South Africa has become an increasingly popular destination for people to relocate to from all over the globe. And for many good reasons. There’s so much natural beauty and cultural heritage to explore, mouth-watering flavours to enjoy and friendly faces to meet.
But moving to the tip of Africa can be daunting—especially as it’s considered a third-world ‘developing country’. That’s why understanding the ins and outs of living in a new country is important before making a big life-changing decision.
We’ve unpacked everything there is to know for you. Scroll down to find out more about the cost of living in South Africa.
There are so many reasons, but here are a few key highlights:
South Africa is home to a diverse range of national parks and reserves, world-class beaches, botanical gardens, and many amazing sites.
The ‘Rainbow Nation’ is an apt name for South Africa. With 11 official languages, English is widely spoken at different proficiency levels. South Africa is also home to people from all over Africa, Europe and Asia.
South Africa’s food scene has a melting pot of cultural influences, bringing traditional dishes like braai, potjiekos, babotie and many more unique creations into existence. You'll also find a restaurant to suit every taste, whether you're in the mood for Turkish, Japanese, Italian, French, fusion, traditional, American, or African cuisine
Although locals are feeling the pinch of the rising cost of living, SA is still very affordable for those coming with stronger foreign currencies.
Living and working in South Africa can be a mixed bag. For some, there’s plenty of work and opportunities. For others, opportunities are scarce. However, it’s an emerging market, and if you have the entrepreneurial spirit, you’ll probably be able to work something out.
The job market is tough if you plan to be employed locally, especially for people with less employable skills and a lack of qualifications.
Here are some factors to consider:
There’s still a big gap between the South African rich and poor.
Those without tertiary, in-demand qualifications or higher education struggle to find jobs, leading to high unemployment. This mainly affects young people who have few opportunities to gain experience and marketable skills at a living wage.
Although South Africa has a high unemployment rate, there are still enormous skills gaps.
Working professionals in finance, engineering, or IT have more options. Teachers on the other hand are struggling to find employment—The National Department has culled thousands of jobs for 2025 due to lack of funding.
For many, our economic and political instability is the biggest problem, however a lot of that is blown out of proportion in the international media.
The current (end of 2024) government is called a “GNU”, (Government of National Unity—a coalition of 10 political parties who have been working together to run the country since the mid-2024 national election.
So far, so good. Even the long-suffered rolling blackouts (locally called loadshedding) are no longer, leaving everyone feeling more positive.
On the one side, 37% of people in the country are unemployed. On the other side, the richest man in South Africa has a net worth of over R180 billion (it’s Johann Rupert, in case you were wondering).
Here’s a breakdown of the average annual salaries according to industry.
Junior Accountant (recently graduated): R250,000
CFO (chief financial officer): R3 million (or more)
Salaries in finance are heavily tied to experience and position. Those in more responsible positions in bigger or listed companies earn significantly more than their counterparts in small companies.
Entry level (recently graduated): R300,000
Senior mining engineer: R2.2 million (or more)
Engineering is a broad field, encompassing all sorts of industries from software engineering to mining and chemical engineering. Salaries for engineers depend on experience, area of specialisation, and the type and size of the company.
Entry level (recently graduated): R16,200
Senior Software Developer: R1.5 million (or more)
Jobs in information technology (IT)—a highly diverse field with multiple sub-categories—range from Data or Systems Analysts to Software Developers, IT Project Managers, and more. Salaries in IT rise with experience, specialisation, and the company’s size.
Entry-level nurse: R321,955
Specialist Medical Doctor: R2.5 million
Medicine is another in-demand field. However, salaries in healthcare vary, with nurses earning much less than specialists. Working in medicine is challenging—professionals have long hours, understaffing issues and physical and safety concerns. The medical industry also includes professions such as travelling nurses, registered nurses, GPs, dentists, psychologists, and various specialist doctors.
Entry-level Marketing Assistant: R200,000
Senior Marketing Manager: R1.2 million
On a slightly lower level, salaries in marketing also vary. Many companies employ large marketing teams and there are also specialist marketing and advertising agencies. There are also many freelance marketers, and those earnings are harder to report as they go largely unreported.
Salaries also depend on location. Working in cities like Cape Town or Johannesburg comes with higher salaries compared to working in smaller towns and cities. However, living in these two major cities is more expensive.
With a clearer picture of the job market, we can examine the cost of living in South Africa. Housing is their number one monthly expense for most people, with transport a close second. Then comes food, healthcare, and utilities. Let’s look at each one a bit more closely:
South Africa has a large rental market as buying property is costly and difficult to finance.
Rentals in cities like Cape Town or Johannesburg can start at R7,000-R12,000 per month for a one-bedroom or studio apartment, with three-bedroom apartments going for anywhere between R10,000 and R30,000.
Apartment buildings and housing complexes come with additional levies, which depend on location and accessible amenities.
Buying property in these main centres often relies on being approved for a bond or home loan from a bank. There are also laws around what’s allowed in terms of home loans. The National Credit Act states that the maximum instalment for a home loan should ideally not exceed 30% of the applicant's gross monthly salary. This puts property purchases out of reach for most South Africans.
Rentals are much less regulated, and the decision to let a property rests entirely in the hands of the rental agent and landlord.
South Africa largely lacks a solid public transport system. There are trains in some cities, and there are busses, but neither reach all areas and both can be unreliable.
Another element of transport is time. Thanks to entrenched inequality left over from the Apartheid government, many thousands of people commute from distant townships to work in the cities and suburbs. They rely largely on informal minibus taxis, often having to take a series of them each day commuting to and from work, which can take hours. These taxis are also often dangerous and unreliable.
Many South Africans use private cars to commute to work. Fuel costs upwards of R20.36/litre and drivers also face additional costs to run a car—loan repayments, insurance, and wear and tear.
South Africa has been no stranger to rising food prices and has experienced a 50% increase in food costs between 2020 and 2024.
This has been caused by multiple factors from petrol price increases and loadshedding to supply challenges and even the festive season.
That being said, food in South Africa is of good quality and affordable for those who earn US Dollars or Euros.
People moving to South Africa often head for either Cape Town or Johannesburg. These two major cities are both preferred due to their amenities and easy access to international airports—but have very different property costs
Way down in the tip of South Africa is the Mother City, home to Table Mountain, the Winelands, Clifton Beach, and False Bay. Cape Town has a small city heart with big city volumes of people (and traffic). Competition for homes in desirable areas is high—pushing both rental and property prices sky-high.
Since 2020, more employees have been working remotely or on a hybrid basis, which has decreased demand for housing close to the city centre and prices have dropped a bit.
Average prices for a 2-bedroom home in the Cape Town CBD:
Vredehoek: R2,750,000
Gardens: R1,795,000 to R5,495,000
Tamboerskloof: R3,200,000
City Centre: R2,500,000 to R4,500,000
That said, property prices in the suburbs haven’t changed much, with more people opting for the suburban lifestyle.
The Southern Suburbs — Mowbray to Tokai — are still expensive and highly sought after, as these are also where some of Cape Town’s best schools are located.
Average prices for a 2-bedroom home in the Cape Town Southern Suburbs:
The Northern Suburbs are still more affordable, with more bang for your buck. Properties for the same price usually have bigger homes and bigger plots — but at the cost of a much longer drive into town.
Average prices for a 2-bedroom home in the Cape Town Northern Suburbs:
Johannesburg often feels like the beating heart of South Africa. The biggest of its major cities, Joburg, as it’s fondly known, is vibrant and multicultural on a level that Cape Town can only dream of.
The finance and economic capital of South Africa, Sandton is sought after as it is where the head offices of many banks and big businesses live.
Average prices for a 2-bedroom home in Johannesburg:
Johannesburg is a 30-50 minute drive from Pretoria (traffic-dependent). Pretoria is home to the University of Pretoria, the Union Buildings, many wonderful schools and plenty of job opportunities.
Further north, it enjoys a long, hot summer and is painted purple for a few months each spring with hundreds of flowering jacaranda trees. It’s the slightly lesser-known cousin to Johannesburg, but offers the same advantages at more affordable prices.
Average prices for a 2-bedroom home in Pretoria :
The largest port city in Southern Africa, Durban is on the east coast of South Africa with hot, humid summers, and temperate, warm winters.
If you work in manufacturing, shipping, or agriculture, Durban might be a great choice of base. While Durban’s city centre can feel a little run down, there are places where you can enjoy a great quality of life—whether you are looking for an upscale lifestyle of Ballito beach life, the quite slow pace of Salt Rock, or the rolling green hills of Kloof.
Average prices for a 2-bedroom home in Durban:
Umhlanga:R2,200,000 to R3,290,000
Salt Rock: R1,500,000 to R3,000,000
Ballito: R1,800,000 to R3,500,000
Westville: R1,200,000 to R2,200,000
Kloof: R1,500,000 to R3,000,000
Here’s a checklist of what you will need to consider when moving to and within South Africa.
First up, you need to make sure you can live here legally. This is dependent on your passport of origin and visa status. Check here for more information on visa types, who they are for and how to apply for them. If you want to live in South Africa, you should follow the visa application process legally.
If you’re planning to emigrate — not just visit for an extended stay — and plan to move your possessions, you might need to send a container. Remember to check out our home movers to find a company you can rely on to help you with a big relocation.
Healthcare in South Africa has both a public and private arm. Public health is troubled by a lack of funding, understaffing, and poor infrastructure. If you can afford it, we recommend paying for private healthcare, known locally as 'medical aid'. The most basic plan you should get is a hospital plan. Hospital stays are expensive in the private sector and public hospitals are often over-full with a lower quality of care.
A basic hospital plan starts at around R1,500 per month. A hospital plan with savings starts at about R3,000 a month (savings can be applied to out-of-hospital medical expenses). Semi-comprehensive plans start at R6,000 per month, to above R10,000 per month for fully comprehensive plans.
These prices are for a single adult. Families can take advantage of special group rates, and some bigger corporations negotiate discounts or pay a portion of the monthly fee—but families will pay more to cover each member.
There are many options for private medical aid in South Africa. Here are a few options along with their average costs. Keep in mind that cover is specific to plans and/or individuals, and this should be taken as a guideline only.
Known for its rewards programme, Vitality, and popular with corporates. Offers a wide range of plans with different price points, from basic hospital plans to more comprehensive cover.
Known for its wide range of affordable cover plans aimed at budget-conscious consumers.
Aimed at more budget-conscious familiies and individuals, offering competitive pricing and a focus on preventative care.
Known for its wide network of providers and range of plan options with affordable cover available.
Offers a range of cover options, balancing affordability and comprehensive care with a focus on preventative care.
South African education can be world-class, depending on where you go. Government-funded, rural, and under-funded schools are often too full and lack enough teachers with enough qualifications. But if you can afford to send your children to better government schools, semi-fee-paying or private schools, you can be sure of a great quality education.
There are also a range of International schools (International and American), as well as schools offering alternative curricula, such as the IEB and Cambridge. The South African education system is built on CAPS (Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement) developed by the DBE (Department of Basic Education)—designed to streamline education and make it consistent from school to school.
Below is a rundown of fees for high-end schools per main centre as we’ve discussed them:
Pretoria Boys High School: From R50,000 (day students; there is a boarding house, this excludes boarding fees)
Cornwall Hill College (co-ed): From R120,000 (day students; there is a boarding house, this excludes boarding fees)
The American International School of Johannesburg: From R200,000 (day students, no boarding option)
Hilton College: From R397,660 (school allows both day and boarding students, this fee includes boarding)
Michaelhouse: From R368,000 (allows both day and boarding students, this fee includes boarding)
Durban Girls' College: From R150,000 (day students; there is a boarding house, this excludes boarding fees)
South Africa is a microcosm of Africa and Europe. It has many European-like elements overlaid on its African background. South Africans are loud, pay very little attention to rules, and love to laugh at themselves, each other, and you!
There’s high unemployment, but lots of opportunities. Costs can feel high — especially for those earning less, and in Rands — but it’s still relatively affordable for those with either high-paying jobs, or earning in strong currencies. Education can be amazing or lacking, depending on the resources available
It’s a country that gets under your skin, calling you back when you’re away, with its warmth and uniqueness. For those born under its yellow sun, it’s home. Maybe it can be home for you, too.
We built Wise Move to make a quick and easy connection between customers and moving professionals – our platform is the stepping stone to make removals easier and more streamlined than ever before, and it all starts with one click. We’re dedicated to connecting customers with the best, most efficient and most cost-effective movers in South Africa, both at a local and at a national level.
![The Cost of Living in Durban [2025]](https://cdn.wisemove.co.za/image/blog/33d6922f3018eeb43ebed98163e7b2cd.jpeg "The Cost of Living in Durban [2025]")
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