Cost of Living Comparison Between Durban and Somerset West Cost of Living Comparison Between Durban and Somerset West

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,171 per month in Durban vs $1,186 in Somerset West, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,816 per month in Durban vs $1,965 in Somerset West, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,461 per month in Durban vs $2,744 in Somerset West, rent included.

Durban is about 1% cheaper than Somerset West, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Durban and Somerset West are more affordable than the global median – Durban 15% lower, Somerset West 14% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.90 R 126

$12.27 R 196

-35.62%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$39.25 R 628

$47.27 R 756

-16.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.07 R 97.1

$5.74 R 91.8

5.75%

Cappuccino

$2.85 R 45.54

$2.12 R 34.00

34.43%

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

$1.18 R 18.90

$1.07 R 17.07

10.28%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.93 R 14.83

$0.95 R 15.23

-2.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.54 R 40.61

$2.73 R 43.73

-6.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 R 41.73

$3.46 R 55.4

-24.57%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.30 R 20.88

$1.05 R 16.81

23.81%

White Bread (500g)

$1.07 R 17.13

$1.03 R 16.50

3.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.56 R 24.92

$2.13 R 34.16

-26.76%

Eggs

$2.44 R 39.06

$2.34 R 37.44

4.27%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.54 R 137

$8.95 R 143

-4.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.32 R 85.1

$5.44 R 87.0

-2.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.14 R 114

$9.71 R 155

-26.47%

Apples (1kg)

$1.97 R 31.49

$1.93 R 30.83

2.07%

Banana (1kg)

$1.95 R 31.17

$1.99 R 31.86

-2.01%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.04 R 32.68

$1.71 R 27.34

19.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.63 R 26.09

$1.72 R 27.58

-5.23%

Potato (1kg)

$1.56 R 24.92

$1.57 R 25.09

-0.64%

Onion (1kg)

$1.44 R 23.10

$1.54 R 24.63

-6.49%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.25 R 20.05

$1.38 R 22.10

-9.42%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 R 19.17

$1.06 R 16.97

13.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.65 R 58.4

$3.46 R 55.4

5.49%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.95 R 79.2

$6.40 R 102

-22.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.50 R 24.05

$1.44 R 22.97

4.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.00 R 31.96

$1.84 R 29.37

8.70%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.91 R 30.50

$1.21 R 19.31

57.85%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.78 R 365

$61.3 R 980

-62.81%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.46 R 7.34

$0.65 R 10.34

-29.23%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.77 R 12.37

$1.60 R 25.58

-51.88%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.69 R 123

$5.06 R 80.9

51.98%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 R 23.92

$1.44 R 22.99

3.47%

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

$36.5K R 584.4K

$30.3K R 484.3K

20.67%

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

$33.5K R 535.4K

$30.0K R 480.2K

11.50%

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

$144 R 2,312

$86.2 R 1,379

67.64%

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

$34.78 R 557

$31.45 R 503

10.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$41.26 R 660

$40.32 R 645

2.33%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.89 R 526

$46.98 R 752

-29.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.31 R 149

$11.11 R 178

-16.20%

Cinema Ticket

$6.88 R 110

$7.44 R 119

-7.53%

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

$324 R 5,184

$265 R 4,239

22.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,024 R 128.4K

$3,814 R 61.0K

110.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.7 R 907

$32.05 R 513

76.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.20 R 499

$31.89 R 510

-2.16%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 R 1,608

$72.5 R 1,160

38.63%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$91.2 R 1,459

$59.7 R 955

52.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 R 7,848

$670 R 10.7K

-26.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$390 R 6,235

$436 R 6,984

-10.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$833 R 13.3K

$1,369 R 21.9K

-39.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$789 R 12.6K

$978 R 15.6K

-19.27%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$924 R 14.8K

$1,316 R 21.1K

-29.83%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$614 R 9,832

$921 R 14.7K

-33.28%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,293 R 20.7K

$1,476 R 23.6K

-12.41%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.81

10.12

16.70%

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

Last update for Durban: September 6, 2026

Last update for Somerset West: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Durban versus $670 in Somerset West. 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 14% higher in Somerset West, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $39.00 in Durban versus $47.00 in Somerset West. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $200 vs $209 – 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 Somerset West: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Somerset West is pricier by about 1%, 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 $1,756 per month in Durban and $1,779 in Somerset West. 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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,171 in Durban and $1,186 in Somerset West. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 169% less in Durban. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Durban, where all-in costs run around $1,171, than in Somerset West at $1,186. In Durban it covers expenses comfortably, while in Somerset West 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, Somerset West makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.