😐A single person spends $1,142 per month in Johannesburg vs $996 in Oudtshoorn, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,779 per month in Johannesburg vs $1,582 in Oudtshoorn, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,416 per month in Johannesburg vs $2,168 in Oudtshoorn, rent included.
😐Johannesburg costs about 15% more than Oudtshoorn, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both Johannesburg and Oudtshoorn are more affordable than the global median – Johannesburg15% lower, Oudtshoorn26% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Johannesburg
Oudtshoorn
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.40R 184
$8.42R 136
35.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.07R 729
$33.75R 546
33.54%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.96R 80.2
$4.78R 77.3
3.77%
Cappuccino
$2.27R 36.74
$2.01R 32.57
12.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.03R 16.71
$1.04R 16.79
-0.96%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.81R 13.09
$0.76R 12.35
6.58%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.63R 42.60
$2.28R 36.86
15.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48R 40.17
$2.48R 40.02
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Johannesburg
Oudtshoorn
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.15R 18.52
$1.11R 17.93
3.60%
White Bread(500g)
$1.09R 17.59
$1.01R 16.33
7.92%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.66R 26.88
$1.58R 25.60
5.06%
Eggs
$2.45R 39.54
$2.38R 38.51
2.94%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.40R 136
$7.47R 121
12.45%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.81R 77.8
$4.63R 74.9
3.89%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.85R 111
$6.76R 109
1.33%
Apples(1kg)
$1.69R 27.29
$1.62R 26.16
4.32%
Banana(1kg)
$1.52R 24.57
$1.48R 23.92
2.70%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.54R 24.92
$1.52R 24.58
1.32%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.65R 26.65
$1.60R 25.84
3.12%
Potato(1kg)
$1.45R 23.47
$1.35R 21.88
7.41%
Onion(1kg)
$1.38R 22.31
$1.20R 19.34
15.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.06R 17.08
$1.05R 17.01
0.95%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.88R 14.21
$0.96R 15.47
-8.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.00R 48.46
$2.82R 45.65
6.38%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.23R 101
$5.71R 92.3
9.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.36R 22.04
$1.40R 22.63
-2.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.60R 25.95
$1.70R 27.43
-5.88%
🚌 Getting Around
Johannesburg
Oudtshoorn
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.67R 26.99
$1.61R 26.08
3.73%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$71.1R 1,149
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.15R 18.65
$1.14R 18.47
0.88%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.96R 15.46
$0.90R 14.58
6.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.04R 65.3
$3.96R 64.0
2.02%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.21R 19.64
$1.28R 20.64
-5.47%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.2KR 358.9K
$21.6KR 349.3K
2.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.6KR 382.0K
$24.2KR 390.8K
-2.27%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Johannesburg
Oudtshoorn
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$116R 1,875
$116R 1,876
-0.08%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$39.97R 646
$34.80R 563
14.86%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.66R 690
$42.12R 681
1.28%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Johannesburg
Oudtshoorn
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$34.37R 556
$31.36R 507
9.60%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.50R 218
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.33R 119
$6.74R 109
8.75%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Johannesburg
Oudtshoorn
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$211R 3,405
$199R 3,210
6.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,820R 77.9K
$4,287R 69.3K
12.44%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Johannesburg
Oudtshoorn
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.2R 811
$50.2R 812
-0.10%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.43R 540
$32.02R 518
4.40%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$89.4R 1,445
$88.1R 1,423
1.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.7R 1,273
$79.1R 1,279
-0.48%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Johannesburg
Oudtshoorn
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$423R 6,847
$371R 6,002
14.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$376R 6,079
$328R 5,310
14.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$913R 14.8K
$677R 11.0K
34.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$709R 11.5K
$691R 11.2K
2.58%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,056R 17.1K
$803R 13.0K
31.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$770R 12.5K
$756R 12.2K
1.90%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Johannesburg
Oudtshoorn
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,654R 26.7K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.51
11.51
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Johannesburg: June 9, 2026
Last update for Oudtshoorn: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $423 in Johannesburg versus $371 in Oudtshoorn. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Johannesburg versus $34.00 in Oudtshoorn. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $185 vs $178 – making Oudtshoorn 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
Johannesburg vs Oudtshoorn: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Johannesburg or Oudtshoorn?
Johannesburg costs about 15% more than Oudtshoorn, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Johannesburg vs Oudtshoorn?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,713 per month in Johannesburg and $1,494 in Oudtshoorn. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Johannesburg or Oudtshoorn?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Oudtshoorn, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Johannesburg compared to Oudtshoorn?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,142 in Johannesburg and $996 in Oudtshoorn. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do childcare costs compare in Johannesburg and Oudtshoorn?
Kindergarten costs $211 per month in Johannesburg and $199 in Oudtshoorn. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Johannesburg or Oudtshoorn?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Oudtshoorn, where all-in costs run around $996, than in Johannesburg at $1,142. In Oudtshoorn it covers expenses comfortably, while in Johannesburg it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Johannesburg or Oudtshoorn?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Oudtshoorn costs $996 versus $1,142 in Johannesburg. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Should I move to Johannesburg or Oudtshoorn?
If budget matters most, go with Oudtshoorn. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Johannesburg makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Johannesburg vs other spots: cost of living compared