Cost of Living: New York vs South Africa (Johannesburg)
How expensive is South Africa compared with New York City? The national price level of everyday spending versus the New York metro area, and the salary — in US dollars and ZAR — that buys the same standard of living.
Salary converter
Before taxes. Income tax, sales tax and benefits differ a lot between places and aren’t included.
The numbers
- Cities
- Johannesburg
- Price level vs US average
- 43.3 (New York metro: 112.6)
- Exchange rate (2025 avg.)
- 1 USD = 17.9 ZAR
- Purchasing-power parity
- 1 USD of US-average spending ≈ 7.740 ZAR
- Source
- World Bank, PPP conversion factor for private consumption ÷ exchange rate (2025); New York: BEA 2024
⚠️ This is South Africa’s national average. Major cities — especially Johannesburg — are usually more expensive, mostly because of rent, so treat this as a lower bound for big-city living.
Frequently asked questions
Is South Africa cheaper than New York?
Yes. South Africa is 62% cheaper than the New York metro area overall (index 38, New York = 100).
What salary in South Africa equals $100,000 in New York?
About $38,438 a year (about ZAR 687,611 at purchasing-power parity) buys the same standard of living in South Africa as $100,000 in the New York metro area, before taxes.
Is Johannesburg more expensive than South Africa’s national average?
Usually, yes. The comparison here uses South Africa’s national average price level; large cities such as Johannesburg typically cost more than the national figure, especially for rent.
Where does this data come from?
World Bank price levels of household consumption for 2025 (purchasing power parity conversion factor divided by the market exchange rate), compared with BEA’s 2024 figure for the New York metro area.