Cost of Living in Durban, South Africa

Are you considering a move to Durban, South Africa, and wondering about the cost of living? Durban is a diverse city with a lot to offer, but like any city, it comes with its own set of expenses. In this page, we'll break down the cost of living in Durban and help you understand whether $1188 per month is moderately priced, given the average monthly salary of $1004.11.

Restaurants
Markets
Transportation
Childcare
Clothing
Rent Per Month
Buy Apartment
Salaries
Durban, South Africa
restaurant

Restaurants

Price

World Range

Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant

8.02 $

Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course

32.07 $

McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal)

4.28 $

Domestic Beer (1 pint draught)

1.82 $

Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle)

2.41 $

Cappuccino (regular)

1.68 $

Coke/Pepsi (12 oz small bottle)

0.88 $

Water (12 oz small bottle)

0.62 $

store

Markets

Price

World Range

Milk (regular), (1 gallon)

1.09 $

Loaf of Fresh White Bread (1 lb)

0.86 $

Rice (white), (1 lb)

1.43 $

Eggs (regular) (12)

1.63 $

Local Cheese (1 lb)

6.36 $

Chicken Fillets (1 lb)

3.91 $

Beef Round (1 lb) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)

5.76 $

Apples (1 lb)

1.13 $

Banana (1 lb)

1.03 $

Oranges (1 lb)

1.13 $

Tomato (1 lb)

1.14 $

Potato (1 lb)

0.97 $

Onion (1 lb)

0.89 $

Lettuce (1 head)

0.92 $

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

0.91 $

Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range)

4.01 $

Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

1.29 $

Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle)

1.85 $

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro)

2.67 $

commute

Transportation

Price

World Range

One-way Ticket (Local Transport)

1.55 $

Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

34.21 $

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

1.34 $

Taxi 1 mile (Normal Tariff)

0.53 $

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

5.88 $

Gasoline (1 gallon)

1.28 $

Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car)

20847.77 $

Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car)

22042.06 $

mark_as_unread

Utilities (Monthly)

Price

World Range

Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 915 sq ft Apartment

125.85 $

1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local (No Discounts or Plans)

--

Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL)

40.93 $

kitesurfing

Sports And Leisure

Price

World Range

Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult

30.13 $

Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend)

8.93 $

Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat

5.35 $

child_friendly

Childcare

Price

World Range

Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child

169.33 $

International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child

2963.83 $

checkroom

Clothing And Shoes

Price

World Range

1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

38.17 $

1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, ...)

24.35 $

1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range)

77.02 $

1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes

63.87 $

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Rent Per Month

Price

World Range

Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre

353.4 $

Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre

301.39 $

Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre

684.53 $

Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre

600.16 $

home

Buy Apartment Price

Price

World Range

Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre

654.83 $

Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre

798.5 $

account_balance_wallet

Salaries And Financing

Price

World Range

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

1004.11 $

Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate

9.34 %

Cost of Living in Durban, South Africa

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the monthly cost of living in Durban?

The monthly expenses for living in Durban come to a total of approximately $1188. This includes an average monthly rent of around $353 for a one-bedroom apartment in the city center, along with utilities costing about $146 per month. Additionally, other expenses such as groceries, transportation, dining out, and leisure activities for one person amount to approximately $344 per month.

How affordable is living in Durban?

Living in Durban appears to be relatively budget-friendly when considering the average monthly income of $1004.11. However, to enjoy a comfortable standard of living in Durban, you would likely need an income exceeding $1004.11.

What is the average salary in Durban?

In Durban, the average monthly post-tax salary hovers around $1004.11, and it isn't tied to any particular skillset or qualification.

What is the average rent in Durban?

The typical monthly rent for a one-bedroom apartment in the central area of Durban is approximately $353. If you're open to living in a location outside the city center, you can expect to pay around $301.39 for such an apartment.

What is the cost of groceries in Durban?

The expense for groceries in Durban can fluctuate based on personal choices and shopping patterns. Typically, an individual can budget around $257 per month for groceries. Nevertheless, the actual costs may change depending on various factors, including the specific items bought, the choice of stores, and the availability of discounts or special offers.

What is the cost of living in South Africa?

The cost of living in South Africa can vary significantly depending on the particular city you have in mind. Using a nationwide average might not provide accurate information. To get a more precise understanding, it's crucial to examine the cost of living in various cities throughout South Africa.

Durban, South Africa

How Safe Is Durban, South Africa for Travel?
Warnings & Dangers in Durban, South Africa

TERRORISM RISK: MEDIUM

The biggest terrorists attack in Durban was in June 1986, since then, there were a few incidents in recent years as well.

OVERALL RISK: MEDIUM

As amazingly fun and exciting Durban might be, you should be aware of the many dangers that await the unsuspecting tourists. This city has extremely high rates of crime. You should be vigilant and take all possible precautions measures to minimize the risk of something going wrong.

TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: MEDIUM

Public transport in South Africa is the scene of many criminal activities. Be aware of criminals waiting around at Johannesburg and Cape Town airports and then following tourists to their accommodation to rob them. There have also been reports of luggage thefts at the airports. Rails and metro trains are also the locations where assaults and robberies have occurred.

PICKPOCKETS RISK: MEDIUM

Pickpocketing has been on a decline during the past couple of years. Still, the riskiest locations where you may encounter petty theft are crowded places such as markets, public transport and bus, and train stations.

NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: MEDIUM

South Africa is often the victim of many natural disasters such as floods, earthquakes, storms, and wildfires. One of the bigger floods in South Africa occurred in 2011 killing 91 people.

MUGGING RISK: MEDIUM

Mugging and robberies are a much bigger issue in this country than petty theft. In Durban, it is not as big of an issue as in other cities of South Africa. And though usually, the motive of these incidents is theft, rape is sadly not uncommon at all, so female tourists should be particularly cautious.

SCAMS RISK: MEDIUM

There are a couple of popular scams, one of them involving criminals posing as "tourist police" with a goal to rob visitors. They are known to stop tourist buses, saying that they're checking identification and searching luggage. However there's no such thing as "tourist police" in South Africa, so be on the lookout. Then there are so-called "strollers", and they can be anyone from children to junkies. Their only goal is to rob you blind so keep your valuables well hidden.

WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: MEDIUM

Though many female travelers went to Durban and had no problems at all, this country might not be the safest choice for female solo travelers. Be very careful at night and avoid risky situations such as winding-up in deserted and poorly lit streets or finding yourself in an unknown area with strange people.

Useful Information & Tips
credit_card

Visas

While U.S. citizens visiting Durban for tourism purposes do not need a visa for any stays shorter than ninety days, along with many other countries, some nationals do need a visa to enter South Africa. Make sure your passports are valid for at least 30 days past your planned date of return from South Africa. If you are not sure about your visa status, visit www.doyouneedvisa.com which will let you know whether or not you need a visa based on your nationality and the country you want to visit.

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Currency

South African rand is the official currency in Durban. ATMs can be found throughout the country and credit cards are widely accepted.

cloudy_snowing

Weather

Durban has a subtropical climate, characterized by hot and humid summers and pleasantly warm and dry winters, which are snow- and frost-free.

flight_takeoff

Airports

King Shaka International Airport is the primary airport serving Durban, South Africa. It is located in La Mercy, KwaZulu-Natal, approximately 35 km north of the city center of Durban.

health_and_safety

Travel Insurance

Just like anywhere else, we recommend getting travel insurance when traveling to Durban, since it covers not only the costs of medical problems but also theft and loss of valuables.

Durban, South Africa

What about weather in Durban, South Africa ?
Average Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
High 81°F 82°F 81°F 78°F 76°F 73°F 73°F 73°F 74°F 75°F 77°F 80°F
Temp 77°F 78°F 76°F 73°F 69°F 65°F 65°F 67°F 69°F 70°F 73°F 75°F
Low 72°F 72°F 71°F 67°F 62°F 58°F 57°F 60°F 63°F 65°F 68°F 71°F
Average Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
High 27°C 27°C 27°C 25°C 24°C 22°C 22°C 22°C 23°C 23°C 25°C 26°C
Temp 25°C 25°C 24°C 22°C 20°C 18°C 18°C 19°C 20°C 21°C 22°C 23°C
Low 22°C 22°C 21°C 19°C 16°C 14°C 13°C 15°C 17°C 18°C 20°C 21°C

Comparison Cost of living in other cities in South Africa with Durban

Comparison Cost of living in other cities

Cost of living in countries