Cost of Living Comparison Between Durban and Springs Cost of Living Comparison Between Durban and Springs

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,083 per month in Durban vs $929 in Springs, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,560 per month in Durban vs $1,485 in Springs, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,037 per month in Durban vs $2,041 in Springs, rent included.

Durban costs about 17% more than Springs, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Durban and Springs are more affordable than the global median – Durban 19% lower, Springs 30% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Durban
Springs
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.52 R 124
$8.16 R 135
-7.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.22 R 466
$32.99 R 544
-14.46%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.94 R 81.6
$4.77 R 78.8
3.56%
Cappuccino
$1.90 R 31.28
$2.12 R 35.06
-10.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.90 R 14.81
$0.82 R 13.55
9.76%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.67 R 11.00
$0.64 R 10.49
4.69%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.97 R 32.54
$1.65 R 27.15
19.39%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 R 37.29
$2.00 R 33.03
13.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Durban
Springs
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.05 R 17.30
$1.20 R 19.79
-12.50%
White Bread (500g)
$0.96 R 15.88
$1.03 R 17.07
-6.80%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.44 R 23.75
$1.61 R 26.63
-10.56%
Eggs
$2.09 R 34.55
$2.43 R 40.03
-13.99%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.50 R 124
$6.57 R 108
14.16%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.52 R 74.6
$4.45 R 73.5
1.57%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.16 R 102
$6.40 R 106
-3.75%
Apples (1kg)
$1.56 R 25.68
$1.02 R 16.81
52.94%
Banana (1kg)
$1.40 R 23.12
$0.81 R 13.34
72.84%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.33 R 22.00
$1.15 R 18.96
15.65%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.31 R 21.66
$1.04 R 17.16
25.96%
Potato (1kg)
$1.31 R 21.60
$1.32 R 21.77
-0.76%
Onion (1kg)
$1.22 R 20.21
$1.22 R 20.15
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.97 R 16.03
$1.08 R 17.82
-10.19%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.96 R 15.85
$1.16 R 19.17
-17.24%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.00 R 49.59
$2.88 R 47.52
4.17%
Wine (Bottle)
$4.75 R 78.5
$3.88 R 64.1
22.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39 R 22.94
$1.10 R 18.09
26.36%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 R 28.80
$1.71 R 28.22
1.75%
🚌 Getting Around
Durban
Springs
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.51 R 24.92
$1.68 R 27.77
-10.12%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$38.64 R 638
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.69 R 27.90
$1.42 R 23.45
19.01%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.58 R 9.62
$1.31 R 21.68
-55.73%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.78 R 112
$3.10 R 51.1
118.71%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.32 R 21.76
$1.27 R 20.95
3.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.5K R 339.0K
$19.5K R 321.2K
5.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.1K R 397.6K
$25.5K R 420.8K
-5.51%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Durban
Springs
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$146 R 2,403
$124 R 2,046
17.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.42 R 486
$37.68 R 622
-21.92%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.24 R 565
$37.83 R 624
-9.49%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Durban
Springs
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$33.69 R 556
$37.04 R 611
-9.04%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.42 R 155
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.88 R 114
$7.66 R 126
-10.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Durban
Springs
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$205 R 3,383
$82.9 R 1,368
147.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,576 R 75.5K
$1,698 R 28.0K
169.50%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Durban
Springs
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.95 R 692
$51.0 R 842
-17.78%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.69 R 490
$32.73 R 540
-9.29%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.4 R 1,592
$89.2 R 1,472
8.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.5 R 1,180
$87.0 R 1,436
-17.85%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Durban
Springs
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$377 R 6,230
$266 R 4,397
41.68%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$364 R 6,009
$247 R 4,084
47.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$759 R 12.5K
$676 R 11.2K
12.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$588 R 9,702
$636 R 10.5K
-7.53%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$898 R 14.8K
$830 R 13.7K
8.22%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$597 R 9,849
$686 R 11.3K
-12.98%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Durban
Springs
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,247 R 20.6K
$1,166 R 19.2K
6.96%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
12.01
10.62
13.09%

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

Last update for Durban: July 14, 2026

Last update for Springs: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $377 in Durban versus $266 in Springs. 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 7% higher in Durban, 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 $28.00 in Durban versus $33.00 in Springs. Groceries tell a different story – $168 in Durban vs $161 in Springs – so Springs wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Springs: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Springs cheaper than Durban?
Yes – Durban is pricier by about 17%, 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 $1,625 per month in Durban and $1,394 in Springs. 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 Springs, 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 Springs?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $28.00 in Durban and $33.00 in Springs. 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 Springs?
Groceries cost about 4% 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 enough for either Durban or Springs?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $1,083 in Durban and $929 in Springs, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Is Durban or Springs more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Springs – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Springs. 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.

Durban vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities