😐A single person spends $1,121 per month in Durban vs $1,081 in Fourways, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,782 per month in Durban vs $1,656 in Fourways, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,442 per month in Durban vs $2,232 in Fourways, rent included.
😐Durban costs about 4% more than Fourways, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both Durban and Fourways are more affordable than the global median – Durban18% lower, Fourways21% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Durban
Fourways
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.97R 130
$9.43R 154
-15.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$39.63R 649
$38.83R 636
2.06%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.11R 100
$5.43R 88.9
12.52%
Cappuccino
$2.82R 46.23
$2.37R 38.74
18.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16R 19.05
$1.10R 18.04
5.45%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87R 14.17
$0.89R 14.51
-2.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.43R 39.80
$2.43R 39.77
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58R 42.19
$2.81R 46.05
-8.19%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Durban
Fourways
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.25R 20.54
$1.22R 20.02
2.46%
White Bread(500g)
$1.04R 17.07
$1.16R 18.96
-10.34%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.59R 26.03
$1.74R 28.57
-8.62%
Eggs
$2.50R 40.92
$2.56R 41.85
-2.34%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.58R 140
$7.97R 131
7.65%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.34R 87.4
$4.67R 76.6
14.35%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.08R 116
$7.59R 124
-6.72%
Apples(1kg)
$1.93R 31.61
$1.46R 23.87
32.19%
Banana(1kg)
$1.91R 31.32
$1.64R 26.87
16.46%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.99R 32.65
$1.83R 30.04
8.74%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.63R 26.72
$1.66R 27.25
-1.81%
Potato(1kg)
$1.51R 24.73
$1.20R 19.65
25.83%
Onion(1kg)
$1.47R 24.04
$1.22R 19.99
20.49%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.24R 20.39
$1.25R 20.41
-0.80%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.22R 20.05
$1.06R 17.41
15.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.78R 61.9
$3.26R 53.4
15.95%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.01R 82.1
$5.28R 86.6
-5.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.43R 23.50
$1.54R 25.22
-7.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97R 32.34
$1.94R 31.73
1.55%
🚌 Getting Around
Durban
Fourways
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.89R 31.03
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$22.03R 361
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.47R 7.70
$0.32R 5.29
46.87%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.71R 11.58
$0.78R 12.78
-8.97%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.76R 127
$14.57R 239
-46.74%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.50R 24.63
$1.55R 25.43
-3.23%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.7KR 584.6K
$29.8KR 487.6K
19.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.2KR 527.6K
$27.7KR 454.4K
16.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Durban
Fourways
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$142R 2,325
$89.7R 1,469
58.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$33.63R 551
$37.32R 611
-9.89%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.63R 649
$37.60R 616
5.40%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Durban
Fourways
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$32.30R 529
$32.69R 535
-1.19%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.25R 151
$17.02R 279
-45.65%
Cinema Ticket
$6.75R 111
$7.32R 120
-7.79%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Durban
Fourways
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$326R 5,342
$267R 4,380
21.96%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,698R 126.1K
$8,164R 133.7K
-5.71%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Durban
Fourways
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.2R 904
$54.8R 898
0.67%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.38R 498
$32.81R 537
-7.41%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101R 1,653
$78.6R 1,287
28.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.4R 1,431
$85.2R 1,395
2.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Durban
Fourways
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$483R 7,907
$396R 6,490
21.84%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$374R 6,122
$405R 6,633
-7.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$825R 13.5K
$741R 12.1K
11.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$789R 12.9K
$698R 11.4K
13.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$890R 14.6K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$581R 9,519
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Durban
Fourways
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,269R 20.8K
$1,667R 27.3K
-23.90%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.81
11.34
4.14%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Durban: September 12, 2026
Last update for Fourways: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $483 in Durban versus $396 in Fourways. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 31% higher in Fourways, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $40.00 in Durban versus $39.00 in Fourways. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $198 vs $190 – making Fourways the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Durban vs Fourways: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Fourways cheaper than Durban?
Yes – Durban is pricier by about 4%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,681 per month in Durban and $1,621 in Fourways. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Fourways, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Durban or in Fourways?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $40.00 in Durban and $39.00 in Fourways. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Durban and in Fourways?
Groceries cost about 5% more in Durban, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Durban or in Fourways?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Fourways, where all-in costs run around $1,081, than in Durban at $1,121. In Fourways it covers expenses comfortably, while in Durban it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Durban or Fourways more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Fourways – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Durban or Fourways?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Fourways. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Durban makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.