Viral grocery comparison finds UK trolley just R3 cheaper than South Africa

Online comparison puts like-for-like 44-item basket at nearly the same cost in SA and UK

A side-by-side grocery comparison between South Africa and the United Kingdom has produced a surprising result: the UK basket came out slightly cheaper by R3.09 than the South African basket, according to the creators of the video.

How the comparison was done

The exercise was published by YouTube channel James and Rob. They placed 44 everyday grocery items side-by-side from South Africa’s Checkers and the UK supermarket Morrisons, using like-for-like products where possible and excluding specials and promotional pricing.

Final totals

When receipts were added up, the South African basket totalled R2 383.38, while the UK basket totalled R2 380.29, leaving the Morrisons trolley cheaper overall by R3.09.

Which categories favoured South Africa

The comparison found a clear split between categories. Fresh produce and meat remained cheaper in South Africa. Examples in the comparison included:

• Rump steak: R260/kg at Checkers vs R414/kg at Morrisons
• Lean beef mince: R159.99/kg vs R165.97/kg
• Bacon: R66.29 vs R77.45
• Peaches: R36.99 vs R91.28
• Eggs (six): R29.99 vs R46.47
• Milk: R21.99 vs R25.67
• Yoghurt: R54.99 vs R73.69
• Onions (per kg): R16.99 vs R20.99
• Peppers: R12.75 vs R15.47
• Chenin Blanc (bottle): R99.99 vs R149.37

Where the UK undercut local prices

Imported and branded products tended to be cheaper at Morrisons in the comparison. Notable differences cited included:

• Nescafé Gold instant coffee: R194.99 in South Africa vs R88.52 in the UK
• Dishwasher tablets: R289.99 vs R156.23
• Olive oil: R239.99 vs R154.90
• Basmati rice: R59.99 vs R39.61
• Tinned tomatoes: R24.99 vs R10.40
• Starbucks coffee pods: R99.99 vs R66.39
• Sparkling water and cordial: R79.99 vs R55.32

Small gaps and wider message

Other items showed only minor differences: brown bread differed by 61 cents, spaghetti by under 40 cents, and a six-pack of Coke Zero by about R2. Head & Shoulders shampoo prices were separated by just over R1.

Creators’ take and relevance

James and Rob said the exercise is not a scientific study but a snapshot of typical shopping choices. In the video they noted the comparison is particularly relevant for travellers and long-stay visitors trying to gauge daily living costs rather than relying on broad tourism messaging.

“We have always assumed South Africa was much cheaper than the UK for everyday living, especially in Cape Town,” the pair said in the video.

The comparison highlights how inflation and pricing pressures are felt differently across product categories, and it challenges simple assumptions about overall affordability between countries.

Notes

Source: The Citizen report on the James and Rob grocery comparison.