😐A single person spends $1,068 per month in Durban vs $994 in Mossel Bay, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,560 per month in Durban vs $1,590 in Mossel Bay, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,052 per month in Durban vs $2,185 in Mossel Bay, rent included.
😐Durban costs about 7% more than Mossel Bay, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Durban and Mossel Bay are more affordable than the global median – Durban20% lower, Mossel Bay26% lower.
Moneda
🍽 Eating Out
Durban
Mossel Bay
Diferencia
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.36R 123
$13.28R 223
-44.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.78R 466
$44.99R 755
-38.25%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.18R 86.9
$8.32R 140
-37.74%
Cappuccino
$1.92R 32.14
$2.35R 39.36
-18.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87R 14.64
$1.24R 20.77
-29.84%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68R 11.33
$0.95R 15.85
-28.42%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.91R 32.01
$2.23R 37.37
-14.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.27R 38.03
$2.81R 47.20
-19.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Durban
Mossel Bay
Diferencia
Milk(1 liter)
$1.00R 16.73
$1.04R 17.39
-3.85%
White Bread(500g)
$0.96R 16.06
$1.04R 17.52
-7.69%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.43R 23.93
$2.13R 35.68
-32.86%
Eggs
$2.13R 35.71
$2.92R 48.89
-27.05%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.47R 125
$8.64R 145
-13.54%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.60R 77.1
$4.73R 79.3
-2.75%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.27R 105
$7.35R 123
-14.69%
Apples(1kg)
$1.57R 26.38
$1.64R 27.46
-4.27%
Banana(1kg)
$1.37R 22.94
$1.04R 17.48
31.73%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.32R 22.18
$1.44R 24.17
-8.33%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.31R 21.99
$1.92R 32.24
-31.77%
Potato(1kg)
$1.27R 21.34
$1.89R 31.76
-32.80%
Onion(1kg)
$1.18R 19.79
$1.60R 26.78
-26.25%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.98R 16.45
$1.04R 17.40
-5.77%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90R 15.15
$1.12R 18.81
-19.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.02R 50.7
$3.43R 57.5
-11.95%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.90R 82.2
$5.28R 88.5
-7.20%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.46R 24.45
$1.45R 24.37
0.69%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74R 29.16
$2.46R 41.17
-29.27%
🚌 Getting Around
Durban
Mossel Bay
Diferencia
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.50R 25.12
$1.66R 27.91
-9.64%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$38.01R 637
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.65R 27.64
$1.10R 18.52
50.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.58R 9.73
$1.10R 18.51
-47.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.62R 111
$4.13R 69.3
60.29%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.33R 22.27
$1.26R 21.20
5.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.4KR 342.7K
$19.4KR 325.2K
5.37%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.1KR 404.3K
$19.8KR 331.5K
21.97%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Durban
Mossel Bay
Diferencia
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$142R 2,386
$87.2R 1,462
63.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.90R 501
$16.73R 281
78.72%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.35R 576
$39.94R 670
-14.00%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Durban
Mossel Bay
Diferencia
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$34.01R 570
$19.61R 329
73.43%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.31R 156
$13.48R 226
-30.93%
Cinema Ticket
$6.64R 111
$6.81R 114
-2.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Durban
Mossel Bay
Diferencia
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$203R 3,412
$118R 1,977
72.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,644R 77.9K
$1,547R 25.9K
200.26%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Durban
Mossel Bay
Diferencia
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.65R 715
$42.47R 712
0.42%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.30R 508
$21.41R 359
41.52%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$95.7R 1,605
$76.4R 1,282
25.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.7R 1,202
$62.4R 1,046
14.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Durban
Mossel Bay
Diferencia
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$374R 6,264
$463R 7,764
-19.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$358R 6,006
$336R 5,632
6.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$753R 12.6K
$958R 16.1K
-21.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$593R 9,950
$627R 10.5K
-5.29%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$945R 15.8K
$613R 10.3K
54.10%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$680R 11.4K
$614R 10.3K
10.78%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Durban
Mossel Bay
Diferencia
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,262R 21.2K
$1,486R 24.9K
-15.05%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
12.01
12.12
-0.91%
Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.
Última actualización para Durban: April 26, 2026
Última actualización para Mossel Bay: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $374 in Durban versus $463 in Mossel Bay. 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 18% higher in Mossel Bay, 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 $45.00 in Mossel Bay. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $167 vs $192 – making Durban the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
Comparación de velocidades medias de internet por ciudad (actualizado April 2026)
El gráfico resalta el umbral de precisión para velocidades de internet móvil y fija, actualizado trimestralmente.
Índice del coste de vida para nómadas digitales
Durban vs Mossel Bay: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes
Is Mossel Bay cheaper than Durban?
Yes – Durban is pricier by about 7%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. 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 $1,601 per month in Durban and $1,491 in Mossel Bay. 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 Mossel Bay, 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 Mossel Bay?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $28.00 in Durban and $45.00 in Mossel Bay. 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 Mossel Bay?
Interestingly, groceries are about 14% cheaper in Durban – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for Durban or Mossel Bay?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Mossel Bay, where all-in costs run around $994, than in Durban at $1,068. In Mossel Bay it covers expenses comfortably, while in Durban it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Durban or Mossel Bay more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Mossel Bay – 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 Mossel Bay?
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 Mossel Bay. 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.