Cost of Living Comparison Between Welkom and Pretoria Cost of Living Comparison Between Welkom and Pretoria

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $986 per month in Welkom vs $1,174 in Pretoria, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,500 per month in Welkom vs $1,795 in Pretoria, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,013 per month in Welkom vs $2,417 in Pretoria, rent included.

Welkom is about 16% cheaper than Pretoria, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Welkom and Pretoria are more affordable than the global median – Welkom 26% lower, Pretoria 12% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Welkom
Pretoria
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.39 R 139
$8.17 R 135
2.69%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.72 R 326
$34.21 R 566
-42.36%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.71 R 78.0
$4.71 R 77.9
-
Cappuccino
$1.64 R 27.15
$2.01 R 33.24
-18.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.43 R 7.19
$1.05 R 17.44
-59.05%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.53 R 8.85
$0.82 R 13.59
-35.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.10 R 18.16
$2.21 R 36.62
-50.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38 R 22.84
$2.82 R 46.61
-51.06%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Welkom
Pretoria
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.98 R 16.17
$1.19 R 19.73
-17.65%
White Bread (500g)
$0.99 R 16.43
$1.02 R 16.90
-2.94%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.25 R 20.76
$1.65 R 27.25
-24.24%
Eggs
$1.73 R 28.62
$2.37 R 39.19
-27.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.26 R 104
$7.76 R 128
-19.33%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.38 R 72.4
$4.58 R 75.8
-4.37%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.42 R 73.1
$6.35 R 105
-30.39%
Apples (1kg)
$1.37 R 22.66
$1.69 R 27.97
-18.93%
Banana (1kg)
$1.60 R 26.42
$1.60 R 26.46
-
Oranges (1kg)
$1.59 R 26.24
$1.59 R 26.38
-
Tomato (1kg)
$1.09 R 18.05
$1.64 R 27.14
-33.54%
Potato (1kg)
$1.09 R 18.06
$1.30 R 21.59
-16.15%
Onion (1kg)
$1.09 R 18.02
$1.16 R 19.17
-6.03%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.86 R 14.29
$1.09 R 18.02
-21.10%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.11 R 18.38
$1.11 R 18.41
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.19 R 36.17
$2.86 R 47.37
-23.43%
Wine (Bottle)
$2.38 R 39.39
$5.04 R 83.4
-52.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.44 R 23.86
$1.50 R 24.81
-4.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66 R 27.55
$1.79 R 29.65
-7.26%
🚌 Getting Around
Welkom
Pretoria
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.67 R 27.56
$3.12 R 51.6
-46.47%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$63.5 R 1,050
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.36 R 22.54
$1.41 R 23.42
-3.55%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.37 R 22.67
$1.31 R 21.72
4.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.16 R 52.3
$3.02 R 49.96
4.64%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.16 R 19.20
$1.31 R 21.66
-11.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.3K R 318.7K
$19.5K R 323.5K
-1.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.7K R 425.5K
$26.2K R 434.4K
-2.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Welkom
Pretoria
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$122 R 2,022
$126 R 2,092
-3.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$37.77 R 625
$38.00 R 629
-0.61%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.85 R 626
$38.28 R 634
-1.12%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Welkom
Pretoria
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$31.33 R 519
$32.47 R 537
-3.51%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$10.57 R 175
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.37 R 122
$7.52 R 124
-1.99%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Welkom
Pretoria
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$196 R 3,252
$196 R 3,245
0.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,373 R 72.4K
$4,288 R 71.0K
1.97%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Welkom
Pretoria
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.6 R 853
$51.1 R 846
0.88%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.76 R 542
$32.25 R 534
1.58%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.5 R 1,465
$87.7 R 1,452
0.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.6 R 1,467
$87.2 R 1,443
1.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Welkom
Pretoria
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$360 R 5,963
$396 R 6,553
-9.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$340 R 5,628
$393 R 6,512
-13.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$687 R 11.4K
$723 R 12.0K
-5.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$684 R 11.3K
$770 R 12.7K
-11.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$682 R 11.3K
$898 R 14.9K
-24.13%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$699 R 11.6K
$700 R 11.6K
-0.13%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Welkom
Pretoria
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$1,408 R 23.3K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.69
11.69
-

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

Last update for Welkom: April 28, 2026

Last update for Pretoria: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $360 in Welkom versus $396 in Pretoria. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Welkom versus $34.00 in Pretoria. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $151 vs $181 – making Welkom 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
Welkom vs Pretoria: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Pretoria cheaper than Welkom?
Yes – Pretoria is pricier by about 19%, 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 $1,480 per month in Welkom and $1,761 in Pretoria. 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 Welkom, 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 Welkom vs Pretoria?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $986 in Welkom and $1,174 in Pretoria. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $196 per month in Welkom and $196 in Pretoria. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for Welkom or Pretoria?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Welkom, where all-in costs run around $986, than in Pretoria at $1,174. In Welkom it covers expenses comfortably, while in Pretoria it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Welkom or Pretoria more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Welkom – 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 Welkom. 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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