Cost of Living Comparison Between Pretoria and Roodepoort Cost of Living Comparison Between Pretoria and Roodepoort

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,377 per month in Pretoria vs $1,141 in Roodepoort, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,061 per month in Pretoria vs $1,764 in Roodepoort, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,745 per month in Pretoria vs $2,386 in Roodepoort, rent included.

Pretoria costs about 21% more than Roodepoort, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Pretoria sits 1% above the global median, while Roodepoort is 17% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Pretoria
Roodepoort
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.30 R 151
$12.49 R 203
-25.54%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.02 R 618
$46.93 R 763
-18.99%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.71 R 92.8
$7.58 R 123
-24.67%
Cappuccino
$2.35 R 38.27
$2.44 R 39.74
-3.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.06 R 17.22
$1.23 R 19.93
-13.82%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88 R 14.34
$0.93 R 15.19
-5.38%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.65 R 43.12
$2.33 R 37.87
13.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 R 51.7
$2.94 R 47.72
8.16%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Pretoria
Roodepoort
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.23 R 20.03
$1.24 R 20.11
-0.81%
White Bread (500g)
$1.16 R 18.78
$1.15 R 18.70
0.87%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.85 R 30.01
$1.80 R 29.34
2.78%
Eggs
$2.54 R 41.35
$2.71 R 44.12
-6.27%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.48 R 138
$8.57 R 139
-1.05%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.07 R 82.4
$5.55 R 90.3
-8.65%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.24 R 118
$8.71 R 142
-16.88%
Apples (1kg)
$1.87 R 30.41
$2.17 R 35.28
-13.82%
Banana (1kg)
$1.63 R 26.49
$1.70 R 27.65
-4.12%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.83 R 29.82
$1.75 R 28.44
4.57%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.65 R 26.84
$2.05 R 33.40
-19.51%
Potato (1kg)
$1.19 R 19.27
$1.72 R 27.93
-30.81%
Onion (1kg)
$1.23 R 20.05
$1.71 R 27.73
-28.07%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.24 R 20.13
$1.20 R 19.51
3.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.36 R 22.11
$1.34 R 21.80
1.49%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.27 R 53.1
$3.43 R 55.7
-4.66%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.03 R 81.7
$6.02 R 97.8
-16.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54 R 25.03
$1.58 R 25.70
-2.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.92 R 31.27
$2.00 R 32.59
-4.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Pretoria
Roodepoort
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.80 R 78.0
$0.90 R 14.58
433.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$179 R 2,902
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.32 R 5.27
$0.99 R 16.14
-67.68%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.78 R 12.65
$0.90 R 14.63
-13.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.56 R 237
$14.71 R 239
-1.02%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.47 R 23.96
$1.53 R 24.92
-3.92%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.5K R 594.0K
$35.8K R 581.3K
2.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.0K R 552.7K
$34.6K R 561.9K
-1.63%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pretoria
Roodepoort
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$155 R 2,515
$221 R 3,595
-30.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$37.47 R 609
$38.04 R 618
-1.50%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.79 R 614
$37.34 R 607
1.21%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Pretoria
Roodepoort
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$31.74 R 516
$48.96 R 796
-35.17%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.81 R 176
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.41 R 120
$7.25 R 118
2.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Pretoria
Roodepoort
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$263 R 4,280
$247 R 4,017
6.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,086 R 131.5K
$5,591 R 90.9K
44.64%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Pretoria
Roodepoort
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.4 R 884
$54.5 R 885
-0.09%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.97 R 536
$33.23 R 540
-0.78%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$93.1 R 1,514
$108 R 1,762
-14.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.2 R 1,401
$92.8 R 1,508
-7.15%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Pretoria
Roodepoort
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$471 R 7,650
$623 R 10.1K
-24.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$418 R 6,789
$249 R 4,054
67.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,007 R 16.4K
$1,569 R 25.5K
-35.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$763 R 12.4K
$538 R 8,751
41.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$900 R 14.6K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$713 R 11.6K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Pretoria
Roodepoort
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,447 R 23.5K
$1,528 R 24.8K
-5.28%
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 Roodepoort: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $471 in Pretoria versus $623 in Roodepoort. 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 6% higher in Roodepoort, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $38.00 in Pretoria versus $47.00 in Roodepoort. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $198 vs $213 – making Pretoria 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
Pretoria vs Roodepoort: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Roodepoort cheaper than Pretoria?
Yes – Pretoria is pricier by about 21%, 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 $2,066 per month in Pretoria and $1,712 in Roodepoort. 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 Roodepoort, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Pretoria and in Roodepoort?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,377 in Pretoria and $1,141 in Roodepoort. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $263 per month in Pretoria and $247 in Roodepoort. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Pretoria or in Roodepoort?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Roodepoort, where all-in costs run around $1,141, than in Pretoria at $1,377. In Roodepoort it covers expenses comfortably, while in Pretoria it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Pretoria or Roodepoort more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Roodepoort – 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 Roodepoort. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Pretoria makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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