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)
1	Alberton	-	55	$728	$1,082	$1,609	$2,398	149.59	58.25
2	Alexandra	179624	50	$551	$1,005	$1,183	$2,138	17.75	80.74
3	Amersfoort	12335	50	$598	$991	$1,279	$2,077	260.09	15.87
4	Ballito	-	52	$438	$1,057	$1,314	$2,013	88.54	25.44
5	Bellville	112507	45	$465	$901	$1,139	$1,933	166.36	59.37
6	Benoni	158777	55	$592	$1,098	$1,264	$3,803	65.38	58.25
7	Bhisho	-	52	$521	$1,047	$1,269	$2,171	88.88	37.6
8	Bloemfontein	370000	47	$496	$952	$1,285	$1,942	202.11	37.55
9	Boksburg	260000	52	$506	$1,046	$1,580	$2,335	31.5	58.25
10	Brackenfell	80000	45	$435	$906	$1,161	$1,950	47.82	59.37
11	Brakpan	-	46	$539	$907	$1,298	$1,965	96.91	58.25
12	Burgersfort	10000	49	$505	$977	$1,285	$2,083	146.91	10.29
13	Cape Town	3740026	64	$659	$1,285	$1,576	$2,737	270.84	79.94
14	Centurion	236580	57	$687	$1,121	$1,617	$2,555	96.57	71.18
15	Durban	3442361	53	$561	$1,056	$1,287	$2,020	38.26	55.68
16	Durbanville	40000	52	$657	$1,045	$1,655	$2,222	275.04	59.37
17	East London	267007	53	$638	$1,068	$1,246	$2,130	155.05	44.3
18	Edenvale	60000	63	$554	$1,281	$1,481	$2,474	212.62	58.25
19	Emalahleni	108673	53	$803	$1,077	$1,805	$2,245	22.82	31.75
20	Fourways	-	49	$465	$985	$1,210	$1,987	125.21	82.69
21	George	-	54	$542	$1,072	$1,697	$2,460	36.32	31.5
22	Grahamstown	67264	51	$634	$1,016	$1,181	$2,107	46.27	13.94
23	Hartebeespoort	-	43	$473	$848	$1,352	$1,874	36.18	17.32
24	Heidelberg, GP	35000	51	$508	$1,037	$1,272	$2,167	151.96	11.34
25	Hermanus	-	57	$614	$1,156	$1,443	$2,494	206.27	27.71
26	Hillcrest	-	66	$569	$1,321	$1,328	$2,420	117.15	51.57
27	Howick	-	44	$381	$867	$919	$1,792	29.34	24.82
28	Jeffreys Bay	27107	51	$528	$1,033	$1,272	$2,068	91.31	32.73
29	Johannesburg	4434827	58	$677	$1,159	$1,634	$2,422	98.38	78.86
30	Kempton Park	-	50	$587	$992	$1,610	$2,199	53.97	58.25
31	Kimberley	225160	53	$703	$1,052	$1,374	$2,517	69.46	34.7
32	Klerksdorp	186515	48	$552	$952	$1,336	$2,008	93.03	31.7
33	Knysna	51078	56	$636	$1,118	$1,515	$2,167	50.86	33.42
34	Krugersdorp	275000	53	$674	$1,064	$1,513	$2,241	84.95	49.32
35	Kuruman	-	50	$621	$1,000	$1,398	$2,140	79.21	9.67
36	KwaMhlanga	18604	51	$573	$1,025	$1,298	$2,170	238.11	7.68
37	Ladismith, WC	7000	49	$576	$982	$1,174	$2,165	264.78	8.4
38	Louis Trichardt	25360	51	$511	$1,023	$1,305	$2,103	31.35	5.72
39	Margate	-	46	$385	$910	$1,056	$1,897	68.02	41.76
40	Middelburg	87348	51	$606	$1,000	$1,341	$2,157	81.33	28.9
41	Midrand	-	55	$520	$1,076	$1,276	$2,154	186.17	80.74
42	Mossel Bay	60000	50	$569	$1,003	$1,565	$2,191	87.96	31.56
43	Nelspruit	110159	50	$509	$1,013	$1,461	$2,162	219.78	21.46
44	Newcastle	363236	49	$492	$979	$1,159	$2,113	151.3	22.62
45	Oudtshoorn	61507	51	$558	$992	$1,185	$2,133	12.46	26.99
46	Paarl	112045	49	$630	$955	$1,497	$2,266	19.5	28.59
47	Pietermaritzburg	618536	53	$543	$1,039	$1,380	$2,176	102.59	41.4
48	Plettenberg Bay	-	52	$498	$1,044	$1,356	$2,241	157.44	27.86
49	Polokwane	628999	41	$496	$839	$1,497	$1,738	161.56	12.8
50	Port Elizabeth	1050000	59	$623	$1,183	$1,518	$2,526	39.97	50.4

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.