Cost of Living Comparison Between Durban and Knysna Cost of Living Comparison Between Durban and Knysna

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,073 per month in Durban vs $1,112 in Knysna, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,553 per month in Durban vs $1,635 in Knysna, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,032 per month in Durban vs $2,157 in Knysna, rent included.

Durban is about 4% cheaper than Knysna, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Durban and Knysna are more affordable than the global median – Durban 19% lower, Knysna 16% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.66 R 127

$8.25 R 136

-7.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.11 R 464

$36.04 R 595

-22.00%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.16 R 85.3

$4.98 R 82.2

3.61%

Cappuccino

$1.91 R 31.53

$2.24 R 37.06

-14.73%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.93 R 15.43

$1.09 R 18.07

-14.68%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.68 R 11.18

$0.79 R 13.12

-13.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.01 R 33.24

$2.08 R 34.37

-3.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.21 R 36.46

$2.19 R 36.12

0.91%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 R 17.26

$1.20 R 19.79

-13.33%

White Bread (500g)

$0.92 R 15.16

$0.96 R 15.94

-4.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.48 R 24.43

$1.60 R 26.44

-7.50%

Eggs

$2.16 R 35.74

$2.63 R 43.45

-17.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.43 R 123

$10.22 R 169

-27.30%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.50 R 74.4

$4.35 R 71.9

3.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.36 R 105

$6.53 R 108

-2.60%

Apples (1kg)

$1.57 R 25.87

$1.38 R 22.72

13.77%

Banana (1kg)

$1.36 R 22.41

$1.68 R 27.73

-19.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.33 R 21.97

$1.27 R 20.99

4.72%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 R 22.45

$1.58 R 26.10

-13.92%

Potato (1kg)

$1.26 R 20.75

$1.40 R 23.17

-10.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.21 R 20.00

$1.34 R 22.20

-9.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 R 16.96

$1.11 R 18.26

-7.21%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.97 R 16.02

$1.00 R 16.48

-3.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.07 R 50.6

$2.84 R 46.85

8.10%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.75 R 78.5

$4.90 R 81.0

-3.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.40 R 23.14

$1.38 R 22.73

1.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.73 R 28.66

$1.69 R 27.95

2.37%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.56 R 25.71

$1.63 R 26.88

-4.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$38.48 R 636

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.69 R 27.94

$1.13 R 18.73

49.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.59 R 9.75

$0.90 R 14.91

-34.44%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.64 R 110

$4.10 R 67.7

61.95%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 R 22.07

$1.34 R 22.21

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$20.2K R 334.5K

$21.8K R 360.4K

-7.20%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$24.4K R 403.0K

$21.6K R 357.7K

12.67%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$144 R 2,383

$87.8 R 1,450

64.34%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$29.66 R 490

$22.54 R 372

31.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.15 R 564

$41.28 R 682

-17.27%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.48 R 570

$44.30 R 732

-22.17%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.93 R 148

Cinema Ticket

$6.65 R 110

$6.67 R 110

-0.30%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$204 R 3,366

$235 R 3,880

-13.24%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,638 R 76.6K

$4,421 R 73.0K

4.92%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.59 R 704

$50.0 R 826

-14.82%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.49 R 487

$32.35 R 535

-8.84%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.3 R 1,542

$108 R 1,783

-13.54%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.1 R 1,208

$79.3 R 1,310

-7.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$372 R 6,147

$470 R 7,758

-20.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$366 R 6,043

$457 R 7,548

-19.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$756 R 12.5K

$747 R 12.3K

1.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$582 R 9,619

$740 R 12.2K

-21.29%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$872 R 14.4K

$1,003 R 16.6K

-13.06%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$581 R 9,604

$1,011 R 16.7K

-42.50%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,212 R 20.0K

$915 R 15.1K

32.44%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.01

12.25

-1.96%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Durban: July 27, 2026

Last update for Knysna: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $372 in Durban versus $470 in Knysna. 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 32% higher in Durban, 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 $28.00 in Durban versus $36.00 in Knysna. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $168 vs $184 – making Durban 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 Knysna: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Knysna 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.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,609 per month in Durban and $1,669 in Knysna. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Durban, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $28.00 in Durban and $36.00 in Knysna. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 9% more in Knysna, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Durban, where all-in costs run around $1,073, than in Knysna at $1,112. In Durban it covers expenses comfortably, while in Knysna it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Durban – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Durban. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Knysna makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.