City in Eastern Cape, South Africa
Cost of living in Port Elizabeth
How much a month costs in Port Elizabeth
For one person, including rent. A comfortable month costs about $1,080–1,680 (R18,000–28,000).
Prices in Port Elizabeth
Typical 2026 ranges in ZAR, rounded. US$ at the 03 Oct 2026 exchange rate.
| Item | ZAR | US$ |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | ||
| 1-bedroom apartment, center (month) | R6,500–12,000 | $390–720 |
| 1-bedroom apartment, outside center (month) | R4,500–8,500 | $270–510 |
| Hostel dorm bed (night) | R200–400 | $12–24 |
| Mid-range hotel room (night) | R1,000–2,400 | $60–144 |
| Food and drink | ||
| Local meal or street food | R55–100 | $3.3–6.0 |
| Mid-range restaurant, per person | R170–330 | $10.2–19.8 |
| Cappuccino | R30–48 | $1.8–2.9 |
| Local beer, 0.5 l in a bar | R35–60 | $2.1–3.6 |
| Getting around | ||
| Ride-hailing or taxi, about 5 km | R60–120 | $3.6–7.2 |
| Work and life | ||
| Gym membership (month) | R400–900 | $24–54 |
| Mobile data, 20–50 GB (month) | R200–450 | $12–27 |
Value for money: 71/100
A value score of 71/100 means Port Elizabeth gives more quality of life per dollar than 70% of the 1,319 places we cover. Quality here scores 64/100. It's the 2nd 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 Port Elizabeth
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 Port Elizabeth?
About $540–780 on a lean budget, $1,080–1,680 for a comfortable month and $2,400–3,900 for a luxury one, rent included.
How much is rent in Port Elizabeth?
A furnished 1-bedroom apartment costs R6,500–12,000 ($390–720) a month in the center and R4,500–8,500 ($270–510) outside it.
How much does food cost in Port Elizabeth?
A local meal is R55–100 ($3.3–6.0); a mid-range restaurant is R170–330 ($10.2–19.8) per person.
Is South Africa expensive?
Prices in South Africa are about 42% of US price levels (World Bank PPP).
More about Port Elizabeth
- Cost of livingacross South Africa
- Safetyin Port Elizabeth
- Weather & best timein Port Elizabeth
- Air qualityin Port Elizabeth
- Internet & coworkingin Port Elizabeth
- Getting aroundin Port Elizabeth
- Tap waterin Port Elizabeth
- LGBTQ+ friendlyin Port Elizabeth
- Healthcare & insurancein Port Elizabeth
- Solo travelin Port Elizabeth
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Sources
- ExchangeRate-API open rates
- World Bank: PPP conversion factor
- Airports Company South Africa
- Nelson Mandela Bay Tourism
- South African National Parks
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.