Cost of Living Comparison Between Manta and Randburg Cost of Living Comparison Between Manta and Randburg

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $691 in Manta versus $1,086 in Randburg.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,169 in Manta versus $1,772 in Randburg.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,648 in Manta versus $2,459 in Randburg.

Living in Manta costs roughly 36% less than in Randburg, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Manta 49% lower, Randburg 21% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.44 $3.44

$10.89 R 178

-68.41%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.9 $50.9

$46.23 R 757

10.06%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.33 $6.33

$5.49 R 89.9

15.30%

Cappuccino

$2.96 $2.96

$2.51 R 41.16

17.93%

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

$0.76 $0.76

$1.17 R 19.22

-35.04%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.69 $0.69

$0.97 R 15.95

-28.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.96 $1.96

$2.54 R 41.68

-22.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.91 $2.91

$3.29 R 53.9

-11.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.02 $1.02

$1.36 R 22.27

-25.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.91 $1.91

$1.17 R 19.15

63.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.03 $1.03

$1.81 R 29.59

-43.09%

Eggs

$2.05 $2.05

$2.74 R 44.92

-25.18%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.92 $2.92

$8.42 R 138

-65.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.05 $3.05

$5.56 R 91.1

-45.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.06 $7.06

$7.32 R 120

-3.55%

Apples (1kg)

$1.01 $1.01

$2.05 R 33.56

-50.73%

Banana (1kg)

$0.78 $0.78

$1.65 R 27.09

-52.73%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.68 $0.68

$1.79 R 29.31

-62.01%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.81 $0.81

$1.62 R 26.49

-50.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.48 $0.48

$1.70 R 27.76

-71.76%

Onion (1kg)

$0.52 $0.52

$1.64 R 26.94

-68.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 $0.71

$1.19 R 19.45

-40.34%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.96 $0.96

$1.28 R 21.02

-25.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.99 $3.99

$3.47 R 56.8

14.99%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.04 $7.04

$5.28 R 86.6

33.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.98 $0.98

$1.54 R 25.17

-36.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 $2.14

$2.28 R 37.40

-6.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.47 $0.47

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.06 $2.06

$0.32 R 5.32

543.75%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.78 $1.78

$0.89 R 14.65

100.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.12 $9.12

$14.60 R 239

-37.53%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.71 $0.71

$1.49 R 24.37

-52.35%

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

$21.2K $21.2K

$36.8K R 603.1K

-42.30%

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

$31.0K $31.0K

$31.9K R 522.8K

-3.03%

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

$95.0 $95.0

$154 R 2,515

-38.15%

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

$10.90 $10.90

$38.27 R 627

-71.52%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.64 $25.64

$37.05 R 607

-30.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.10 $22.10

$20.80 R 341

6.25%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.42 $35.42

$4.58 R 75.1

673.36%

Cinema Ticket

$4.88 $4.88

$7.20 R 118

-32.22%

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

$393 $393

$267 R 4,375

47.10%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,067 $6,067

$5,650 R 92.5K

7.39%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.6 $55.6

$55.4 R 907

0.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.40 $40.40

$46.65 R 764

-13.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 $101

$106 R 1,743

-4.87%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$63.2 $63.2

$83.6 R 1,370

-24.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$304 $304

$308 R 5,051

-1.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$138 $138

$303 R 4,965

-54.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$921 $921

$557 R 9,130

65.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$334 $334

$735 R 12.0K

-54.60%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$482 $482

$1,960 R 32.1K

-75.43%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.05

11.34

-11.38%

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

Last update for Manta: September 13, 2026

Last update for Randburg: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $304 in Manta and $308 in Randburg. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Randburg pays 307% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $51.0 in Manta vs $46.00 in Randburg. Groceries flip the comparison at $143 vs $205, with Manta cheaper for home cooking.

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

Manta vs Randburg: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Manta is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 57% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 307% lower in Randburg. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $304 in Manta versus $308 in Randburg. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $393 in Manta versus $267 in Randburg. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Manta – a meal for two runs $51.0 versus $46.00 in Randburg. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Manta gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Manta gentler on the wallet – expenses run 57% less than in Randburg. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.