😐A single person spends $1,338 per month in Roodepoort vs $1,068 in Durban, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,902 per month in Roodepoort vs $1,560 in Durban, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,466 per month in Roodepoort vs $2,052 in Durban, rent included.
😐Roodepoort costs about 25% more than Durban, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Roodepoort sits 0% above the global median, while Durban is 20% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Roodepoort
Durban
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.25R 186
$7.36R 122
52.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.42R 735
$27.78R 460
59.90%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.90R 81.1
$5.18R 85.7
-5.41%
Cappuccino
$2.02R 33.41
$1.92R 31.72
5.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.02R 16.95
$0.87R 14.45
17.24%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83R 13.72
$0.68R 11.18
22.06%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.30R 38.14
$1.91R 31.59
20.42%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.59R 42.82
$2.27R 37.53
14.10%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Roodepoort
Durban
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.24R 20.60
$1.00R 16.51
24.00%
White Bread(500g)
$1.06R 17.59
$0.96R 15.85
10.42%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.65R 27.33
$1.43R 23.62
15.38%
Eggs
$2.53R 41.90
$2.13R 35.24
18.78%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.37R 138
$7.47R 124
12.05%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.87R 80.7
$4.60R 76.1
5.87%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.92R 115
$6.27R 104
10.37%
Apples(1kg)
$1.65R 27.26
$1.57R 26.04
5.10%
Banana(1kg)
$1.54R 25.53
$1.37R 22.64
12.41%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.67R 27.68
$1.32R 21.89
26.52%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.69R 27.93
$1.31R 21.70
29.01%
Potato(1kg)
$1.35R 22.35
$1.27R 21.06
6.30%
Onion(1kg)
$1.43R 23.60
$1.18R 19.53
21.19%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.14R 18.85
$0.98R 16.23
16.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.16R 19.26
$0.90R 14.95
28.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.75R 45.58
$3.02R 50.0
-8.94%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.01R 99.4
$4.90R 81.1
22.65%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37R 22.65
$1.46R 24.13
-6.16%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.60R 26.47
$1.74R 28.78
-8.05%
🚌 Getting Around
Roodepoort
Durban
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.62R 26.76
$1.50R 24.79
8.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$38.01R 629
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.11R 18.32
$1.65R 27.27
-32.73%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.90R 14.88
$0.58R 9.60
55.17%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.12R 51.7
$6.62R 110
-52.87%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.28R 21.15
$1.33R 21.98
-3.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.0KR 314.8K
$20.4KR 338.2K
-6.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.2KR 400.4K
$24.1KR 399.0K
0.36%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Roodepoort
Durban
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$123R 2,030
$142R 2,355
-13.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$36.93R 611
$29.90R 495
23.51%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$43.70R 723
$34.35R 569
27.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Roodepoort
Durban
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$37.72R 624
$34.01R 563
10.91%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.24R 170
$9.31R 154
9.99%
Cinema Ticket
$7.34R 122
$6.64R 110
10.54%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Roodepoort
Durban
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$210R 3,469
$203R 3,367
3.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,894R 81.0K
$4,644R 76.9K
5.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Roodepoort
Durban
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.66R 822
$42.65R 706
16.44%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.56R 539
$30.30R 501
7.46%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$87.4R 1,447
$95.7R 1,584
-8.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.0R 1,308
$71.7R 1,186
10.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Roodepoort
Durban
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$552R 9,134
$374R 6,182
47.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$613R 10.1K
$358R 5,927
71.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,377R 22.8K
$753R 12.5K
82.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$873R 14.5K
$593R 9,820
47.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$604R 9,990
$945R 15.6K
-36.13%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$452R 7,475
$680R 11.3K
-33.60%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Roodepoort
Durban
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,325R 21.9K
$1,262R 20.9K
4.97%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.51
12.01
-4.16%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Roodepoort: April 26, 2026
Last update for Durban: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $552 in Roodepoort versus $374 in Durban. 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 5% higher in Roodepoort, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $44.00 in Roodepoort versus $28.00 in Durban. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $167 – making Durban 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
Roodepoort vs Durban: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Durban cheaper than Roodepoort?
Yes – Roodepoort is pricier by about 25%, 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 $2,007 per month in Roodepoort and $1,601 in Durban. 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 Durban, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Roodepoort or Durban?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $44.00 in Roodepoort and $28.00 in Durban. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Roodepoort and Durban?
Groceries cost about 14% more in Roodepoort, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Roodepoort or Durban?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Durban, where all-in costs run around $1,068, than in Roodepoort at $1,338. In Durban it covers expenses comfortably, while in Roodepoort it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Roodepoort or Durban more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Durban – 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 Durban. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Roodepoort makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Roodepoort vs other spots: cost of living compared