Publications
Partners
But what's it like abroad - is the grass greener on the other side? A recent comparison between what petrol costs in the top 10 countries showed that South African motorists were still better off. Or is this a myth?
Fin24 asked South African expats to let us know what they pay for petrol in their neck of the woods, and received responses from countries as diverse as Australia, Saudi Arabia, the UK, Canada, Singapore, Kuwait, Qatar and the US.
Some criticised Fin24's approach. Why is South Africa always compared with highly developed Western countries, instead of comparing apples with apples, asked Elias Ebrahiem.
"We should refrain from comparing SA; it sends the picture that we are on par and at the same level of the Western countries, hence the perception is thus created, and then it becomes justified to charge S Africans whatever is deemed fit. People have already been conditioned to think that way, and we should also 'pay' what is charged.
"To give an example, we have one of the highest mobile phone charges in the world. Mobile charges are cheaper in some of our neighbouring countries, yet SA companies provide these services in these countries as well.
"SA supplies petrol, electricity, etc to these neighbouring countries, and in many cases they are cheaper in these countries. How strange. No questions are asked and we are conditioned so much that we have become complacent to accept whatever is thrown at us.
"How the SA economists can even consider comparing SA is beyond anyone's guess."
David Norris concurred: "The assertion that South Africans shouldn't be alarmed and concerned about the high petrol price because motorists in other countries pay more is both naive and nonsensical. South Africa is being compared with developed countries that have excellent public transport systems.
"Motorists in these countries use the public transport system far much more than they drive their cars. They obviously therefore would not feel the pinch as much as motorists in South Africa would. Additionally, people in these countries on average earn far more than South Africans."
Dr Louis Swart wrote: "A direct comparison of the price of petrol in different countries does not make sense.
"Please do a comparison on the basis of how long a secretary in South Africa has to work to pay for say 100 litres of petrol compared to a similar secretary in the various countries. This will be an eye opener!"
Here is a brief summary of what petrol costs in other parts of the world, according to South African expatriates:
Herman Karsten said the petrol price in and around Canberra is different and changes every day. "I filled up last week @$1.48. Filling up my car with 74 litres of diesel costs only 1.47% of my salary.
"It's all about affordability mate."
In Singapore, the current price of petrol is SGD2.09/ZAR16.60 (95 unleaded) or SGD2.44/ZAR19.37 after petrol station discount (between 5 and 10% depending on membership card or promotion – discounts not always available), said Buddy van den Berg.
"However, we pay COE (Certificate of Entitlement) in Singapore, without which you cannot purchase a car in Singapore."Current COE prices are SGD71 300 for 1600cc engines or less, and SGD85 100 for bigger engines. Add this amount to the car price, and you look at taking out a loan of SGD121 000 for the entry level Vios 1.5E, i.e. ZAR961 000!"
Van den Berg advised Fin24 users to watch this video:
Zakaria Munsoor, who is working in Saudi Arabia said they have 91 and 95 (octane) - the 91 costs SR0.40 per liter and the 95 SR0.50 per liter. (1 Saudi riyal : R2.70)
John Black, who also works in Saudi Arabia, pays 0.60 riyal a liter for
premium and SR0.45 for regular (grade of petrol). "The riyal is fixed to the US$ at 3.755 but at the
current exchange rate it's R2.65 to the riyal. So premium petrol here is an
astronomical R1.61 - daylight robbery I say," Black said jokingly.
He added: "This shows how much profit is made by the petrol companies and government tax. If only the tax taken in SA was used for useful things and not wasted on R200m plus home revamps, or am I being cynical?"
Geoff agreed that petrol is dirt cheap in Saudi Arabia. "I'm responding to the article comparing the price of petrol in South Africa to other countries around the world. I'm living in Saudi Arabia, and at current rates we're paying R1.08 per litre of 91, and R1.63 per litre of 95."
In your comparison of petrol prices around the globe, living in the UK, we do pay more, said David Lane. "I currently pay £1.40 per litre of diesel. That equates to R21.28/l."But minimum wage in the UK is £6.50 per hour. (And we have 96% employment.) So in an hour, a minimum wage worker will earn 4.64 litres per hour. That makes SA petrol over 400% more expensive than the UK."
Shannon Francis, who lives in Kuwait said it cost KD3.500 to fill up a 52 litre tank vehicle, i.e. R125.00, and 86Barbie said in Qatar, they pay R1.50 per litre.
- Fin24
Something on your mind? Share your experience and you could get published.
