I get asked quite often about the cost of living in South Africa. Below is an extract from Buying a Home in South Africa by Graeme Chesters.
"Overall, it’s difficult to calculate an average cost of living in South Africa, as it depends on an individual’s circumstances and lifestyle. A list of the approximate minimum monthly major expenses for an average single person, couple and family of four is shown in the table below. If you work in South Africa, you need to deduct the appropriate percentage of your salary for income tax and social security contributions. The numbers in brackets refer to the notes following the table.
|
ITEM |
MONTHLY COSTS (R) |
||
|
Single |
Couple |
Family Of Four |
|
|
Housing (1) |
3,500 |
4,500 |
6,000 |
|
Food (2) |
1,750 |
2,500 |
4,000 |
|
Utilities (3) |
300 |
400 |
700 |
|
Leisure (4) |
800 |
1,250 |
2,000 |
|
Transport (5) |
700 |
800 |
1,100 |
|
Insurance (6) |
400 |
600 |
1,000 |
|
Clothing |
300 |
600 |
1,200 |
|
Totals |
7,750 |
10,650 |
16,000 |
|
(£675) |
(£925) |
(£1,390) |
|
1. Rent or mortgage payments for a modern or modernised apartment or house in an average suburb, excluding major cities and other high-cost areas. The properties envisaged are a studio or one-bedroom apartment for a single person, a two-bedroom property for a couple and a three-bedroom property for a family of four.
2. Doesn’t include luxuries or expensive alcoholic drinks.
3. Includes electricity, gas, water, telephone, pay (e.g. satellite) TV and heating costs.
4. Includes all entertainment, restaurant meals, sports and holiday expenses, plus newspapers and magazines.
5. Includes running costs for an average family car, plus third party insurance, annual taxes, petrol, servicing and repairs, but excludes depreciation or credit purchase costs.
6. Includes ‘voluntary’ insurance such as supplementary health insurance, household, third party liability, travel, car breakdown and life insurance."
