With just over 2 weeks having passed since the conclusion of our summer holiday expedition around South Africa, and our lives falling back into a fairly un-blogworthy rhythm (i.e., eat, sleep, Ozark, repeat), it felt prudent to fall back onto, yet another, informative blog post about life here in South Africa. However, instead of discussing anything of cultural or historical significance (those “intellectuals” on the blog can tap out now), I thought the concept of “cost of living” would be an entertaining discussion point, primarily for 2 key reasons:
Now, as I have alluded to in several prior posts, there are various aspects of life in South Africa that are so jaw-droppingly inexpensive, it becomes exceedingly difficult to distinguish as to whether you are actually paying $30 for a doctor's visit, or helping to fund the bank account of a Craigslist-operated Nigerian Prince. And on the other hand, in a nation where the average income is a mere $10K/year, it is also equally shocking to witness the number of people willing to empty their meagerly-funded bank accounts to purchase a vehicle that costs up to 50% more in South Africa then it does back in the States. Nonetheless, in order to paint a proper picture of the overall cost of living in Africa’s 2nd wealthiest nation (yet the world’s 38th), it is necessary to segment out the different costs, into their overthought/spent-way-too-much-time-on-this-post, buckets: The “Classic Comparisons” – The things historian’s love to talk about when comparing any time in history to the same time, exactly 100 years prior (e.g., “When I was your age, a candy bar cost a nickel, and the diabetes it caused was incurable”):
The Reverse Sticker Shockers – The below items are so exceptionally cheap, only the comparison of minimum wages between our two nations (USA = $7.25/hr, SA = $1.50/hr) helps to provide that “ahhh, well that kinda makes more sense now, I guess?” moment: The F*ck Me’s - These are the items that make you wonder whether it is worth just ordering the same items in bulk from Amazon, and paying $150 in shipping & import fees: As you can see, there is a wide divide in the cost of living in South Africa, with those seeking out a more “materialistic” lifestyle succumbing to the misfortunes of import-based price hikes. While those living a primarily consumption or travel-based existence, reaping in the joys of an extremely affordable way of life (despite a 25-year addiction to snake on their indestructible Nokia 6110). And finally, for those unfortunate souls who just want to enjoy a bowl of Honey Smacks while driving their Ferrari around town, well, you do you guy. You do you.
Onto the ONE pic (it’s my favorite):
8 Comments
Kim Myers
2/7/2022 09:50:13 pm
This is brilliant. I know you have more than 12.5 followers
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Mark
2/8/2022 01:16:04 pm
We can round up to 13 for sure!
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Marie
2/7/2022 10:49:30 pm
“We Bought a Zoo”- enjoyable…except for the snake scene ….
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Mark
2/8/2022 01:16:54 pm
Not to worry, we plan on re-creating the entire experience for you next week! There's a world-renowned snake museum here that is perfect for all levels of phobia :)
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Melissa
2/8/2022 05:52:47 am
This is super interesting. I have a million questions about the total costs of taking a year off. I will save them for when you come home unless you want to do a blog for aspiring-year-abroaders (like myself) about how to make this all work.
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Mark
2/8/2022 01:19:07 pm
I will trade you a million answers for a psychoanalysis from your husband on the true reasons behind our year away.
Reply
Colleen
2/8/2022 07:51:03 am
Those cereal choices tho…
Reply
Mark
2/8/2022 01:19:29 pm
"The Death Row of Cereal Selection"
Reply
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PRIOR BLOG POSTS: Year Abroad Intro: • Welcome to our Newest Blog! Again! • The Move - Dissected, Probed and Then Probed Some More • The Voyage (Part 1) - If At First You Don't Succeed, Trying Again Won't Work Either • The Voyage (Part 2) - The Layover to Rule All Other Layovers • A Personal Life Update - Establishing Our Shallow Roots A Guide to South Africa: • How to be an Expat When You Aren't Technically an Expat (Part 1 - Bank Accounts) • How to be an Expat, When You Aren't Technically an Expat (Part 2 - Health Insurance) • Load Shedding - Keeping the Lights Off in South Africa Since 2007 • 195 Ways to Fight a Pandemic - The South Africa Edition • Halloween in South Africa - Playing Catch-Up Since 2016 • SnapScan - South Africa's Glimpse into America's Future • Thanksgiving in South Africa - Where My Turkeys Be At? • Life at the Epicenter of Omicron - A Different Type of Cancel Culture • Playgrounds - The Starbucks of South Africa • Cost of Living in South Africa - An Exploratory Journey of Everyday Expenses Trips: • Namibia Roadtrip (1 of 3) - Driving a Shake Weight to Sossusvlei • Namibia Roadtrip (2 of 3) - Searching for Souls in Swakopmund • Namibia Roadtrip (3 of 3) - Getting our Safari on at Etosha National Park • Weekend Getaway in Robertson - A Trip Down Pleasantville Lane • Summer Holiday Trip (1 of 3) - Glamping Without the Glam in the Drakensberg Mountains • Summer Holiday Trip (2 of 3) - The Historical Chronicles of Kruger National Park • Summer Holiday Trip (3 of 3) - Searching for Whales and Spare Tires in the Overberg • Visitors Round 1 - The Woodmans - An Expedited Exploration of Everything • The Great Wildebeest Migration - 15 Years of Waiting Decided in 15 Minutes • Ngorongoro Crater - A Pre-Migration Layover Inside an Inverted Volcano • Ndutu - The Safari to Rule All Other Safaris • Serengeti National Park - Seeking Out Simba at an Abandoned Pride Rock • Zanzibar - The Island of Sugar, Spice and Most Things Nice • Visitors Round 2 - Let's Ignore Our Sanity & Do All The Things • Wild Coast - A Little Tatse of the O.G. South Africa Cape Towning: • Spring Break in September - Just as Strange as it Sounds • A Day in the Life of a South African Expat - The Visual Edition • A Wrinkle in Our Spare Time • Our Final Week in South Africa - A Bittersweet Symphony of Bucket Lists The Other Stuff: • This is 40: The South Africa Version |