Cost of Living in Johannesburg, South Africa

Are you considering a move to Johannesburg, South Africa, and wondering about the cost of living? Johannesburg 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 Johannesburg and help you understand whether $1329 per month is moderately priced, given the average monthly salary of $1410.29.

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

Restaurants

Price

World Range

Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant

8.02 $

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

37.42 $

McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal)

4.28 $

Domestic Beer (1 pint draught)

2.03 $

Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle)

1.87 $

Cappuccino (regular)

1.8 $

Coke/Pepsi (12 oz small bottle)

0.87 $

Water (12 oz small bottle)

0.63 $

store

Markets

Price

World Range

Milk (regular), (1 gallon)

1.11 $

Loaf of Fresh White Bread (1 lb)

0.95 $

Rice (white), (1 lb)

1.66 $

Eggs (regular) (12)

1.92 $

Local Cheese (1 lb)

7.15 $

Chicken Fillets (1 lb)

4.38 $

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

6.17 $

Apples (1 lb)

1.44 $

Banana (1 lb)

1.46 $

Oranges (1 lb)

1.35 $

Tomato (1 lb)

1.52 $

Potato (1 lb)

1.24 $

Onion (1 lb)

1.37 $

Lettuce (1 head)

0.99 $

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

0.82 $

Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range)

5.35 $

Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

1.09 $

Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle)

1.47 $

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro)

2.94 $

commute

Transportation

Price

World Range

One-way Ticket (Local Transport)

1.66 $

Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

53.46 $

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

1.34 $

Taxi 1 mile (Normal Tariff)

0.99 $

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

3.21 $

Gasoline (1 gallon)

1.26 $

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

18709.53 $

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

21949.16 $

mark_as_unread

Utilities (Monthly)

Price

World Range

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

117.04 $

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

--

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

39.89 $

kitesurfing

Sports And Leisure

Price

World Range

Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult

33.36 $

Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend)

9.4 $

Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat

6.41 $

child_friendly

Childcare

Price

World Range

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

231.82 $

International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child

4852.33 $

checkroom

Clothing And Shoes

Price

World Range

1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

47.31 $

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

31.14 $

1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range)

84.7 $

1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes

79.11 $

night_shelter

Rent Per Month

Price

World Range

Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre

402.3 $

Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre

326.08 $

Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre

692.06 $

Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre

647.58 $

home

Buy Apartment Price

Price

World Range

Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre

842.14 $

Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre

682.17 $

account_balance_wallet

Salaries And Financing

Price

World Range

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

1410.29 $

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

10.49 %

Cost of Living in Johannesburg, South Africa

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the monthly cost of living in Johannesburg?

The monthly expenses for living in Johannesburg come to a total of approximately $1329. This includes an average monthly rent of around $402 for a one-bedroom apartment in the city center, along with utilities costing about $136 per month. Additionally, other expenses such as groceries, transportation, dining out, and leisure activities for one person amount to approximately $426 per month.

How affordable is living in Johannesburg?

Living in Johannesburg appears to be relatively budget-friendly when considering the average monthly income of $1410.29. However, to enjoy a comfortable standard of living in Johannesburg, you would likely need an income exceeding $1410.29.

What is the average salary in Johannesburg?

In Johannesburg, the average monthly post-tax salary hovers around $1410.29, and it isn't tied to any particular skillset or qualification.

What is the average rent in Johannesburg?

The typical monthly rent for a one-bedroom apartment in the central area of Johannesburg is approximately $402. If you're open to living in a location outside the city center, you can expect to pay around $326.08 for such an apartment.

What is the cost of groceries in Johannesburg?

The expense for groceries in Johannesburg can fluctuate based on personal choices and shopping patterns. Typically, an individual can budget around $304 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.

Johannesburg, South Africa

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

OVERALL RISK: HIGH

As fun and exciting Johannesburg 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 Johannesburg is the scene of many criminal activities. Muggings on public transport are on a decline, but be aware of criminals waiting around at Johannesburg 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: LOW

Johannesburg may become a victim of occasional tsunamis coming from the Indian Ocean. Another danger is flooding. One of the bigger floods in South Africa occurred in 2011 killing 91 people.

MUGGING RISK: HIGH

Mugging and robberies are a much bigger issue in Johannesburg than in other major 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.

TERRORISM RISK: LOW

Threats are coming from extremists linked to Daesh (formerly referred to as ISIL), as well as threats from individuals inspired by terrorist groups, including Daesh, who might try to carry out so-called ‘lone actor’ attacks targeting public places.

SCAMS RISK: HIGH

Scams happen in Johannesburg at every step. 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. You can report scams by calling the following telephone number: +27 11 9705300.

WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: HIGH

Though many female travelers went to Johannesburg and had no problems at all, this country once had a reputation of a place where women were raped at every step. 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 Johannesburg 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.

currency_exchange

Currency

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

cloudy_snowing

Weather

Temperatures in Johannesburg are usually mild and pleasant due to the city's high elevation. The temperatures have an average maximum in January of 25.6 °C dropping to an average maximum of around 16 °C in June.

flight_takeoff

Airports

O. R. Tambo International Airport is a major international airport in Kempton Park, Ekurhuleni, Gauteng, South Africa. It is located near the city of Johannesburg and, to a lesser extent, the executive capital Pretoria.

health_and_safety

Travel Insurance

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

Johannesburg, South Africa

What about weather in Johannesburg, South Africa ?
Average Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
High 78°F 77°F 75°F 71°F 67°F 62°F 62°F 68°F 73°F 75°F 76°F 77°F
Temp 68°F 68°F 65°F 60°F 54°F 49°F 48°F 54°F 60°F 64°F 65°F 67°F
Low 59°F 59°F 56°F 50°F 42°F 37°F 37°F 41°F 48°F 52°F 55°F 58°F
Average Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
High 25°C 25°C 23°C 21°C 19°C 16°C 16°C 20°C 22°C 23°C 24°C 25°C
Temp 20°C 20°C 18°C 15°C 12°C 9°C 8°C 12°C 15°C 17°C 18°C 19°C
Low 15°C 15°C 13°C 10°C 5°C 2°C 2°C 5°C 8°C 11°C 12°C 14°C

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

Comparison Cost of living in other cities

Cost of living in countries