Food Prices in South Africa — November 2026
Updated: 1 November 2026
Real grocery prices
Price per unit in your currency
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Milk 1 L1 source open data · updated 1 Jan 2026$1.24-30% World (base = 100)
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Eggs 12 pcs1 source open data · updated 1 Jan 2026$3.16-8% World (base = 100)
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Chicken 1 kg1 source open data · updated 1 Jan 2026$4.15-29% World (base = 100)
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Rice 1 kg1 source open data · updated 1 Jan 2026$1.54-32% World (base = 100)
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Bread 500 g loaf
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Water 1.5 L bottle
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Cheese 1 kg
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Tomatoes 1 kg
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Potatoes 1 kg
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Beer 0.5 L bottle
Every traveller price is reviewed by hand; the row shows how many reports from the last 90 days back the figure.
Report a price
Enter the price you actually saw in the shop.
Recent real receipts
Real purchases logged in this country (crowdsourced, local names)
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Udon NoodlesWok time · 2 x 200 gPick n Pay, Durban 13 Oct44.99 ZAR
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Coca-Cola ZeroCoca-Cola · 9 x 2,25LPEP, Pretoria 16 Sep18 ZAR
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Smart Food Chocolate FlavourFUTURELIFE · 500gPick n Pay Express, Touws River 15 Oct2.88 €
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Tasy BeefKnorrPick n Pay Express, Touws River 15 Oct0.45 €
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Tasty chickenPick n Pay Express, Touws River 15 Oct0.45 €
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Taystee wheatJunglePick n Pay, Johannesburg 10 Oct3.79 €
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OatsJungle · 1 kgPick n Pay Clothing, Johannesburg 10 Oct2.47 €
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Spicy Calabrian Chilli & SpinachWoolworths FoodWoolworths Food, Johannesburg 12 Aug129.99 ZAR
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Mint ButtercupGDShoprite, Groblersdal 11 Jun1,472 ZAR
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Bridge Whey Protein - Cocoa ChocolateMetalabDischem, Springs 26 Dec989 ZAR
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Lean Whey raspberryBiogenDischem, Springs 26 Dec699.99 ZAR
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fruit punchWoolworthsBoskruin Village Shopping Center, Randburg 16 Dec49.99 ZAR
What this means for vanlife
Food in South Africa is below the world average by 28%. Good for long-term van travel — grocery costs are noticeably lower than in most developed countries.
How food prices are changing
Food overall: +1.9% over the year, as of May 2026
Official statistics: FAOSTAT, United Nations (food price index, CC BY 4.0), May 2026. Change versus the same month a year earlier. The index shows how prices moved, not what an item costs.
Index History
Based on World Bank ICP 2021, adjusted with IMF CPI
Compare with South Africa
South Africa
If you spend 100 at home:
FAQ
Is food expensive in South Africa?
No, food in South Africa is cheap. The VanBasket Index is 72 (world average = 100), meaning food is 28% below the global average — great for budget travel.
How much should I budget for food in South Africa per month?
If the world average monthly food spend is $300, in South Africa you can expect to spend around $216. This is based on the VanBasket Index of 72 (world = 100).
How does South Africa compare to similar countries?
South Africa has a VanBasket Index of 72. Similar or nearby countries: Colombia, Moldova, Ukraine.
How often is the food price data for South Africa updated?
The index is updated monthly using IMF Consumer Price Index data. The baseline is from World Bank ICP 2021.
News from South Africa
All News →Upcoming Events · South Africa
Updated: 31.10.2026
Unleaded 93
$1.81 /L
ZAR29.88 · €1.61/L
16 of 19
pricier than 79% of countries
Unleaded 95
$1.83 /L
ZAR30.25 · €1.63/L
124 of 175
pricier than 70% of countries
Diesel 500ppm
$1.93 /L
ZAR31.95 · €1.73/L
116 of 174
pricier than 66% of countries
Diesel 50ppm
$1.98 /L
ZAR32.79 · €1.77/L
20 of 45
cheaper than 58% of countries
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