Cost of Living in Pietermaritzburg - Updated Prices & Insights

Solo nomad: Estimated monthly costs are $585 (excluding rent), and $1,069 including rent.

Family of 3: Estimated monthly costs are $1,619 (excluding rent), and $2,127 including rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.13 R 139

$6.73 R 115

$12.34 R 211

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$42.42 R 724

$27.98 R 478

$61.6 R 1,051

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.44 R 92.8

$3.26 R 55.7

$5.76 R 98.3

Cappuccino

$2.13 R 36.38

$1.64 R 28.03

$2.74 R 46.72

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

$0.87 R 14.94

$0.64 R 11

$1.45 R 24.79

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.75 R 12.73

$0.47 R 7.96

$1.34 R 22.81

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.65 R 28.18

$1.1 R 18.79

$2.48 R 42.27

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.33 R 39.74

$1.64 R 28.05

$3.01 R 51.4

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 R 17.79

$0.72 R 12.25

$1.44 R 24.51

White Bread (500g)

$0.86 R 14.69

$0.6 R 10.32

$1.15 R 19.58

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.44 R 24.53

$1.19 R 20.39

$2.45 R 41.77

Eggs

$2.35 R 40.14

$1.72 R 29.45

$4.83 R 82.6

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.92 R 118

$4.91 R 83.8

$9 R 154

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.79 R 81.8

$3.95 R 67.4

$7.28 R 124

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.89 R 118

$5.29 R 90.3

$11.14 R 190

Apples (1kg)

$1.59 R 27.17

$1.1 R 18.78

$2.75 R 46.96

Banana (1kg)

$1.67 R 28.56

$0.54 R 9.3

$1.96 R 33.54

Oranges (1kg)

$1.93 R 32.92

$0.82 R 14.04

$2.63 R 44.96

Tomato (1kg)

$1.75 R 29.93

$1.04 R 17.68

$2.3 R 39.21

Potato (1kg)

$1.48 R 25.29

$1.11 R 18.89

$2.49 R 42.49

Onion (1kg)

$1.76 R 29.97

$1.21 R 20.6

$2.47 R 42.2

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.29 R 21.95

$1.02 R 17.46

$1.7 R 29.04

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.97 R 16.5

$0.79 R 13.55

$1.14 R 19.45

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.93 R 50.1

$2.57 R 43.82

$4.28 R 73

Wine (Bottle)

$3.3 R 56.3

$2.27 R 38.84

$8.52 R 146

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.38 R 23.62

$0.61 R 10.39

$1.65 R 28.15

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.73 R 29.51

$0.83 R 14.17

$2.77 R 47.22

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.71 R 46.27

$1.13 R 19.27

$2.82 R 48.17

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.55 R 317

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.64 R 28.06

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.52 R 8.9

$1.56 R 26.71

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.01 R 68.5

$2.79 R 47.61

$5.58 R 95.2

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.21 R 20.61

$1.1 R 18.77

$1.37 R 23.46

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

$24.2K R 413.2K

$22.8K R 388.9K

$25.6K R 437.5K

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

$22.9K R 390.3K

$19.5K R 333.6K

$24K R 409.9K

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

$230 R 3,934

$93.8 R 1,602

$331 R 5,653

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

$29.5 R 504

$16.51 R 282

$37.91 R 647

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$56.9 R 971

$27.51 R 470

$88 R 1,504

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.04 R 650

$33.57 R 573

$44.76 R 764

Cinema Ticket

$4.99 R 85.2

$4.16 R 71

$5.54 R 94.7

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

$148 R 2,536

$111 R 1,902

$167 R 2,853

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,779 R 81.6K

$4,001 R 68.3K

$5,557 R 94.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.4 R 1,065

$39.67 R 678

$68 R 1,162

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.81 R 646

$13.83 R 236

$44.27 R 756

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$181 R 3,085

$67.7 R 1,157

$203 R 3,470

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.5 R 1,272

$22.35 R 382

$89.4 R 1,526

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$204 R 3,478

$167 R 2,846

$250 R 4,269

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$186 R 3,179

$83.8 R 1,431

$251 R 4,291

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$507 R 8,666

$249 R 4,254

$941 R 16.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$388 R 6,623

$341 R 5,815

$454 R 7,754

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,168 R 20K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$428 R 7,301

$147 R 2,518

$708 R 12.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$880 R 15K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.5

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

Last update: November 30, 2025

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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Cost of Living in Pietermaritzburg - Frequently Asked Questions

Many newcomers find Pietermaritzburg approachable and relatively affordable compared with larger metros. You get decent housing options, walkable streets, and a slower pace that suits longer stays. The Cost of Living in Pietermaritzburg tends to be more forgiving for daily needs like groceries and dining out, especially if you favor mid-range spots over tourist-centric areas. You can stretch a budget by choosing shared apartments, using public transit, and cooking at home. Seasonal events still offer value through discounts at off-peak times. Tip: compare a few neighborhoods by what you will actually use daily to estimate your true costs.

To search for housing, start with a mix of online listings and local agents, focusing on safe, central areas near schools or business hubs. For daily needs, you will find a range of markets, bakeries, and affordable takeaways; cooking at home saves more than frequent dining out. Public transport is workable for city trips, with taxis and ride-hailing options for late evenings. Co-working spaces and cafés with reliable Wi-Fi offer flexible work setups for digital nomads. Pietermaritzburg living cost information helps you plan a budget around rent, utilities, and commuting. Tip: set a weekly shopping list and visit weekday markets to snag fresh, lower prices.

Quality of life hinges on choosing a neighborhood that fits your pace and access goals. Build a simple budgeting framework: fix rent at a share of income, allot for utilities, groceries, transport, and a small leisure fund. Save tips: buy in-season produce at local markets, use public transport or car-sharing, and look for multi-use spaces to reduce work and life costs. Consider seasonality: summer showers can affect outdoor plans; winter is mild with cooler evenings. For neighborhood fit, prioritize safety, proximity to parks or green spaces, and easy access to your routines such as gyms, cafés, or coworking hubs. Tip: spend a weekend wandering different districts at different times to feel the rhythm.