The Ford Ranger is significantly more expensive in South Africa relative to the average salary than it is in many other countries.
This is according to research done by TopAuto which examined the price of the bakkie in five different markets – Australia, Brazil, Thailand, the United Kingdom, and the United States – compared to the incomes seen in those regions.
Ford Ranger prices around the world
In South Africa, the Ford Ranger double cab has a starting price of R522,600, which is on par with the stickers seen in other showrooms around the globe, at least at a glance.
The table below shows the manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) for the cheapest five-seater Ranger as listed on Ford’s official websites for each of the five countries:
| Country | Local starting price | Price in rands |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | AUD 48,499 | R581,174 |
| Brazil | BRL 234,990 | R774,770 |
| Thailand | THB 799,000 | R391,626 |
| United Kingdom | GBP 29,800 | R681,581 |
| United States of America | USD 32,720 | R587,831 |
It’s important to note that this is not an apples-to-apples comparison, as the Ranger line-up is tailored to each market with some having access to equipment and trim levels that others do not.
Ford Ranger vs the average salary
The price tag of the popular pickup is only half the story, as we also need to look at the mean income being earned in each of these countries to get a better sense of its affordability.
This is the average annual salary for the 2023-2024 period in each nation:
| Country | Annual salary | What a Ford Ranger costs in terms of the annual salary |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | AUD 74,558 | 0.6 years |
| Brazil | BRL 103,000 | 2.2 years |
| Thailand | THB 1,170,000 | 0.7 years |
| United Kingdom | GBP 29,669 | 1 year |
| United States of America | USD 59,428 | 0.5 years |
As for South Africa, the typical formal sector salary (not including things like agriculture) is currently sitting at R26,894 per month or R322,728 per year before tax.
In other words, the cheapest Ford Ranger double cab is the equivalent of 1.6 years worth of pay for local motorists, demonstrating just how expensive cars are in South Africa.
It’s important to highlight, though, that average salary data should only be used as a rough guideline in this regard, as there are a number of factors that can affect it including a country’s population size.
Brazil is the obvious stand-out as the Ranger there is the most expensive in relative terms, but Brazil also has a massive population of 215 million with a much higher rate of poverty compared to the other countries on the list, which dilutes its salary data.
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