Cost of Living in South Africa - Updated Prices & Insights

Name: South Africa
Address: ZA

Solo nomad: Estimated monthly costs are $596 (excluding rent), and $1,092 including rent.

Family of 3: Estimated monthly costs are $1,443 (excluding rent), and $2,305 including rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.84 R 145

$4.70 R 77.1

$16.59 R 272

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.50 R 631

$27.51 R 451

$66.0 R 1,083

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.07 R 83.2

$4.23 R 69.3

$5.70 R 93.4

Cappuccino

$2.04 R 33.40

$1.13 R 18.61

$2.84 R 46.53

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

$1.04 R 17.02

$0.70 R 11.52

$1.76 R 28.88

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.74 R 12.08

$0.54 R 8.78

$1.34 R 21.96

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.31 R 37.83

$1.38 R 22.63

$3.35 R 54.9

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 R 40.57

$1.65 R 27.05

$3.57 R 58.6

Milk (1 liter)

$1.07 R 17.55

$0.82 R 13.52

$1.65 R 27.04

White Bread (500g)

$1.01 R 16.51

$0.64 R 10.51

$1.36 R 22.35

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 R 25.79

$1.11 R 18.16

$2.49 R 40.87

Eggs

$2.33 R 38.26

$1.37 R 22.39

$3.42 R 56.1

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.68 R 126

$5.02 R 82.3

$11.15 R 183

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.47 R 73.4

$2.72 R 44.55

$6.52 R 107

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.60 R 108

$4.87 R 79.9

$9.29 R 152

Apples (1kg)

$1.56 R 25.55

$0.85 R 13.93

$2.21 R 36.16

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 R 23.80

$0.85 R 13.88

$2.54 R 41.65

Oranges (1kg)

$1.51 R 24.79

$0.68 R 11.22

$3.43 R 56.3

Tomato (1kg)

$1.49 R 24.39

$0.82 R 13.39

$1.96 R 32.20

Potato (1kg)

$1.21 R 19.91

$0.55 R 9.06

$2.21 R 36.25

Onion (1kg)

$1.33 R 21.80

$0.79 R 12.98

$1.99 R 32.62

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 R 17.70

$0.68 R 11.18

$1.43 R 23.37

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.94 R 15.34

$0.66 R 10.82

$1.38 R 22.60

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.85 R 46.74

$2.47 R 40.48

$3.56 R 58.5

Wine (Bottle)

$4.89 R 80.3

$3.02 R 49.56

$9.07 R 149

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.38 R 22.64

$0.86 R 14.09

$2.29 R 37.56

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.69 R 27.65

$1.00 R 16.42

$2.78 R 45.53

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.73 R 28.33

$0.86 R 14.17

$4.03 R 66.1

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$45.33 R 743

$26.07 R 428

$90.7 R 1,487

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.10 R 18.01

$0.88 R 14.47

$2.20 R 36.02

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.10 R 18.03

$0.55 R 9.02

$1.65 R 27.05

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.69 R 76.9

$3.15 R 51.7

$8.27 R 136

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.30 R 21.32

$1.21 R 19.81

$1.43 R 23.50

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

$20.6K R 337.3K

$17.3K R 283.0K

$27.8K R 455.7K

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

$24.2K R 396.4K

$20.5K R 335.9K

$28.6K R 468.9K

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

$110 R 1,811

$66.3 R 1,087

$221 R 3,624

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

$32.07 R 526

$16.54 R 271

$55.3 R 907

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$40.81 R 669

$27.77 R 455

$55.5 R 911

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.33 R 514

$16.63 R 273

$53.9 R 885

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.44 R 155

$3.33 R 54.5

$13.86 R 227

Cinema Ticket

$6.90 R 113

$4.88 R 80.1

$11.49 R 188

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

$187 R 3,074

$111 R 1,820

$277 R 4,550

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,385 R 71.9K

$1,962 R 32.2K

$8,407 R 137.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.70 R 815

$28.31 R 464

$67.9 R 1,114

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.23 R 512

$14.23 R 233

$57.0 R 934

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.0 R 1,526

$53.1 R 872

$140 R 2,293

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$79.7 R 1,307

$44.58 R 731

$123 R 2,013

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$443 R 7,265

$251 R 4,120

$837 R 13.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$369 R 6,048

$253 R 4,146

$562 R 9,214

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$890 R 14.6K

$552 R 9,059

$1,618 R 26.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$724 R 11.9K

$485 R 7,948

$1,140 R 18.7K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,125 R 18.5K

$602 R 9,875

$2,276 R 37.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$823 R 13.5K

$554 R 9,078

$1,611 R 26.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,486 R 24.4K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.55

9.42

13.4

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

Last update: January 12, 2026

By City in South Africa

Lowest

Highest

Rank	City	Population	Living Index	Solo costs (no rent) / month	Solo costs (with rent) / month	Family of 3 costs (no rent) / month	Family of 3 costs (with rent) / month	Mobile download speed (Mbps)	Internet download speed (Mbps)
51	Port Shepstone	-	46	$513	$899	$1,252	$1,904	44.24	41.76
52	Potchefstroom	43448	45	$533	$878	$963	$1,749	147.46	28.28
53	Pretoria	741651	58	$637	$1,155	$1,505	$2,375	20.46	71.18
54	Randburg	335000	52	$503	$1,053	$1,433	$2,150	148.25	82.69
55	Richards Bay	57387	51	$536	$1,029	$1,281	$2,112	86.57	29.09
56	Roodepoort	325000	67	$558	$1,315	$1,308	$2,430	167.43	72.57
57	Rustenburg	549575	48	$486	$977	$1,386	$2,060	662.23	23.45
58	Sandton	222415	55	$553	$1,099	$1,528	$2,377	203.82	80.74
59	Scottburgh	-	48	$490	$958	$1,128	$1,998	217.2	41.17
60	Secunda	40198	45	$502	$915	$1,138	$1,775	1.56	20.07
61	Somerset West	55166	50	$573	$1,005	$1,198	$2,198	251.51	59.37
62	Soweto	1270000	50	$589	$1,011	$1,477	$2,137	261.35	67.79
63	Springbok	-	52	$605	$1,030	$1,544	$2,153	232.26	30.23
64	Springs	-	46	$622	$924	$1,355	$2,043	21.51	58.25
65	St Francis Bay	-	51	$497	$1,011	$1,206	$2,177	338.85	32.73
66	Stellenbosch	19068	53	$568	$1,047	$1,332	$2,426	158.31	45.83
67	Stilbaai	-	40	$416	$789	$978	$1,847	156.41	11.34
68	Sun City	-	50	$618	$985	$1,516	$2,202	259.44	14.75
69	Tembisa	463109	51	$592	$1,005	$1,425	$2,168	201.3	58.25
70	Uitenhage	103639	51	$554	$998	$1,421	$2,123	128.54	44.52
71	Umhlanga	-	54	$563	$1,070	$1,231	$2,264	214.97	55.68
72	Upington	74834	51	$506	$1,021	$1,525	$2,192	136.61	22.33
73	Vanderbijlpark	95840	51	$656	$1,000	$1,250	$2,157	132.9	24.38
74	Vereeniging	100000	45	$540	$896	$1,232	$1,989	148.24	24.38
75	Vredenburg	-	47	$474	$942	$1,372	$2,067	119.53	30.17
76	Vryheid	-	50	$579	$996	$1,152	$2,016	31.95	20.83
77	Welkom	64130	49	$474	$980	$1,169	$2,023	61.42	27.36
78	Westonaria	-	51	$632	$1,025	$1,250	$2,140	36.18	21.96
79	Worcester	97098	44	$512	$878	$1,092	$1,900	16.93	15.58

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Cost of Living in South Africa - Frequently Asked Questions

Many find the Cost of Living in South Africa surprisingly flexible, with options to suit lean budgets or more comfortable setups. Favor walkable neighborhoods, local markets, and reliable public transit to keep daily costs reasonable while still enjoying modern amenities in cities. The range is broad: urban cores can feel pricier, while smaller towns offer more breathing room. Seasonal tourism and exchange-rate shifts can nudge day-to-day expenses, but thoughtful housing and lifestyle choices keep options open. Tip: map a base area that minimizes commutes and maximizes access to coworking spaces and groceries.

Daily life varies by city and neighborhood, but you’ll find a mix of secure apartments, shared housing, and family-friendly blocks with easy grocery access. Cooking at home and shopping at local markets can stretch budgets, while dining out offers variety. Public transit, rideshares, and carpooling provide flexible travel options, and many neighborhoods are walkable enough to reduce commutes. For remote work, look for coworking hubs or cafés with dependable Wi‑Fi. South Africa living cost varies by location, so choose a base that minimizes long trips and maximizes access to essentials. Tip: plan a weekly errand loop to save time and fuel.

Quality of life hinges on fit: cluster where you work or study, prefer climate, and value safety and access to nature, festivals, and dining. A practical budgeting framework focuses on needs first, then flexible spending, with periodic reviews to rebalance when prices shift or seasons change. Track utility use and transportation choices, since electricity and transit costs can vary by season. Neighborhoods with mixed-use layouts and easy access to parks, cafes, and gyms tend to offer sustainable lifestyles for long stays. Tip: build in a quarterly check-in to align housing, transport, and groceries with your routine.