Netflix in South Africa is great value for money

Netflix subscribers in South Africa are getting some of the best value for money if you compare the relative pricing and library of content around the world, an analysis by Comparitech revealed.

It showed that South Africans pay less than the global average for basic, standard, and premium Netflix plans. It also showed that the size of the library of content available in South Africa is quickly catching up to that of the United States.

Using data gathered from JustWatch and uNoGS, the number of movies and TV shows available on Netflix in a specific country is divided by the prices advertised for that country on the streaming service’s website.

This showed that South Africa consistently ranked as one of the top 10 countries for the most cost-effective Netflix subscription.

Comparitech also looked at the price of a Netflix subscription in South Africa relative to the average monthly wage in the country, and that changed the picture somewhat.

The price of Netflix in South Africa relative to the average income is much better than in countries like India and the Phillipines, and somewhat better than Peru and Indonesia.

However, compared to wealthier countries where a Netflix subscription may be much more expensive than in South Africa, the price relative to income is much more expensive.

For example, Switzerland has the most expensive Netflix subscription in the world — over 40% more expensive than the global average.

However, a Netflix Premium subscription in Switzerland is only 0.45% of the average monthly income.

In South Africa, where a Netflix Premium subscription is 37% cheaper than the global average, the subscription fee is 2.18% of the average monthly income.

Netflix library sizes — Comparitech March 2021 (Click to enlarge)

Top 10 most cost-effective countries for Netflix Standard plans

The table below shows the ten countries with the cheapest average cost per title on Netflix Standard price plans.

Fluctuating exchange rates may have changed the rankings since publication.

While the rankings change slightly when looking at Netflix Basic and Netflix Premium price plans, it is mostly the same countries that feature in the top ten.

Thanks to a stronger Rand, South Africa has slipped lower on the rankings since Comparitech published its initial report. The table has been adjusted to take this into account.

MyBroadband asked Netflix if it intends to reduce prices in South Africa as a result of the stronger Rand.

“As Netflix subscription prices in South Africa are billed in local currency/rand, there are currently no plans to increase or decrease prices,” a spokesperson for Netflix told MyBroadband.

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