City in Gauteng, South Africa
Cost of living in Johannesburg
How much a month costs in Johannesburg
For one person, including rent. A comfortable month costs about $1,440–2,280 (R24,000–38,000).
Prices in Johannesburg
Typical 2026 ranges in ZAR, rounded. US$ at the 03 Oct 2026 exchange rate.
| Item | ZAR | US$ |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | ||
| 1-bedroom apartment, center (month) | R9,500–18,000 | $570–1,080 |
| 1-bedroom apartment, outside center (month) | R6,500–12,000 | $390–720 |
| Hostel dorm bed (night) | R250–500 | $15–30 |
| Mid-range hotel room (night) | R1,200–2,800 | $72–168 |
| Food and drink | ||
| Local meal or street food | R60–110 | $3.6–6.6 |
| Mid-range restaurant, per person | R200–400 | $12–24 |
| Cappuccino | R32–50 | $1.9–3.0 |
| Local beer, 0.5 l in a bar | R35–65 | $2.1–3.9 |
| Getting around | ||
| Public transport, one ride | R30–90 | $1.8–5.4 |
| Ride-hailing or taxi, about 5 km | R70–140 | $4.2–8.4 |
| Work and life | ||
| Coworking day pass | R200–400 | $12–24 |
| Gym membership (month) | R450–1,100 | $27–66 |
| Mobile data, 20–50 GB (month) | R200–450 | $12–27 |
Value for money: 32/100
A value score of 32/100 means Johannesburg gives more quality of life per dollar than 31% of the 1,319 places we cover. Quality here scores 52/100. It's the 9th most affordable of 13 places we cover in South Africa.
| Quality factor | Score |
|---|---|
| Safety | |
| Air quality | |
| Internet | |
| Healthcare | |
| Weather | |
| Friendly locals | |
| English |
Cost of living across South Africa
One person, comfortable lifestyle, including rent.
| Place | Comfortable month | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Jeffreys Bay | $1,020–1,620 | 76/100 |
| Port Elizabeth | $1,080–1,680 | 71/100 |
| Knysna | $1,140–1,800 | 69/100 |
| Durban | $1,200–1,920 | 61/100 |
| Pretoria | $1,200–1,920 | 56/100 |
| Hermanus | $1,320–2,040 | 57/100 |
| Plettenberg Bay | $1,320–2,040 | 60/100 |
| Stellenbosch | $1,440–2,160 | 51/100 |
| Johannesburg | $1,440–2,280 | 32/100 |
| Umhlanga | $1,440–2,280 | 52/100 |
| Franschhoek | $1,560–2,400 | 43/100 |
| Cape Town | $1,680–2,520 | 26/100 |
| Kruger National Park | $1,800–3,000 | 32/100 |
Cheaper alternatives to Johannesburg
Similar safety, lower cost, in Africa.
| Place | Country | Comfortable month |
|---|---|---|
| Aswan | Egypt | $478–803 |
| Dahab | Egypt | $536–861 |
| Djerba | Tunisia | $674–1,080 |
| Sousse | Tunisia | $674–1,080 |
| Addis Ababa | Ethiopia | $553–921 |
Quick answers
How much money do you need per month in Johannesburg?
About $720–1,020 on a lean budget, $1,440–2,280 for a comfortable month and $3,300–5,400 for a luxury one, rent included.
How much is rent in Johannesburg?
A furnished 1-bedroom apartment costs R9,500–18,000 ($570–1,080) a month in the center and R6,500–12,000 ($390–720) outside it.
How much does food cost in Johannesburg?
A local meal is R60–110 ($3.6–6.6); a mid-range restaurant is R200–400 ($12–24) per person.
Is South Africa expensive?
Prices in South Africa are about 42% of US price levels (World Bank PPP).
More about Johannesburg
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Sources
- ExchangeRate-API open rates
- World Bank: PPP conversion factor
- Gautrain
- Airports Company South Africa
- Joburg Tourism
Prices are SoloSquare estimates for 2026, reviewed against official and operator prices where available. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.