Capital city in Gauteng, South Africa
Cost of living in Pretoria
How much a month costs in Pretoria
For one person, including rent. A comfortable month costs about $1,200–1,920 (R20,000–32,000).
Prices in Pretoria
Typical 2026 ranges in ZAR, rounded. US$ at the 03 Oct 2026 exchange rate.
| Item | ZAR | US$ |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | ||
| 1-bedroom apartment, center (month) | R8,000–15,000 | $480–900 |
| 1-bedroom apartment, outside center (month) | R5,500–10,000 | $330–600 |
| Hostel dorm bed (night) | R250–450 | $15–27 |
| 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 | R180–350 | $11–21 |
| Cappuccino | R30–48 | $1.8–2.9 |
| Local beer, 0.5 l in a bar | R35–60 | $2.1–3.6 |
| Getting around | ||
| Public transport, one ride | R20–60 | $1.2–3.6 |
| Ride-hailing or taxi, about 5 km | R65–125 | $3.9–7.5 |
| Work and life | ||
| Gym membership (month) | R400–950 | $24–57 |
| Mobile data, 20–50 GB (month) | R200–450 | $12–27 |
Value for money: 56/100
A value score of 56/100 means Pretoria gives more quality of life per dollar than 55% of the 1,319 places we cover. Quality here scores 59/100. It's the 5th 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 Pretoria
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 Pretoria?
About $600–900 on a lean budget, $1,200–1,920 for a comfortable month and $2,700–4,500 for a luxury one, rent included.
How much is rent in Pretoria?
A furnished 1-bedroom apartment costs R8,000–15,000 ($480–900) a month in the center and R5,500–10,000 ($330–600) outside it.
How much does food cost in Pretoria?
A local meal is R55–100 ($3.3–6.0); 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).
More about Pretoria
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Sources
- ExchangeRate-API open rates
- World Bank: PPP conversion factor
- Gautrain
- City of Tshwane
- Airports Company South Africa
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.