Based on empirical studies conducted by The Numbeo Index, the body committed to organizing the world’s largest database of user-contributed data about cities and countries, here is a list of the most expensive cities in South Africa to live in.
Some of the factors taken into consideration include quality of life, purchasing power, safety, healthcare, cost of living, property price to income, traffic commute time, pollution and climate conditions. These cities include:
1. Pretoria
This city has a cost of living index of 49.18. A single person will need an average of R9,077.07 every month to live comfortably whereas, for a family of four, it costs about R32,102.33 without rent. The average worker earns about R19,530.16, after removing taxes.
The average monthly transport cost is R1,592.00 while for basic utilities, a small scale house requires about R1,356.15. Cost of living index in Pretoria is 28.28% higher than in Lagos.
2. Johannesburg
Johannesburg has a cost of living index of 47.37. It costs a single person about R8,403.41 monthly expenses whereas it costs a family of four R29,532.56 without rent. The cost of living index in Johannesburg is 23.83% higher than in Lagos.
3. Cape Town
Cape Town has a cost of living index of 45.00. Monthly sustenance for a single person is about R8,034.04 whereas the average worker’s take-home is about R17,941.05 minus taxes. The average monthly transport cost is R450.00 while for basic utilities, a small apartment requires about R1,029.00. Cost of living index in Pretoria is 20.21% higher than in Lagos.
4. Port Elizabeth
Port Elizabeth has a cost of living index of 42.15. A three-bedroom apartment within the city costs R6,625.00 while its out-of-town counterpart costs R6,800.00. A worker’s net salary is R14,750.40 while his monthly sustenance is about R7,680.14 without rent. Cost of living index in Port Elizabeth is 15.61% higher than in Lagos.
5. Durban
The cost of living index is 40.61, ranking 239th out of 354 cities. A one-person apartment costs R4,992.59 inside the city while it costs R5,514.81 outside the city. The average cost for a private, preschool child is R2,677.76. Meal for 2 people in a middle-class restaurant is about R400.00. Cost of living index in Durban is 9.56% higher than in Lagos.
6. Potgietersrus
Monthly rent for a basic house ranges between R 20,000 – R 30,000.
7. Middelburg (Mpumalanga)
Average monthly rent ranges from R 7,500 to R 12,000, depending on the location. Basic utilities comprising of electricity, heating, etc. costs 2,000.00 R. Monthly ticket public transport R 1,000.
8. Carelentoville
Monthly rent varies from R 8,750 to R 9,500. Dinner for two persons costs R650.00 both in local and Italian restaurants.
9. Orkney
Monthly rent varies from R 7,600 to R 9,500. Private medicare consults for 15 minutes costs around R 350.00. Dinner for two-person costs R 250.00 in a local restaurant and R800.00 in its Italian counterpart.
10. Polokwane
A three-course meal for two persons in a cheap restaurant here costs R 500.00. An average person spends R 275.00 on transport and spends R 1,356.15 on his basic utilities every month. The net salary is around R 24,000.