Cost of Living in Grahamstown - Updated Prices & Insights

Solo nomad: Estimated monthly costs are $561 (excluding rent), and $1,026 including rent.

Family of 3: Estimated monthly costs are $1,323 (excluding rent), and $2,144 including rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.73 R 155

$5.15 R 91.7

$17.19 R 306

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.55 R 668

$26.6 R 473

$75.1 R 1,336

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.91 R 87.4

$3.96 R 70.3

$5.65 R 100

Cappuccino

$2.11 R 37.56

$1.14 R 20.32

$3.14 R 55.9

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

$1.09 R 19.43

$0.84 R 15.01

$1.82 R 32.32

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 R 13.07

$0.52 R 9.27

$1.3 R 23.16

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.1 R 37.41

$1.05 R 18.7

$2.89 R 51.4

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.6 R 46.31

$1.74 R 30.87

$4.34 R 77.2

Milk (1 liter)

$1.28 R 22.83

$0.95 R 16.97

$2.03 R 36.16

White Bread (500g)

$1.06 R 18.85

$0.68 R 12.08

$1.33 R 23.6

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.47 R 26.23

$1.03 R 18.36

$2.17 R 38.52

Eggs

$2.34 R 41.6

$1.28 R 22.85

$3.86 R 68.7

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.17 R 145

$5.35 R 95.1

$13.89 R 247

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.23 R 75.2

$2.59 R 46.09

$6.62 R 118

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.39 R 114

$4.77 R 84.9

$9.32 R 166

Apples (1kg)

$1.69 R 30.11

$1.1 R 19.65

$2.25 R 40.03

Banana (1kg)

$1.66 R 29.5

$1.08 R 19.27

$2.72 R 48.38

Oranges (1kg)

$1.48 R 26.28

$0.71 R 12.7

$2.74 R 48.73

Tomato (1kg)

$1.69 R 30.12

$1.06 R 18.9

$2.27 R 40.41

Potato (1kg)

$1.29 R 23.02

$0.54 R 9.62

$2.16 R 38.47

Onion (1kg)

$1.22 R 21.66

$0.56 R 10.02

$1.97 R 35.08

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.14 R 20.29

$0.66 R 11.75

$1.49 R 26.54

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.96 R 17.14

$0.69 R 12.22

$1.44 R 25.53

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.71 R 48.24

$2.44 R 43.42

$3.53 R 62.7

Wine (Bottle)

$5.6 R 99.7

$3.55 R 63.1

$9.34 R 166

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.43 R 25.39

$0.92 R 16.43

$2.35 R 41.82

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.44 R 25.62

$0.87 R 15.4

$2.4 R 42.7

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.61 R 28.7

$0.66 R 11.65

$1.61 R 28.7

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.14 R 20.29

$0.92 R 16.3

$2.28 R 40.57

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.05 R 18.61

$0.61 R 10.93

$1.91 R 33.99

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.08 R 72.6

$2.83 R 50.4

$5.67 R 101

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 R 19.94

$1.05 R 18.67

$1.25 R 22.15

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

$23.1K R 411.2K

$18.8K R 334.7K

$30.4K R 541.1K

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

$23.7K R 422K

$19.5K R 346.3K

$30.6K R 544.1K

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

$119 R 2,111

$73.1 R 1,300

$197 R 3,499

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

$31.15 R 554

$11.67 R 208

$59.6 R 1,060

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$47.13 R 838

$34.85 R 620

$63.4 R 1,127

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.98 R 569

$18.47 R 329

$43.26 R 769

Cinema Ticket

$6.13 R 109

$4.59 R 81.7

$10.21 R 182

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

$191 R 3,404

$109 R 1,936

$259 R 4,598

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,373 R 77.8K

$2,705 R 48.1K

$7,325 R 130.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.63 R 812

$30.42 R 541

$60.9 R 1,082

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.35 R 629

$13.52 R 240

$55.3 R 984

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.6 R 1,736

$55.5 R 987

$154 R 2,742

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$85.4 R 1,520

$47.97 R 853

$132 R 2,346

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$358 R 6,375

$221 R 3,923

$400 R 7,111

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$337 R 5,994

$255 R 4,528

$453 R 8,050

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$696 R 12.4K

$454 R 8,083

$852 R 15.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$690 R 12.3K

$504 R 8,960

$854 R 15.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$545 R 9,693

$337 R 5,990

$737 R 13.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,110 R 19.7K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.51

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

City tags:

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Cost of Living in Grahamstown - Frequently Asked Questions

Compared with larger South African cities, Grahamstown offers a more compact, community-focused feel and generally friendlier price points for everyday needs. You’ll find housing near the university that’s comfortable for short stays and accessible for longer ones, while local markets and casual eateries deliver good value for meals. Daily costs tend to be predictable if you lean on groceries, public transport, and shared spaces rather than high-end options. The city’s cultural scene, libraries, and coworking spots add value beyond price, making it a good fit for students, remote workers, and travelers who want a slower pace and easier connections. Cost of Living in Grahamstown, South Africa. Tip: Start with a flexible budget and adjust as you learn the rhythm of the town.

Daily life centers on a walkable town with university energy. For housing, look at campus-adjacent rentals, shared houses, and smaller flats that are easier to manage than large complexes. Food options include markets, casual cafés, and university eateries that keep costs reasonable, while supermarkets cover everyday needs. Transport is flexible: walking, bike lanes, minibus taxis, and occasional rideshares cover most trips. Errands like banking, post, and pharmacies cluster in the town core, making chores efficient. To gauge the Grahamstown, South Africa living cost, focus on a few steady routines first. Tip: Start with a month-to-month plan and adjust as you settle in.

Quality of life in Grahamstown blends academic buzz with outdoor spaces and cultural events. A practical budgeting framework keeps costs predictable: assign fixed buckets for housing, groceries, transport, and leisure, then adjust as you sample neighborhoods. Save by cooking at home, using public transit, and taking advantage of free or low-cost community activities and library resources. Neighborhood fit matters: central town options offer walkability and nightlife, while calmer suburbs near university grounds provide steadier daily routines. Seasonal rhythms – festival crowds, campus rhythms, and tourism patterns – shape pacing more than prices. Tip: Prioritize a neighborhood with easy access to workspaces and green spaces to maximize balance.