Last update: Nov 2026 62M

Cost of Living in South Africa

Name: South Africa
Address: ZA

Across South Africa, living costs for one person average $1,197 a month, including rent and utilities, which take more than a third of the total. Other living expenses average about $22 a day.

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🇿🇦 South Africa

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in South Africa

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in South Africa actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends around $1,197 per month with rent on average in South Africa.

$1,197 /mo

A couple spends around $1,879 per month with rent on average in South Africa.

$1,879 /mo

A family of three spends around $2,562 per month with rent on average in South Africa.

$2,562 /mo

Across 79 cities in South Africa, monthly living costs range from $622 to $1,527 – a $905 difference that makes location a key factor.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.89 R 182

$5.45 R 90.9

$19.37 R 323

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$42.93 R 715

$30.66 R 511

$76.7 R 1,277

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.62 R 93.7

$4.74 R 78.9

$7.10 R 118

Cappuccino

$2.34 R 39.06

$1.52 R 25.36

$3.05 R 50.9

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

$1.10 R 18.36

$0.76 R 12.67

$1.76 R 29.41

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.84 R 13.93

$0.57 R 9.50

$1.43 R 23.75

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.43 R 40.49

$1.45 R 24.19

$3.64 R 60.7

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.96 R 49.24

$1.89 R 31.58

$4.13 R 68.9

Milk (1 liter)

$1.19 R 19.77

$0.89 R 14.83

$1.79 R 29.82

White Bread (500g)

$1.12 R 18.70

$0.72 R 12.07

$1.53 R 25.50

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.83 R 30.54

$1.24 R 20.59

$2.79 R 46.50

Eggs

$2.51 R 41.78

$1.43 R 23.88

$3.95 R 65.8

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.25 R 137

$5.34 R 89.0

$11.86 R 198

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.32 R 88.6

$3.34 R 55.6

$7.66 R 128

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.64 R 127

$5.37 R 89.5

$11.02 R 184

Apples (1kg)

$1.81 R 30.10

$1.07 R 17.86

$2.39 R 39.86

Banana (1kg)

$1.68 R 28.08

$1.06 R 17.73

$2.97 R 49.42

Oranges (1kg)

$1.78 R 29.73

$0.74 R 12.30

$3.70 R 61.7

Tomato (1kg)

$1.76 R 29.38

$0.88 R 14.69

$2.65 R 44.24

Potato (1kg)

$1.50 R 24.93

$0.61 R 10.25

$2.78 R 46.28

Onion (1kg)

$1.46 R 24.30

$0.88 R 14.68

$2.12 R 35.38

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.29 R 21.54

$0.92 R 15.39

$1.73 R 28.90

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.13 R 18.89

$0.85 R 14.17

$1.83 R 30.53

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.38 R 56.3

$2.95 R 49.19

$4.30 R 71.7

Wine (Bottle)

$5.08 R 84.7

$2.99 R 49.81

$8.97 R 149

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.48 R 24.70

$0.92 R 15.29

$2.43 R 40.49

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 R 32.64

$1.07 R 17.80

$3.27 R 54.6

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.53 R 25.48

$0.86 R 14.27

$4.78 R 79.7

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$60.2 R 1,004

$27.72 R 462

$172 R 2,861

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.94 R 15.71

$0.40 R 6.71

$1.47 R 24.55

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.92 R 15.34

$0.75 R 12.44

$1.60 R 26.59

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.73 R 129

$3.68 R 61.3

$14.73 R 246

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 R 23.97

$1.23 R 20.55

$1.62 R 27.07

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

$35.6K R 592.9K

$33.2K R 553.6K

$36.5K R 608.5K

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

$32.4K R 540.5K

$29.7K R 495.6K

$35.5K R 591.9K

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

$134 R 2,236

$79.3 R 1,322

$243 R 4,043

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

$34.27 R 571

$18.11 R 302

$60.4 R 1,006

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$40.66 R 678

$29.62 R 494

$61.2 R 1,019

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.99 R 550

$17.87 R 298

$59.7 R 996

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.61 R 194

$6.14 R 102

$18.41 R 307

Cinema Ticket

$7.24 R 121

$5.43 R 90.5

$12.07 R 201

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

$223 R 3,724

$149 R 2,484

$374 R 6,228

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,429 R 123.8K

$4,547 R 75.8K

$16.2K R 269.1K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.0 R 900

$27.55 R 459

$79.6 R 1,326

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.83 R 547

$17.79 R 296

$59.3 R 988

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 R 1,691

$57.5 R 958

$151 R 2,520

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.2 R 1,454

$47.32 R 789

$150 R 2,495

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$485 R 8,089

$304 R 5,057

$1,055 R 17.6K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$389 R 6,478

$266 R 4,429

$664 R 11.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$941 R 15.7K

$534 R 8,907

$1,850 R 30.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$795 R 13.3K

$517 R 8,611

$1,367 R 22.8K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,071 R 17.8K

$596 R 9,931

$2,350 R 39.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$768 R 12.8K

$568 R 9,462

$1,588 R 26.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,475 R 24.6K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.23

9.5

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

Last update: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

South Africa $1,197

Accommodation & Living

$389 32.5%

Monthly Utilities & Internet

$209 17.5%

Groceries & Markets

$197 16.5%

Eating Out

$158 13.2%

Clothing & Footwear

$124 10.4%

Getting Around

$72 6%

Sport & Entertainment

$47 4%

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom averages $421 nationally. In Cape Town, expect around $1,047, while Ballito – the country’s most affordable city overall – comes in at $458.

The average net salary in South Africa is $1,505 – enough to cover average monthly costs of $1,197, but with limited room for savings. Margins vary widely by city.

Groceries average around $192 per month nationally. A mid-range dinner for two costs about $38.

Most affordable: Ballito at $622 per month. The capital, Cape Town, sits at $1,527. Across the country, monthly costs span roughly $905 between the cheapest and priciest cities.

Cost Highlights

Overall cost of living ($1,197) is 11% below the global median of $1,352.

Average rent ($421) is 37% below the global median of $664.

Dinner for two at a restaurant ($38) is 19% below the global median of $47.

Public transport ($64) is 94% above the global median of $33.

Good to know

🕒 Local time

17:41 5:41 PM

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

62,027,503

💱 Currency

South African Rand ZAR R

📈 Exchange rate

100 ZAR = 6 USD

100 ZAR = 5.36 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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	121536	58	$698	$1,215	$1,653	$2,777	114.93	60.66
2	Alexandra	179624	52	$584	$1,054	$1,415	$2,275	18.71	82.48
3	Amersfoort	12335	51	$558	$1,073	$1,356	$2,182	45.58	16.41
4	Ballito	27718	30	$475	$622	$1,172	$1,319	97.55	28.77
5	Bellville	112507	54	$660	$1,101	$1,527	$2,307	200.21	60.22
6	Benoni	158777	51	$574	$1,073	$1,383	$1,580	64.86	60.66
7	Bhisho	137287	55	$663	$1,142	$1,614	$2,462	270.7	42.15
8	Bloemfontein	370000	51	$699	$1,061	$1,673	$2,287	195.65	42.3
9	Boksburg	260000	58	$643	$1,220	$1,585	$2,568	48.9	60.66
10	Brackenfell	80000	49	$515	$1,026	$1,193	$2,198	303.2	60.22
11	Brakpan	305692	53	$597	$1,103	$1,424	$2,207	84.37	60.66
12	Burgersfort	10000	52	$583	$1,095	$1,414	$2,356	113.06	10.99
13	Cape Town	3740026	74	$741	$1,527	$1,782	$3,306	95.67	81.89
14	Centurion	236580	66	$866	$1,369	$2,026	$3,065	53.97	72.96
15	Durban	3442361	54	$606	$1,120	$1,459	$2,330	19.72	54.93
16	Durbanville	40000	54	$654	$1,133	$1,616	$2,457	129.82	60.22
17	East London	267007	47	$559	$978	$1,330	$2,020	239.17	49.78
18	Edenvale	60000	63	$617	$1,314	$1,532	$2,523	307.39	60.66
19	Emalahleni	108673	57	$617	$1,244	$1,545	$2,488	29.79	31.6
20	Fourways	-	50	$559	$1,046	$1,361	$2,147	246.45	85.46
21	George	188580	54	$647	$1,132	$1,544	$2,585	246.24	30.94
22	Grahamstown	67264	54	$642	$1,120	$1,566	$2,430	154.63	13.54
23	Hartebeespoort	26732	45	$560	$946	$1,365	$2,035	104.71	19.36
24	Heidelberg, GP	35000	52	$580	$1,084	$1,407	$2,314	250.68	11.37
25	Hermanus	56139	53	$613	$1,120	$1,473	$2,363	55.35	34.76
26	Hillcrest	-	52	$576	$1,081	$1,406	$2,292	98.86	52.75
27	Howick	32453	51	$560	$1,110	$1,381	$2,209	41.18	26.06
28	Jeffreys Bay	27107	50	$586	$1,045	$1,371	$2,212	100.07	32.31
29	Johannesburg	4434827	67	$771	$1,406	$1,856	$2,983	189.23	78.13
30	Kempton Park	-	58	$672	$1,215	$1,596	$2,509	38.91	60.66
31	Kimberley	225160	54	$682	$1,124	$1,623	$2,671	27.28	41.85
32	Klerksdorp	186515	52	$572	$1,085	$1,388	$2,271	101.17	39.28
33	Knysna	51078	57	$597	$1,193	$1,453	$2,357	106.4	35.12
34	Krugersdorp	275000	59	$607	$1,226	$1,466	$2,382	138.94	56.27
35	Kuruman	9093	53	$605	$1,162	$1,479	$2,468	36.9	10.3
36	KwaMhlanga	18604	52	$598	$1,105	$1,441	$2,309	41.55	10.86
37	Ladismith, WC	7000	52	$610	$1,090	$1,524	$2,361	24.03	10.56
38	Louis Trichardt	25360	52	$589	$1,078	$1,455	$2,331	42.09	6.28
39	Margate	34407	42	$468	$883	$1,164	$1,956	15.62	42.89
40	Middelburg	87348	52	$586	$1,099	$1,412	$2,291	45	30.18
41	Midrand	87387	52	$546	$1,100	$1,310	$2,164	254.71	82.48
42	Mossel Bay	60000	52	$624	$1,086	$1,562	$2,356	212.9	34.6
43	Nelspruit	110159	49	$605	$1,029	$1,503	$2,134	154.15	24.15
44	Newcastle	363236	50	$545	$1,020	$1,330	$2,235	36.08	20.95
45	Oudtshoorn	61507	52	$585	$1,151	$1,405	$2,220	92.93	25.59
46	Paarl	112045	56	$737	$1,168	$1,787	$2,868	38.91	35.53
47	Pietermaritzburg	618536	50	$610	$1,033	$1,469	$2,084	24.4	37.02
48	Plettenberg Bay	38126	56	$574	$1,184	$1,413	$2,442	41	23.89
49	Polokwane	628999	46	$620	$961	$1,455	$1,875	40.05	14.46
50	Port Elizabeth	1050000	57	$674	$1,182	$1,641	$2,696	53.03	53.23

South Africa Median Internet Speeds (Updated April 2026)

Mobile

Mbps

Fixed Broadband

Mbps

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

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.

In 2026, monthly costs in South Africa range from $622 in the most affordable city to $1,527 in the most expensive one. Where you choose to live makes a dramatic difference – the gap between cheapest and most expensive cities is huge.

Living costs across South Africa vary hugely by location. In 2026, monthly expenses range from $622 in affordable regions to $1,527 in major cities.

Rent in South Africa varies a lot – Cape Town has the highest prices, and other cities are usually cheaper. Choosing which city to live in is one of the biggest financial decisions you’ll make.

Absolutely – in smaller cities across South Africa, $1,500 covers rent and daily expenses with room to spare for eating out, entertainment, and saving. Even mid-sized cities work at this budget level.

South Africa is mid-range globally, with more affordable cities starting around $622 per month. Not the cheapest option out there, but far from the most expensive – a reasonable balance of cost and quality of life.