Cost of Living Comparison Between Somerset West and Durban Cost of Living Comparison Between Somerset West and Durban

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $997 per month in Somerset West vs $1,058 in Durban, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,598 per month in Somerset West vs $1,552 in Durban, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,199 per month in Somerset West vs $2,046 in Durban, rent included.

Somerset West is about 6% cheaper than Durban, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Somerset West and Durban are more affordable than the global median – Somerset West 26% lower, Durban 21% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.31 R 135

$7.60 R 123

9.34%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$39.47 R 641

$28.12 R 457

40.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.03 R 81.8

$4.97 R 80.8

1.21%

Cappuccino

$1.96 R 31.90

$1.97 R 31.98

-0.51%

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

$0.80 R 12.97

$0.87 R 14.12

-8.05%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.87 R 14.16

$0.67 R 10.94

29.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.58 R 41.98

$1.93 R 31.30

33.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.54 R 41.32

$2.22 R 36.02

14.41%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.89 R 14.39

$1.00 R 16.18

-11.00%

White Bread (500g)

$0.91 R 14.80

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.87 R 30.37

$1.48 R 24.13

26.35%

Eggs

$2.13 R 34.57

$2.11 R 34.25

0.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.62 R 124

$7.28 R 118

4.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.87 R 79.1

$4.59 R 74.7

6.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.37 R 120

$6.33 R 103

16.43%

Apples (1kg)

$1.57 R 25.59

$1.57 R 25.53

Banana (1kg)

$1.48 R 24.13

$1.36 R 22.08

8.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.45 R 23.59

$1.38 R 22.43

5.07%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 R 25.89

$1.36 R 22.14

16.91%

Potato (1kg)

$1.09 R 17.67

$1.27 R 20.66

-14.17%

Onion (1kg)

$1.23 R 19.98

$1.18 R 19.18

4.24%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.10 R 17.81

$0.97 R 15.82

13.40%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 R 16.03

$0.96 R 15.57

3.13%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.13 R 50.9

Wine (Bottle)

$6.00 R 97.6

$5.02 R 81.6

19.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.41 R 22.99

$1.46 R 23.74

-3.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.65 R 26.83

$1.75 R 28.39

-5.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.63 R 26.44

$1.50 R 24.33

8.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$37.86 R 615

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 R 22.15

$1.71 R 27.76

-20.47%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.00 R 16.19

$0.61 R 9.95

63.93%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.42 R 71.8

$6.78 R 110

-34.81%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 R 20.39

$1.28 R 20.73

-2.34%

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

$19.7K R 319.8K

$20.3K R 330.0K

-3.08%

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

$22.0K R 358.0K

$24.2K R 393.9K

-9.11%

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

$69.5 R 1,129

$147 R 2,388

-52.73%

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

$29.26 R 475

$29.29 R 476

-0.10%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$40.77 R 663

$33.72 R 548

20.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.58 R 627

$34.46 R 560

11.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.14 R 149

Cinema Ticket

$6.68 R 108

$6.56 R 107

1.83%

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

$216 R 3,505

$210 R 3,405

2.94%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,368 R 54.7K

$4,585 R 74.5K

-26.56%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$31.23 R 508

$42.78 R 695

-27.00%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.27 R 443

$29.50 R 479

-7.56%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$66.6 R 1,081

$93.3 R 1,515

-28.64%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$63.9 R 1,038

$73.1 R 1,187

-12.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$619 R 10.1K

$373 R 6,063

65.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$386 R 6,280

$368 R 5,974

5.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,254 R 20.4K

$754 R 12.2K

66.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$853 R 13.9K

$594 R 9,651

43.67%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,246 R 20.3K

$910 R 14.8K

36.90%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$915 R 14.9K

$581 R 9,440

57.45%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,445 R 23.5K

$1,395 R 22.7K

3.61%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.5

12.01

-12.57%

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

Last update for Somerset West: May 30, 2026

Last update for Durban: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $619 in Somerset West versus $373 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 4% higher in Somerset West, 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 $39.00 in Somerset West versus $28.00 in Durban. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $178 vs $168 – 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

Somerset West vs Durban: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Durban is pricier by about 6%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,495 per month in Somerset West and $1,587 in Durban. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Somerset West, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $39.00 in Somerset West and $28.00 in Durban. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 6% cheaper in Durban – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Somerset West, where all-in costs run around $997, than in Durban at $1,058. In Somerset West it covers expenses comfortably, while in Durban it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Somerset West – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Somerset West. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Durban makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.