Town in Western Cape, South Africa

Cost of living in Knysna

Updated October 2026Sources

How much a month costs in Knysna

For one person, including rent. A comfortable month costs about $1,140–1,800 (R19,000–30,000).

Lean$570–840R9,500–14,000 · Room or studio, local food

Comfortable$1,140–1,800R19,000–30,000 · 1-bed apartment, eating out daily

Luxury$2,400–4,200R40,000–70,000 · Upscale apartment, restaurants, taxis

Prices in Knysna

Typical 2026 ranges in ZAR, rounded. US$ at the 03 Oct 2026 exchange rate.

Item	ZAR	US$
Housing
1-bedroom apartment, center (month)	R7,000–13,000	$420–780
1-bedroom apartment, outside center (month)	R5,000–9,500	$300–570
Hostel dorm bed (night)	R200–400	$12–24
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	R180–350	$11–21
Cappuccino	R32–50	$1.9–3.0
Local beer, 0.5 l in a bar	R35–65	$2.1–3.9
Work and life
Gym membership (month)	R400–900	$24–54
Mobile data, 20–50 GB (month)	R200–450	$12–27

Value for money: 69/100

A value score of 69/100 means Knysna gives more quality of life per dollar than 68% of the 1,319 places we cover. Quality here scores 67/100. It's the 3rd most affordable of 13 places we cover in South Africa.

Quality factor	Score
Safety	75
Air quality	50
Internet	41
Healthcare	52
Weather	100
Friendly locals	75
English	100

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 Knysna

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
Merzouga	Morocco	$708–1,010

Quick answers

How much money do you need per month in Knysna?

About $570–840 on a lean budget, $1,140–1,800 for a comfortable month and $2,400–4,200 for a luxury one, rent included.

How much is rent in Knysna?

A furnished 1-bedroom apartment costs R7,000–13,000 ($420–780) a month in the center and R5,000–9,500 ($300–570) outside it.

How much does food cost in Knysna?

A local meal is R60–110 ($3.6–6.6); a mid-range restaurant is R180–350 ($11–21) per person.

Is South Africa expensive?

Prices in South Africa are about 42% of US price levels (World Bank PPP).

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Sources

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.