South Africa, renowned for its exceptional landscapes and wildlife, is an increasingly popular destination for expatriates. With a developing economy and dynamic cities such as Cape Town and Johannesburg, the country offers many opportunities. But what is the cost of living in South Africa for those who choose to settle there? Foyer Global Health gives you the answer!
Overview of the average cost of living in South Africa
The cost of living for a single person in South Africa is €955 per month. A family of four needs a monthly budget of €2,760.
These budgets include the main items of expenditure, such as rent, shopping, travel, health and leisure.
| Services | Average price in South Africa |
|---|---|
| Average monthly salary | €1,465 |
| Price of renting a 1-bedroom flat in the city centre | €430 |
| Price of buying a flat per m2 in the city centre | €980 |
| Petrol (1 L) | €1.25 |
| Telephone package (calls + 10 GB of data) | €30 |
| Restaurant meal | €19 |
| Cinema ticket | €6.40 |
Currency and exchange rates in South Africa
South Africa’s official currency is the rand, abbreviated ‘ZAR’ and symbolised by the letter ‘R’. The rand is part of the Common Monetary Area, which means that it can be used in Lesotho, Namibia and Eswatini.
Currently, 1 rand is equivalent to 0.053 €. It therefore takes 18.73 ZAR to make 1 €. (Index as at 11 December 2024).
Housing budget in South Africa
Rent accounts for an average of 23% of monthly expenditure in South Africa. To rent a one-bedroom flat in the city centre, prices range from ZAR 4,965 to ZAR15,000 (265 to 800 €).
If you want to become a homeowner, the price per square metre varies between ZAR 9,470 and ZAR 35,595 (500 and 1,900 €), depending on the city and district.
As in other countries, the cost of housing varies from city to city. To give you a clearer idea of the budget you need to plan for, here are the current prices (in euros) in South Africa’s largest cities:
| Accomodation | Price in Cape Town | Price in Johannesburg | Price in Pretoria |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flat rental in city centre | €750 | €400 | €385 |
| Rent an apartment in outskirts | €490 | €345 | €350 |
| Average purchase price per m2 in town centre | €1,790 | €1,070 | €590 |
| Average purchase price per m2 on the outskirts of town | €1,780 | €715 | €630 |
Grocery prices in South Africa
If you’re planning to move to South Africa, it’s worth bearing in mind that the shopping budget will be your biggest monthly expense (26%).
Here are the average prices of some staple foods:
| Food item | Average price in South Africa (in euros) |
|---|---|
| Milk (1 L) | €1.06 |
| Water (1,5 L) | €0.85 |
| Bread (500 g) | €1 |
| Rice (1 kg) | €1.60 |
| 12 eggs | €2.30 |
| Local cheese (1 kg) | €7.83 |
| Chicken fillet (1 kg) | €4.35 |
| Meat (1 kg) | €5.90 |
| Apples (1 kg) | €1.55 |
| Bananas (1kg) | €1.50 |
| Tomatoes (1 kg) | €1.55 |
| Potatoes (1 kg) | €1.40 |
| Onion (1 kg) | €1.42 |
| Local beer (500 ml) | €1.27 |
| Imported beer (330 ml) | €1.35 |
Transport and travel budget in South Africa
The main means of transport in South Africa are trains, buses, taxis, cars and planes.
Bus : The bus is a popular means of transport in the country, suitable for both urban and inter-city journeys, day and night. The largest company in the country is Intercape, which offers single journeys at the following fares:
- Pretoria to Johannesburg: 320 ZAR (17.20 €)
- Cape Town to Durban: ZAR 920 to ZAR 1,500 (80.50 €)
- Pretoria to Bloemfontein: ZAR 1,450 (77.80 €)
Train: Rail transport in South Africa is based on one of the most developed networks on the continent. In total, there are more than 30,000 km of railway lines, mainly operated by the national company, Shosholoza Meyl.
Metrorail: In some of South Africa’s megacities Cape Town and Johannesburg, you can travel by Metrorail, a train service that connects different neighbourhoods and their suburbs.
Here are the current return fares:
- Up to 19 km: ZAR 14.50 (0.78 €)
- Between 20 and 30 km: ZAR 16.50 (0.89 €)
- Between 31 and 50 km: ZAR 18.50 (0.99 €)
Taxi: For your taxi journeys, find below the departure fares in the main South African megacities:
- Cape Town: ZAR 24.50 (EUR 1.32)
- Durban: ZAR 30 (EUR 1.60)
- Johannesburg: ZAR 20 (EUR 1.07)
- Port Elizabeth: ZAR 46 (EUR 2.47)
Plane: If you need to make a long journey, intercity flights are a quick option, with local airlines like South African Airways. As an example of a return fare, note that a flight from Durban to Cape Town costs around ZAR 4,655 in low season, or 250 €.
Car: Finally, driving in South Africa is a practical option, with an average petrol price of ZAR 23.26 (1.25 €) per litre.
Health costs in South Africa
| Private sector care | Average price in South Africa |
|---|---|
| Consultation with a general practitioner | 300 ZAR (€16) |
| Consultation with a specialist | 500 – 800 ZAR (€26 – 43) |
| Consultation with a dentist | 300 – 600 ZAR (€16 – 32) |
| One day’s hospitalisation | 2,500 – 20,000 ZAR (€135 – 1,067) |
| Childbirth | 14,100 – 40,000 ZAR (€755 – 2,150) |
The South African health system is recognised as the best in Africa. It is based on high-quality medical care, delivered in structures that have been constantly improving for several years.
However, inequalities are still marked, and access to healthcare remains difficult in some rural areas of the country. Waiting times, particularly in the public sector, can also be quite long.
To benefit from solid, comprehensive health cover, many expatriates opt for private international health insurance. This offers a number of advantages, including rapid access to care, the possibility of choosing the medical establishment of your choice and cover that is valid both in South Africa and internationally.
School fees and Education in South Africa
If you have young children, the monthly budget for a private nursery school is around ZAR 3,560 (190 €) per child.
For primary school, the average annual budget is ZAR 80,000 (4,270 €) per child.
You can also choose to offer your children an international education at a school such as the Crawford International Schools, available in multiple cities, including Johannesburg, Pretoria, and Cape Town. Here are the annual school fees for the year 2024-2025:
- Kindergarten: Early Years Foundation: KES 152,000 per term (972 €)
Early Years 1 & 2: KES 224,000 per term (1,433 €)
Year 1: KES 252,000 per term (1,612 €) - Preparatory School: Year 2: KES 280,000 per term (1,792 €)
Year 3: KES 294,000 per term (1,881€)
Years 4 to 6: KES 336,000 per term (2,150 €) - Middle School: Year 7: KES 406,000 per term (2,598 €)
Years 8 & 9: KES 420,000 per term (2,688 €) - Junior High School: Year 10: KES 448,000 per term (2,867 €)
Year 11: KES 672,000 (billed over two terms) (4,300 €) - Senior High School: Years 12 & 13: KES 700,000 (billed over two terms) (4,480 €)
Prices for telecommunications services in South Africa
Here are the average prices charged in South Africa for monthly telecommunications services:
- Monthly mobile package (calls + 10 GB of data): between ZAR 290 and ZAR 1,000 (15.50 and 54 €)
- Monthly internet subscription (60 mbps and unlimited data): ZAR 525 and ZAR 1,000 (28 and 54 €)
Budget for leisure and activities
During your weekends away, South Africa is full of natural wonders just waiting to be explored! And for your late evenings, there are plenty of activities in the megalopolises. Here are the prices for some must-do leisure activities:
- Visit the Kruger National Park: ZAR 128 (6.83 €) per adult and ZAR 64 (3.42 €) per child.
- Camping in Tsitsikamma National Park: from ZAR 3,055 (163 €) for a self-catering cottage.
- Go penguin watching at Boulders Beach, Simon’s Town: ZAR 50 (2.68 €) per adult and ZAR 25 (1.33 €) per child.
- Go on an Addo Elephant National Park safari: ZAR 2,600 (140 €) per person.
- Go to the cinema: ZAR 120 (6.40 €).
- Go out for dinner in a restaurant: 712 ZAR (38 €) for two people.
- Take out a gym membership: ZAR 562 (30 €).
Cost of living in South Africa compared with Western Europe
The cost of living in South Africa is 70% lower than most of Western Europe. Most items of expenditure, such as rent and shopping, are significantly lower.
It is important to note that the average salary in Western Europe is higher than in South Africa: €2,530 compared with €1,465.
Cost of living in South Africa compared with other African countries
According to the Numbeo 2024 ranking of the cost of living in Africa, South Africa ranks 9th out of the 24 most expensive countries on the continent. Here are the top 10 countries in the ranking, along with their cost-of-living index:
- Ivory Coast: 44.7
- Senegal: 44
- Ethiopia: 43.1
- Mozambique: 43
- Mauritania: 39.8
- Zambia: 39.7
- Cameroon: 39.6
- Zimbabwe: 37
- South Africa: 33.8
- Namibia: 30.8