Cost of Living in Tembisa - Updated Prices & Insights

Solo nomad: Estimated monthly costs are $565 (excluding rent), and $1,021 including rent.

Family of 3: Estimated monthly costs are $1,309 (excluding rent), and $2,175 including rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.76 R 156

$5.17 R 91.9

$17.24 R 307

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.66 R 599

$23.84 R 424

$67.3 R 1,197

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.81 R 85.6

$3.87 R 68.9

$5.53 R 98.4

Cappuccino

$2.02 R 35.9

$1.09 R 19.42

$3 R 53.4

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

$0.97 R 17.18

$0.75 R 13.27

$1.61 R 28.57

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 R 13.82

$0.55 R 9.8

$1.38 R 24.49

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.19 R 38.96

$1.1 R 19.48

$3.01 R 53.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.49 R 44.35

$1.66 R 29.57

$4.16 R 73.9

Milk (1 liter)

$1.15 R 20.5

$0.86 R 15.24

$1.83 R 32.47

White Bread (500g)

$1.02 R 18.08

$0.65 R 11.58

$1.27 R 22.64

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.61 R 28.64

$1.13 R 20.05

$2.37 R 42.07

Eggs

$2.5 R 44.46

$1.37 R 24.42

$4.13 R 73.4

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.52 R 134

$4.92 R 87.5

$12.78 R 227

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.65 R 82.7

$2.85 R 50.7

$7.28 R 129

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.64 R 118

$4.96 R 88.2

$9.68 R 172

Apples (1kg)

$1.67 R 29.77

$1.09 R 19.43

$2.23 R 39.58

Banana (1kg)

$1.52 R 26.96

$0.99 R 17.62

$2.49 R 44.22

Oranges (1kg)

$1.55 R 27.65

$0.75 R 13.37

$2.88 R 51.3

Tomato (1kg)

$1.64 R 29.21

$1.03 R 18.32

$2.2 R 39.19

Potato (1kg)

$1.36 R 24.17

$0.57 R 10.1

$2.27 R 40.41

Onion (1kg)

$1.23 R 21.79

$0.57 R 10.08

$1.98 R 35.3

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.05 R 18.64

$0.61 R 10.8

$1.37 R 24.39

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 R 17.61

$0.71 R 12.55

$1.47 R 26.23

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.11 R 55.3

$2.8 R 49.77

$4.04 R 71.9

Wine (Bottle)

$5.63 R 100

$3.56 R 63.4

$9.38 R 167

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.43 R 25.52

$0.93 R 16.51

$2.36 R 42.03

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.48 R 26.31

$0.89 R 15.82

$2.47 R 43.85

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.69 R 30.01

$0.69 R 12.19

$1.69 R 30.01

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.05 R 18.73

$0.85 R 15.05

$2.11 R 37.46

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.86 R 15.36

$0.51 R 9.02

$1.58 R 28.06

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.53 R 62.8

$2.45 R 43.64

$4.91 R 87.3

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 R 22.19

$1.17 R 20.79

$1.39 R 24.66

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

$19.4K R 344.1K

$15.8K R 280.1K

$25.5K R 452.8K

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

$26.3K R 467.5K

$21.6K R 383.6K

$33.9K R 602.9K

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

$120 R 2,132

$73.8 R 1,313

$199 R 3,535

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

$39.74 R 707

$14.89 R 265

$76 R 1,352

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$41.39 R 736

$30.61 R 544

$55.7 R 990

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.78 R 547

$17.78 R 316

$41.63 R 740

Cinema Ticket

$6.69 R 119

$5.02 R 89.2

$11.15 R 198

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

$196 R 3,491

$112 R 1,985

$265 R 4,716

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,083 R 72.6K

$2,526 R 44.9K

$6,840 R 121.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.22 R 822

$30.82 R 548

$61.6 R 1,096

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.17 R 537

$11.54 R 205

$47.23 R 840

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 R 1,791

$57.3 R 1,019

$159 R 2,830

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$81.4 R 1,448

$45.69 R 813

$126 R 2,235

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$346 R 6,153

$213 R 3,786

$386 R 6,863

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$337 R 6,000

$255 R 4,533

$453 R 8,059

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$730 R 13K

$477 R 8,484

$894 R 15.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$747 R 13.3K

$545 R 9,688

$923 R 16.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$637 R 11.3K

$394 R 7,004

$862 R 15.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$534 R 9,503

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.51

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

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Cost of Living in Tembisa - Frequently Asked Questions

Compared with Johannesburg’s downtown core or coastal hubs, Tembisa often feels like better value for day-to-day living. You can find a mix of housing options that fit different budgets, from simple apartments to more secure complexes, with space to spread out if you’re used to a quieter pace. For work or travel, the area is accessible by major roads and public transport routes to surrounding commercial centers. Cost of Living in Tembisa, South Africa tends to be modest in essentials like groceries and casual meals, which helps your budget go further. Plan a longer stay by exploring a few neighborhoods first to judge safety and ambience. Tip: Start with weekend strolls to feel the rhythm of the area.

Daily life in Tembisa blends local markets, practical services, and space to move around without the high price tag of bigger cities. When searching housing, look for secure complexes or flats along main transport arteries; visiting on a weekend and asking current residents helps gauge safety and maintenance. For groceries and meals, you’ll have access to supermarkets and informal stalls with fresh produce – try several spots to compare quality and value. Getting around is flexible: minibuses, taxis, and ride-hail apps cover the area, with walking options in nearby neighborhoods. Tembisa, South Africa living cost remains contained, which makes budgeting straightforward. Tip: plan errands by clustering them to save trips.

Quality of life comes from balance, not grand plans. Pick neighborhoods that offer safety, easy access to work or co-working spaces, and nearby shops, parks, and medical services. Build a simple budgeting framework: anchor housing, then daily essentials, then discretionary picks, with regular reviews to spot underused subscriptions or waste. In Tembisa, you’ll often save by cooking at home, buying in bulk at local markets, and choosing transit options suited to your schedule. Seasonality mainly affects travel and outdoor plans – plan flexible days for heat or rain and pick amenities that shield you from extreme weather. Tip: rotate errands to reduce trips and time on the road.