How much do groceries cost in Johannesburg?

Basic grocery prices: milk (1L) — $1.49, eggs (12) — $3.16, chicken breast (500g) — $3.41.

Cost of Living in Johannesburg, South Africa

Prices in South Africa — Johannesburg + 7 more cities, Updated March 2026

Expensive

1 ZAR = 0.0601 USD Rate updated October 27, 2026

ZAR / USD →

🍜 $11.3 188.6 ZAR Business Lunch (incl. drink)

☕ $2.42 40.3 ZAR Cappuccino

🚌 $46.3 770.2 ZAR Monthly Transport Pass

🏠 $514.6 8,560 ZAR Studio 45m² (normal area)

How much does it cost to live in Johannesburg alone?

1 person

$966

≈ €863

To live in Johannesburg on a moderate budget, you'll need around $966/month. That covers renting a studio in a normal area ($515), weekday lunches out ($227), weekend casual meals ($54), a daily coffee, tea, or other cheap drinks ($73), a monthly transit pass ($46), and a few taxi rides ($52). No gym, no dining out every night — just everyday life.

How much does it cost to live in Johannesburg for two?

2 persons

$1,656 ≈ €1,481

If there are two of you, plan on around $1,656 ≈ €1,481/month — a proper apartment ($754), meals and daily drinks for both, two transit passes, and more taxi rides.

What does it cost to raise a family in Johannesburg?

Family

$1,834 ≈ €1,640

With a child, the total comes to around $1,834 ≈ €1,640/month. Kids eat less, rarely pay for transit, but you'll need more taxi rides and little extras add up fast. School fees not included.

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Food & Drinks

How much does eating out cost in Johannesburg?

Item USD $ ZAR R

🍽️ Business Lunch (incl. drink) $11.3 188.6 ZAR

🍔 Fast Food Combo Meal $6.69 111.3 ZAR

🍗 Chicken Breast (500g) $3.41 56.7 ZAR

🥛 Milk (1L) $1.49 24.8 ZAR

🥚 Eggs (12) $3.16 52.6 ZAR

🍅 Tomatoes (1kg) $1.67 27.8 ZAR

🧀 Local Cheese (500g) $5.70 94.8 ZAR

🍎 Apples (1kg) $1.67 27.8 ZAR

🥔 Potatoes (1kg) $1.49 24.8 ZAR

🍺 Beer 0.5L (supermarket) $3.28 54.6 ZAR

🍷 Wine Bottle (red, table) $8.55 142.2 ZAR

🥤 Coca-Cola (2L) $1.61 26.8 ZAR

🍞 Bread (2 people, 1 day) $0.74 12.3 ZAR

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Rent & Housing

How much is rent in Johannesburg?

Item USD $ ZAR R

🏢 Rent 85m² (expensive area) $979.3 16,292 ZAR

🏠 Rent 85m² (normal area) $753.7 12,539 ZAR

💡 Utilities 85m² (2 persons) $142.6 2,371 ZAR

🏢 Studio 45m² (expensive) $711.6 11,837 ZAR

🏠 Studio 45m² (normal area) $514.6 8,560 ZAR

💡 Utilities 45m² (1 person) $138 2,295 ZAR

📶 Internet (monthly) $31.8 529 ZAR

📺 TV 40" Flat Screen $306.4 5,096 ZAR

🔲 Microwave (800/900W) $99.5 1,656 ZAR

🧴 Laundry Detergent (3L) $7.87 130.9 ZAR

🧹 Cleaning Help (per hour) $7.00 116.4 ZAR

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Clothing & Shoes

How much do clothes cost in Johannesburg?

Item USD $ ZAR R

👖 Jeans (Levis 501) $57.3 952.7 ZAR

👗 Summer Dress (Zara, H&M) $50 832.1 ZAR

👟 Sport Shoes (Nike, Adidas) $104.9 1,745 ZAR

👞 Leather Business Shoes $67.3 1,119 ZAR

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Transportation

How much does transport cost in Johannesburg?

Item USD $ ZAR R

🚗 VW Golf (new) $18,217 303,050 ZAR

⛽ Gasoline (1L) $1.55 25.8 ZAR

🎫 Monthly Transport Pass $46.3 770.2 ZAR

🚕 Taxi Trip (8km) $13 216.6 ZAR

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Healthcare

How much does healthcare cost in Johannesburg?

Item USD $ ZAR R

💊 Cold Medicine (6 days) $5.02 83.5 ZAR

💉 Antibiotics (12 doses) $17.2 286.6 ZAR

🏥 Doctor Visit (15 min) $31.4 522.7 ZAR

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Personal Care

How much does personal care cost in Johannesburg?

Item USD $ ZAR R

🧻 Tampons (32 pcs) $2.73 45.4 ZAR

🧴 Deodorant (50ml) $2.29 38.1 ZAR

🧴 Shampoo (400ml) $4.46 74.2 ZAR

🧻 Toilet Paper (4 rolls) $2.29 38.1 ZAR

🪥 Toothpaste $1.43 23.8 ZAR

💇 Men's Haircut $8.80 146.4 ZAR

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Entertainment & Leisure

How much does entertainment cost in Johannesburg?

Item USD $ ZAR R

🍺 Dinner for 2 (pub) $29.6 491.7 ZAR

🎬 Cinema (2 tickets) $16.1 267 ZAR

🎭 Theater (2 tickets, best) $53.1 882.5 ZAR

🍝 Italian Dinner for 2 (full) $39 648.5 ZAR

🍸 Cocktail (downtown) $5.89 98 ZAR

☕ Cappuccino $2.42 40.3 ZAR

🍺 Beer in Pub (500ml) $2.29 38.1 ZAR

📱 iPad Wi-Fi 128GB $681.6 11,338 ZAR

📱 Mobile (1 min, prepaid) $0.12 2.00 ZAR

🏋️ Gym Membership (monthly) $51.6 858.9 ZAR

🚬 Marlboro Cigarettes $3.28 54.6 ZAR

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Prices by City

Which city in South Africa is the cheapest to live in?

	Johannesburg ★	Cape Town	Pretoria	Durban	Port Elizabeth	Pietermaritzburg
🍽️ Business Lunch (incl. drink)	$11.3 188.6 ZAR	$8.06 134.1 ZAR	$8.43 140.2 ZAR	$7.75 128.9 ZAR	$8.62 143.4 ZAR	$3.90 64.9 ZAR
☕ Cappuccino	$2.42 40.3 ZAR	$2.60 43.3 ZAR	$4.15 69 ZAR	$2.54 42.3 ZAR	$2.11 35.1 ZAR	$1.61 26.8 ZAR
🍺 Beer in Pub (500ml)	$2.29 38.1 ZAR	$2.67 44.4 ZAR	$2.36 39.3 ZAR	$1.80 29.9 ZAR	$2.11 35.1 ZAR	$1.05 17.5 ZAR
🎫 Monthly Transport Pass	$46.3 770.2 ZAR	$42.3 704.2 ZAR	$51.8 860.9 ZAR	$62.7 1,042 ZAR	$41.6 691.9 ZAR	$37.9 631 ZAR
🏢 Studio 45m² (expensive)	$711.6 11,837 ZAR	$1,290 21,467 ZAR	$987.1 16,420 ZAR	$685.6 11,404 ZAR	$519.6 8,643 ZAR	$616 10,247 ZAR

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All Cities in South Africa

Average cost of living in other cities

Johannesburg ~$966 (current) Bloemfontein ~$623 Cape Town ~$1,128 Durban ~$751 Nelspruit Pietermaritzburg ~$546 Port Elizabeth ~$746 Pretoria ~$1,086

✓ Verified by Dmitriy

Know.Travel founder · traveler, more than 80 countries

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South Africa surprises you with wild swings in prices - from modest Nelspruit ($203/month) to upscale Cape Town ($1,128/month), with most cities hovering somewhere in between. The country's a former British colony with a rich history of diamond trading that still shapes the regional economy - you'll see it in the stark contrasts between suburbs and city centers. My advice: check out neighborhoods like Observatory or Woodstock in Cape Town - prices are way lower than the tourist zones, but the vibe is just as authentic.