack of marlboro cigarettes in Tashkent costs 62,183 сўм (about 5 hours ago)
- Public transport in Kolkata costs ₨1,500 (about 5 hours ago)