😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,161 in Pretoria versus $1,156 in Hermanus.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,768 in Pretoria versus $1,824 in Hermanus.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,375 in Pretoria versus $2,492 in Hermanus.
😐Monthly costs are close between Pretoria and Hermanus; which city is cheaper depends on the spending category.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Pretoria14% lower, Hermanus14% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Pretoria
Hermanus
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.26R 134
$14.09R 228
-41.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.24R 554
$32.39R 524
5.71%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.67R 75.6
$4.73R 76.5
-1.27%
Cappuccino
$2.11R 34.13
$2.03R 32.86
3.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.06R 17.14
$1.22R 19.75
-13.11%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.86R 13.97
$0.75R 12.18
14.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.22R 35.87
$2.20R 35.53
0.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75R 44.46
$2.54R 41.01
8.27%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Pretoria
Hermanus
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.20R 19.45
$1.12R 18.07
7.14%
White Bread(500g)
$1.01R 16.38
$1.00R 16.23
1.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.64R 26.47
$1.64R 26.53
-
Eggs
$2.39R 38.70
$2.51R 40.60
-4.78%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.89R 128
$7.51R 121
5.06%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.68R 75.7
$4.46R 72.2
4.93%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.32R 102
$6.87R 111
-8.01%
Apples(1kg)
$1.70R 27.43
$1.60R 25.80
6.25%
Banana(1kg)
$1.54R 24.87
$1.46R 23.65
5.48%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.60R 25.85
$1.49R 24.11
7.38%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.69R 27.35
$1.58R 25.50
6.96%
Potato(1kg)
$1.33R 21.42
$1.37R 22.07
-2.92%
Onion(1kg)
$1.20R 19.48
$1.18R 19.15
1.69%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08R 17.47
$1.04R 16.88
3.85%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.13R 18.22
$0.91R 14.68
24.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.77R 44.75
$2.87R 46.37
-3.48%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.18R 83.8
$7.16R 116
-27.65%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.49R 24.16
$1.38R 22.37
7.97%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.78R 28.74
$1.72R 27.80
3.49%
🚌 Getting Around
Pretoria
Hermanus
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.23R 52.3
$1.62R 26.27
99.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$64.9R 1,049
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.37R 22.17
$1.10R 17.75
24.55%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.32R 21.29
$0.90R 14.48
46.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.15R 51.0
$3.92R 63.3
-19.64%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31R 21.17
$1.25R 20.14
4.80%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.6KR 317.3K
$21.3KR 344.8K
-7.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.7KR 415.5K
$24.0KR 387.8K
7.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pretoria
Hermanus
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$126R 2,035
$127R 2,047
-0.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$37.96R 614
$34.50R 558
10.03%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.60R 608
$52.2R 844
-27.94%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Pretoria
Hermanus
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$32.78R 530
$17.59R 284
86.36%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.48R 169
$9.58R 155
9.39%
Cinema Ticket
$7.71R 125
$4.62R 74.8
66.88%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Pretoria
Hermanus
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$195R 3,146
$200R 3,229
-2.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,381R 70.8K
$4,421R 71.5K
-0.90%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Pretoria
Hermanus
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.7R 835
$50.4R 815
2.42%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.69R 512
$32.76R 530
-3.27%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$89.0R 1,439
$88.8R 1,436
0.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.7R 1,418
$80.3R 1,298
9.22%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Pretoria
Hermanus
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$399R 6,450
$368R 5,955
8.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$403R 6,515
$418R 6,750
-3.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$729R 11.8K
$687R 11.1K
6.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$771R 12.5K
$924R 14.9K
-16.58%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$872R 14.1K
$886R 14.3K
-1.57%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$695R 11.2K
$701R 11.3K
-0.87%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Pretoria
Hermanus
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,467R 23.7K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.69
11.51
1.56%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Pretoria: June 7, 2026
Last update for Hermanus: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $399 in Pretoria and $368 in Hermanus. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $34.00 in Pretoria vs $32.00 in Hermanus for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $183 vs $180 per month, with Hermanus cheaper across the board.
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
Pretoria vs Hermanus: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,742 in Pretoria and $1,734 in Hermanus to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Pretoria and Hermanus?
Rent for a central apartment: $399 in Pretoria versus $368 in Hermanus. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Pretoria or Hermanus?
Dining out is cheaper in Hermanus – a meal for two runs $32.00 versus $34.00 in Pretoria. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $195 in Pretoria versus $200 in Hermanus. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Pretoria or Hermanus?
At $1,156 in Hermanus versus $1,161 in Pretoria, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Hermanus but tight or insufficient in Pretoria. The gap between the two cities makes Hermanus the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Pretoria or Hermanus?
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.
Which city is safer, Pretoria or Hermanus?
Safety-wise, Pretoria and Hermanus are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
It comes down to priorities – Hermanus wins on affordability, Pretoria on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.