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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,058 in Randburg versus $907 in Manta.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,604 in Randburg versus $1,515 in Manta.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,151 in Randburg versus $2,123 in Manta.

Living in Randburg is roughly 17% more expensive than in Manta, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Randburg 21% lower, Manta 32% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.16 R 185

$3.45 $3.45

223.48%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$42.44 R 703

$45.60 $45.60

-6.93%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.65 R 77.0

$7.20 $7.20

-35.42%

Cappuccino

$2.22 R 36.76

$2.49 $2.49

-10.84%

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

$1.06 R 17.55

$0.86 $0.86

23.26%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.88 R 14.52

$0.62 $0.62

41.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.49 R 41.19

$1.79 $1.79

39.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.83 R 46.82

$2.97 $2.97

-4.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.14 R 18.93

$1.08 $1.08

5.56%

White Bread (500g)

$1.07 R 17.66

$1.76 $1.76

-39.20%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 R 25.94

$1.71 $1.71

-8.19%

Eggs

$2.47 R 40.89

$2.48 $2.48

-0.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.64 R 126

$5.97 $5.97

27.97%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.71 R 78.0

$5.15 $5.15

-8.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.54 R 108

$6.35 $6.35

2.99%

Apples (1kg)

$1.61 R 26.61

$2.10 $2.10

-23.33%

Banana (1kg)

$1.47 R 24.35

$1.05 $1.05

40.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.54 R 25.42

$1.06 $1.06

45.28%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.66 R 27.50

$1.05 $1.05

58.10%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 R 21.87

$1.01 $1.01

30.69%

Onion (1kg)

$1.41 R 23.32

$1.39 $1.39

1.44%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.05 R 17.42

$0.74 $0.74

41.89%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.87 R 14.47

$0.99 $0.99

-12.12%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.00 R 49.67

$6.04 $6.04

-50.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.29 R 87.6

$6.87 $6.87

-23.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.56 R 25.82

$1.52 $1.52

2.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.87 R 30.90

$2.05 $2.05

-8.78%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.69 R 28.05

$0.36 $0.36

369.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$24.28 $24.28

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.14 R 18.88

$1.72 $1.72

-33.72%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.10 R 18.13

$1.97 $1.97

-44.16%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.99 R 49.53

$9.78 $9.78

-69.43%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 R 20.89

$0.67 $0.67

88.06%

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

$22.6K R 373.8K

$19.7K $19.7K

14.59%

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

$24.3K R 402.4K

$24.4K $24.4K

-0.30%

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

$124 R 2,046

$37.03 $37.03

233.76%

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

$40.40 R 669

$12.08 $12.08

234.44%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$41.76 R 691

$31.30 $31.30

33.42%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$18.18 R 301

$39.29 $39.29

-53.73%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.29 R 71.1

$14.52 $14.52

-70.45%

Cinema Ticket

$7.39 R 122

$7.06 $7.06

4.67%

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

$204 R 3,382

$232 $232

-11.99%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,313 R 71.4K

$5,910 $5,910

-27.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.9 R 843

$51.4 $51.4

-0.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.41 R 537

$42.77 $42.77

-24.22%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.0 R 1,507

$104 $104

-12.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.3 R 1,296

$90.1 $90.1

-13.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$285 R 4,712

$460 $460

-38.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$335 R 5,550

$339 $339

-1.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$497 R 8,219

$480 $480

3.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$638 R 10.6K

$767 $767

-16.83%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,894 R 31.4K

$475 $475

299.14%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.69

9.35

25.03%

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

Last update for Randburg: July 12, 2026

Last update for Manta: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $285 in Randburg and $460 in Manta. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Randburg pays 299% 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: $42.00 in Randburg vs $46.00 in Manta for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $179 vs $180 per month, with Randburg 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

Randburg vs Manta: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Manta is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 17% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 299% higher in Randburg, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $285 in Randburg versus $460 in Manta. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $204 in Randburg versus $232 in Manta. 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 $46.00 versus $42.00 in Randburg. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $907 in Manta versus $1,058 in Randburg, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Manta but tight or insufficient in Randburg. The gap between the two cities makes Manta the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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 17% less than in Randburg. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.