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 $1,083 per month in Durban vs $999 in Somerset West, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,560 per month in Durban vs $1,633 in Somerset West, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,037 per month in Durban vs $2,267 in Somerset West, rent included.

Durban costs about 8% more than Somerset West, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Durban and Somerset West are more affordable than the global median – Durban 19% lower, Somerset West 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.52 R 124

$8.60 R 142

-12.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.22 R 466

$39.17 R 647

-27.96%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.94 R 81.6

$4.87 R 80.5

1.44%

Cappuccino

$1.90 R 31.28

$1.97 R 32.56

-3.55%

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

$0.90 R 14.81

$0.83 R 13.64

8.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.67 R 11.00

$0.83 R 13.78

-19.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.97 R 32.54

$2.55 R 42.07

-22.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.26 R 37.29

$2.54 R 41.94

-11.02%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 R 17.30

$0.89 R 14.68

17.98%

White Bread (500g)

$0.96 R 15.88

$0.92 R 15.15

4.35%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.44 R 23.75

$1.92 R 31.73

-25.00%

Eggs

$2.09 R 34.55

$2.20 R 36.35

-5.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.50 R 124

$7.62 R 126

-1.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.52 R 74.6

$4.80 R 79.2

-5.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.16 R 102

$7.40 R 122

-16.76%

Apples (1kg)

$1.56 R 25.68

$1.56 R 25.82

Banana (1kg)

$1.40 R 23.12

$1.49 R 24.63

-6.04%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.33 R 22.00

$1.46 R 24.11

-8.90%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.31 R 21.66

$1.55 R 25.52

-15.48%

Potato (1kg)

$1.31 R 21.60

$1.08 R 17.82

21.30%

Onion (1kg)

$1.22 R 20.21

$1.18 R 19.46

3.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.97 R 16.03

$1.06 R 17.44

-8.49%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.96 R 15.85

$0.96 R 15.80

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.00 R 49.59

$3.07 R 50.7

-2.28%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.75 R 78.5

$5.91 R 97.6

-19.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.39 R 22.94

$1.42 R 23.38

-2.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.74 R 28.80

$1.69 R 27.91

2.96%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.51 R 24.92

$1.60 R 26.47

-5.63%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$38.64 R 638

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.69 R 27.90

$1.43 R 23.55

18.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 R 9.62

$1.00 R 16.49

-42.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.78 R 112

$4.43 R 73.2

53.05%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 R 21.76

$1.18 R 19.54

11.86%

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

$20.5K R 339.0K

$19.9K R 328.9K

3.07%

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

$24.1K R 397.6K

$22.0K R 362.7K

9.61%

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

$146 R 2,403

$68.8 R 1,135

111.72%

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

$29.42 R 486

$29.22 R 482

0.68%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.24 R 565

$41.52 R 685

-17.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.69 R 556

$38.44 R 634

-12.36%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.42 R 155

Cinema Ticket

$6.88 R 114

$6.64 R 110

3.61%

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

$205 R 3,383

$213 R 3,522

-3.96%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,576 R 75.5K

$3,341 R 55.1K

36.95%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$41.95 R 692

$31.36 R 518

33.77%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.69 R 490

$27.54 R 455

7.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.4 R 1,592

$66.1 R 1,091

45.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.5 R 1,180

$64.1 R 1,058

11.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$377 R 6,230

$610 R 10.1K

-38.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$364 R 6,009

$388 R 6,405

-6.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$759 R 12.5K

$1,260 R 20.8K

-39.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$588 R 9,702

$870 R 14.4K

-32.44%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$898 R 14.8K

$1,262 R 20.8K

-28.79%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$597 R 9,849

$930 R 15.3K

-35.82%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,247 R 20.6K

$1,427 R 23.5K

-12.60%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.01

10.5

14.38%

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

Last update for Durban: July 14, 2026

Last update for Somerset West: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $377 in Durban versus $610 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 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 $39.00 in Somerset West. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $168 vs $178 – 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 – Durban is pricier by about 8%, 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 $1,625 per month in Durban and $1,499 in Somerset West. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Somerset West, 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 $39.00 in Somerset West. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 6% cheaper in Durban – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Somerset West, where all-in costs run around $999, than in Durban at $1,083. In Somerset West it covers expenses comfortably, while in Durban it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Somerset West – 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 Somerset West. 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.