😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,377 in Pretoria versus $1,255 in Kempton Park.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,061 in Pretoria versus $1,949 in Kempton Park.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,745 in Pretoria versus $2,643 in Kempton Park.
🌍Living in Pretoria is roughly 10% more expensive than in Kempton Park, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Pretoria is 1% above, Kempton Park is 8% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Pretoria
Kempton Park
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.30R 152
$9.49R 156
-2.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.02R 623
$38.75R 635
-1.88%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.71R 93.5
$6.18R 101
-7.61%
Cappuccino
$2.35R 38.56
$2.59R 42.45
-9.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.06R 17.35
$1.12R 18.32
-5.36%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88R 14.45
$0.93R 15.22
-5.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.65R 43.45
$2.54R 41.65
4.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18R 52.1
$2.84R 46.51
11.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Pretoria
Kempton Park
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.23R 20.18
$1.35R 22.13
-8.89%
White Bread(500g)
$1.16R 18.92
$1.18R 19.28
-1.69%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.85R 30.24
$1.88R 30.80
-1.60%
Eggs
$2.54R 41.66
$2.61R 42.77
-2.68%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.48R 139
$8.57R 140
-1.05%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.07R 83.0
$5.16R 84.5
-1.74%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.24R 119
$8.88R 146
-18.47%
Apples(1kg)
$1.87R 30.64
$1.91R 31.32
-2.09%
Banana(1kg)
$1.63R 26.69
$1.79R 29.31
-8.94%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.83R 30.04
$1.85R 30.38
-1.08%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.65R 27.05
$2.01R 33.00
-17.91%
Potato(1kg)
$1.19R 19.41
$1.83R 30.00
-34.97%
Onion(1kg)
$1.23R 20.20
$1.75R 28.68
-29.71%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.24R 20.28
$1.27R 20.80
-2.36%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.36R 22.28
$1.36R 22.34
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.27R 53.5
$3.44R 56.3
-4.94%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.03R 82.3
$5.71R 93.5
-11.91%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54R 25.22
$1.71R 27.98
-9.94%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.92R 31.51
$2.47R 40.53
-22.27%
🚌 Getting Around
Pretoria
Kempton Park
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.80R 78.6
$1.53R 24.98
213.73%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$179R 2,924
$61.7R 1,011
189.19%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.32R 5.31
$0.30R 4.86
6.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.78R 12.74
$0.79R 12.94
-1.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.56R 239
$15.19R 249
-4.15%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.47R 24.14
$1.56R 25.62
-5.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.5KR 598.5K
$36.9KR 603.9K
-0.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.0KR 556.9K
$33.4KR 546.3K
1.93%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pretoria
Kempton Park
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$155R 2,534
$191R 3,124
-18.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$37.47R 614
$39.48R 647
-5.09%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.79R 619
$38.45R 630
-1.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Pretoria
Kempton Park
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$31.74R 520
$39.55R 648
-19.75%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.81R 177
$12.55R 205
-13.86%
Cinema Ticket
$7.41R 121
$8.25R 135
-10.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Pretoria
Kempton Park
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$263R 4,312
$269R 4,403
-2.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,086R 132.4K
$5,670R 92.9K
42.61%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Pretoria
Kempton Park
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.4R 891
$54.3R 889
0.26%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.97R 540
$32.69R 535
0.86%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.1R 1,525
$94.3R 1,545
-1.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.2R 1,411
$86.0R 1,408
0.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Pretoria
Kempton Park
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$471R 7,708
$315R 5,167
49.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$418R 6,840
$375R 6,148
11.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,007R 16.5K
$763R 12.5K
31.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$763R 12.5K
$787R 12.9K
-3.08%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$900R 14.7K
$898R 14.7K
0.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$713R 11.7K
$694R 11.4K
2.69%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Pretoria
Kempton Park
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,447R 23.7K
$667R 10.9K
117.03%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
11.25
0.80%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Pretoria: September 14, 2026
Last update for Kempton Park: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $471 in Pretoria and $315 in Kempton Park. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Pretoria pays 117% 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: $38.00 in Pretoria vs $39.00 in Kempton Park for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $198 vs $215 per month, with Pretoria 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 Kempton Park: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Pretoria or Kempton Park?
Kempton Park wins on cost – living expenses run 10% lower than in Pretoria. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Kempton Park the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Pretoria or in Kempton Park?
Average pay runs 117% higher in Pretoria, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Pretoria compared to Kempton Park?
Rent for a central apartment: $471 in Pretoria versus $315 in Kempton Park. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Pretoria or in Kempton Park?
Shoppers in Pretoria pay roughly 9% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
How do dining costs compare in Pretoria and in Kempton Park?
Dining out is cheaper in Kempton Park – a meal for two runs $39.00 versus $38.00 in Pretoria. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Pretoria or in Kempton Park?
At $1,255 in Kempton Park versus $1,377 in Pretoria, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Kempton Park but tight or insufficient in Pretoria. The gap between the two cities makes Kempton Park the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Pretoria or Kempton Park?
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.
How safe is Pretoria compared to Kempton Park?
Safety-wise, Pretoria and Kempton Park 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Kempton Park gentler on the wallet – expenses run 10% less than in Pretoria. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.