South Africa
Republic of South Africa
- Capital
- Pretoria
- Region
- Southern Africa
- Population, 2025
- 65 million
- Currency
- ZAR
- Area
- 1,221,037 km²
Across South Africa's 67 priced cities, one person needs about $1,205 a month, rent included; the average net salary is $1,629.
Livability
The same seven domains as for cities, scored at country level; safety falls back to the homicide rate where Numbeo has no survey.
57out of 100
- Purchasing power25%72
- Safety20%26
- Health care15%64
- Climate10%96
- Air quality10%60
- Connectivity10%24
- Cost10%61
How each domain is scored
- Purchasing power, 25%
- What a local net salary buys against local prices, as a percentile.
- Safety, 20%
- Numbeo safety index for the city, or for its country when the city has no survey.
- Health care, 15%
- Numbeo health care index, city first, then country.
- Climate, 10%
- Numbeo climate index where surveyed, otherwise a comfort score from NASA climate normals.
- Air quality, 10%
- 30-day mean US AQI on a 0-100 scale: 100 at AQI 25 or cleaner, 0 at 150 or worse.
- Connectivity, 10%
- Percentile of median fixed broadband download speed, city first, then country.
- Cost, 10%
- Cheaper places score higher: the percentile of the cost-of-living plus rent index, inverted.
- Livability rank among countries
- #81
What it costs
Averages over the country’s cities, weighted by population. New York = 100.
Cost of living index
46.1
New York = 100, rent excluded
Rent index
13.1
New York = 100
Purchasing power
154.2
New York = 100
One person
$1,205
A month, rent included
Net salary
$1,629
Average, a month after tax
Rent, one bedroom in the centre
$518
A month
Economy
World Bank development indicators; each figure is the latest year with data.
GDP per person
$6,598
2025
Growth
+1.1%
2025
Unemployment
32.4%
2025
Inflation
3.2%
2025
Life expectancy
66.3 years
2024
Internet users
78%
2024
Taxes
Headline rates side by side from three references, with the source of each.
- Top income tax rate
- 45%
- SourcePwC
- Lowest income tax rate
- 0%
- SourceWikipedia
- Corporate tax
- 27%
- SourcePwC
- VAT or sales tax
- 15%
- SourcePwC
- Capital gains, individuals
- 18%
- SourcePwC
- Social security, employee
- 1%
- SourceTrading Economics
- Social security, employer
- 1%
- SourceTrading Economics
- Inheritance tax
- 25%
- SourceWikipedia
Headline statutory rates as of Sep 2026; brackets, allowances and regional taxes change what a given person pays.
Safety and internet
Numbeo’s crime survey, the World Bank homicide series and the Speedtest Global Index.
Safety
- Safety indexNumbeo, higher is safer
- 25.5
- Crime indexNumbeo, lower is better
- 74.5
- HomicidesPer 100,000 people, 2022
- 43.7
Internet
- Fixed downloadMbps, median, #114 worldwide
- 50
- Mobile downloadMbps, median, #65 worldwide
- 70
- Change in a yearFixed download speed
- +5%
Cities in South Africa
Sort by any column. Livability and cost use the same scales as every city page.
| 1Krugersdorp | 65 | 41.7 | $215 | $1,784 | 242.4 | 378.8K | Medium confidence, 7 contributors |
| 2Vanderbijlpark | 65 | 36.9 | $369 | $2,000 | 247.6 | 246.8K | Medium confidence, 12 contributors |
| 3Randburg | 64 | 41.1 | $308 | $1,948 | 240.8 | 337.1K | Medium confidence, 11 contributors |
| 4Benoni | 64 | 39.5 | $400 | $2,061 | 237.2 | 605.3K | Medium confidence, 11 contributors |
| 5Vereeniging | 63 | 38.1 | $277 | $1,436 | 193.4 | 474.7K | Medium confidence, 5 contributors |
| 6Polokwane | 63 | 40.0 | $293 | $1,456 | 186.2 | 272.5K | Medium confidence, 10 contributors |
| 7Centurion (Verwoerdburg) | 63 | 54.1 | $349 | $2,399 | 236.3 | 236.6K | Medium confidence, 9 contributors |
| 8Alexandra | 62 | 39.7 | — | $1,792 | 201.5 | 179.6K | Low confidence, 1 contributors |
| 9Bhisho | 62 | 40.6 | $1,112 | $3,337 | 221.5 | 137.3K | Low confidence, 1 contributors |
| 10Alberton | 62 | 44.9 | $446 | $2,136 | 217.9 | 121.5K | Medium confidence, 13 contributors |
| 11Klerksdorp | 62 | 38.9 | $154 | $923 | 143.0 | 227K | Low confidence, 4 contributors |
| 12Witbank (eMalahleni) | 62 | 41.4 | — | $2,076 | 227.9 | 373.4K | Medium confidence, 5 contributors |
| 13George | 61 | 39.2 | $435 | $1,374 | 153.4 | 188.6K | Medium confidence, 19 contributors |
| 14East London | 61 | 40.5 | $292 | $1,682 | 213.6 | 478.7K | Medium confidence, 19 contributors |
| 15Port Shepstone | 61 | 37.2 | — | $3,076 | 359.2 | 52.8K | Low confidence, 2 contributors |
| 16Springs | 61 | 39.0 | $292 | $1,169 | 152.3 | 186.4K | Medium confidence, 9 contributors |
| 17Kimberley | 61 | 43.7 | $271 | $951 | 117.3 | 142.1K | Low confidence, 3 contributors |
| 18Bloemfontein | 60 | 44.3 | $323 | $1,333 | 154.2 | 556.6K | Medium confidence, 6 contributors |
| 19Potchefstroom | 60 | 36.4 | $287 | $923 | 126.4 | 178.3K | Medium confidence, 11 contributors |
| 20Stilbaai (Still Bay) | 60 | 34.8 | — | $2,472 | 299.7 | 8K | Low confidence, 1 contributors |
| 21Richards Bay | 60 | 42.5 | $369 | $1,230 | 139.6 | 253K | Medium confidence, 7 contributors |
| 22Margate | 59 | 34.4 | $246 | $1,538 | 230.6 | 34.4K | Low confidence, 4 contributors |
| 23Middelburg | 59 | 42.0 | $340 | $1,204 | 141.9 | 196.3K | Low confidence, 1 contributors |
| 24Worcester | 59 | 38.6 | $400 | $984 | 114.9 | 127.6K | Medium confidence, 5 contributors |
| 25Welkom | 59 | 37.3 | $277 | — | — | 431.9K | Medium confidence, 5 contributors |
| 26Roodepoort | 58 | 44.7 | $615 | $1,559 | 138.5 | 326.4K | Medium confidence, 11 contributors |
| 27Port Elizabeth | 58 | 42.2 | $616 | $1,638 | 149.7 | 1.1M | Medium confidence, 13 contributors |
| 28Queenstown | 58 | — | — | — | — | 118.6K | Low confidence |
| 29Uitenhage | 57 | 42.1 | — | — | — | 291.1K | Low confidence, 1 contributors |
| 30Nelspruit | 57 | 41.0 | $277 | — | — | 110.2K | Medium confidence, 7 contributors |
| 31Boksburg | 57 | 42.6 | $328 | $892 | 105.4 | 445.2K | Medium confidence, 10 contributors |
| 32Stellenbosch | 57 | 39.0 | $697 | $2,643 | 235.6 | 96.2K | High confidence, 30 contributors |
| 33Botshabelo | 57 | — | — | — | — | 309.7K | Low confidence |
| 34Secunda | 57 | 36.1 | $369 | $1,477 | 185.3 | 20.4K | Medium confidence, 6 contributors |
| 35Mthatha | 57 | — | — | — | — | 164.8K | Low confidence |
| 36Mdantsane | 56 | — | — | — | — | 205.5K | Low confidence |
| 37Westonaria | 56 | 39.1 | — | — | — | 156.8K | Low confidence, 1 contributors |
| 38Rustenburg | 56 | 35.4 | $338 | $1,107 | 145.6 | 373.7K | Medium confidence, 8 contributors |
| 39Newcastle | 56 | 38.6 | — | — | — | 404.8K | Low confidence, 3 contributors |
| 40Vryheid | 56 | 39.6 | — | — | — | 150K | Low confidence, 0 contributors |
| 41Durban | 56 | 38.6 | $482 | $1,296 | 139.6 | 3.3M | High confidence, 32 contributors |
| 42Virginia | 56 | — | — | — | — | 122.5K | Low confidence |
| 43Carletonville | 56 | — | — | — | — | 182.3K | Low confidence |
| 44Kroonstad | 56 | — | — | — | — | 117.2K | Low confidence |
| 45Orkney | 56 | — | — | — | — | 110.1K | Low confidence |
| 46Soweto | 56 | 39.7 | — | — | — | 1.7M | Low confidence, 1 contributors |
| 47Pretoria | 55 | 49.3 | $465 | $1,425 | 135.1 | 2.1M | High confidence, 40 contributors |
| 48Ballito | 55 | 36.7 | $461 | $1,499 | 169.3 | — | Medium confidence, 11 contributors |
| 49Pietermaritzburg | 55 | 38.8 | $226 | $1,098 | 155.3 | 839.3K | Medium confidence, 7 contributors |
| 50Thohoyandou | 55 | — | — | — | — | 107.1K | Low confidence |
| 51Somerset West | 55 | 43.8 | $656 | $1,436 | 124.9 | 225.3K | Medium confidence, 18 contributors |
| 52Phalaborwa | 55 | — | — | — | — | 109.5K | Low confidence |
| 53Sandton | 55 | 42.5 | $554 | $1,872 | 179.6 | — | High confidence, 28 contributors |
| 54Randfontein | 55 | — | — | — | — | 133.7K | Low confidence |
| 55Mokopane | 55 | — | — | — | — | 101.1K | Low confidence |
| 56Brits | 55 | — | — | — | — | 122.5K | Low confidence |
| 57Brackenfell | 55 | 37.6 | $661 | $1,846 | 172.1 | — | Medium confidence, 9 contributors |
| 58Ladysmith | 54 | — | — | — | — | 143.4K | Low confidence |
| 59Ermelo | 54 | — | — | — | — | 100.3K | Low confidence |
| 60Standerton | 54 | — | — | — | — | 101.1K | Low confidence |
| 61Brakpan | 54 | — | $370 | — | — | 305.7K | Low confidence, 1 contributors |
| 62Sasolburg | 54 | — | — | — | — | 135.8K | Low confidence |
| 63Nigel | 54 | — | — | — | — | 140.6K | Low confidence |
| 64Hammanskraal | 54 | — | — | — | — | 113K | Low confidence |
| 65Thembisa | 54 | — | — | — | — | 511.7K | Low confidence |
| 66Soshanguve | 54 | — | — | — | — | 872.3K | Low confidence |
| 67Diepsloot | 54 | — | — | — | — | 350K | Low confidence |
| 68eMbalenhle | 54 | — | — | — | — | 142.4K | Low confidence |
| 69Etwatwa | 54 | — | — | — | — | 151.9K | Low confidence |
| 70Mabopane | 54 | — | — | — | — | 111K | Low confidence |
| 71Johannesburg | 54 | 48.2 | $518 | $1,751 | 161.2 | 9.4M | High confidence, 87 contributors |
| 72Ivory Park | 54 | — | — | — | — | 184.4K | Low confidence |
| 73Somaroboro | 53 | — | — | — | — | 114.4K | Low confidence |
| 74Evaton | 53 | — | — | — | — | 725.5K | Low confidence |
| 75Germiston | 53 | — | — | — | — | 255.9K | Low confidence |
| 76Tokoza | 53 | — | — | — | — | 106K | Low confidence |
| 77Mossel Bay | 53 | 46.1 | $513 | $1,518 | 144.0 | 78.9K | Low confidence, 4 contributors |
| 78Grahamstown | 53 | 42.2 | $420 | $1,221 | 132.3 | 91.5K | Low confidence, 3 contributors |
| 79Paarl | 52 | 45.7 | $810 | $1,160 | 88.6 | 236.9K | Medium confidence, 10 contributors |
| 80Plettenberg Bay | 51 | 37.5 | $692 | $1,384 | 126.0 | 38.1K | Medium confidence, 8 contributors |
| 81KwaDukuza | 51 | — | — | — | — | 161.2K | Low confidence |
| 82Knysna | 49 | 41.1 | $513 | $943 | 95.4 | 68.7K | Medium confidence, 6 contributors |
| 83Athlone | 49 | — | — | — | — | 237.4K | Low confidence |
| 84Pinetown | 49 | — | — | — | — | 144K | Low confidence |
| 85Mpumalanga | 49 | — | — | — | — | 140.1K | Low confidence |
| 86Ladismith | 49 | 41.6 | $216 | — | — | 8.5K | Low confidence, 1 contributors |
| 87Cape Town | 48 | 47.2 | $1,052 | $1,629 | 105.8 | 4.8M | High confidence, 125 contributors |
| 88Ntuzuma | 48 | — | — | — | — | 125.4K | Low confidence |
| 89Kempton Park | 48 | 42.5 | $307 | $646 | 78.0 | — | Medium confidence, 9 contributors |
| 90Jeffreys Bay | 48 | 36.6 | — | — | — | 32.5K | Medium confidence, 6 contributors |
| 91Howick | 48 | 38.1 | — | — | — | 32.5K | Low confidence, 2 contributors |
| 92Scottburgh | 48 | 38.1 | — | — | — | 23.9K | Low confidence, 1 contributors |
| 93Hillcrest | 47 | 39.4 | — | — | — | — | Low confidence, 3 contributors |
| 94Heidelberg | 47 | 39.9 | — | — | — | 85.9K | Low confidence, 0 contributors |
| 95Burgersfort | 47 | 39.9 | — | — | — | 7.6K | Low confidence, 0 contributors |
| 96St Francis Bay | 47 | 41.1 | — | — | — | 5.9K | Low confidence, 1 contributors |
| 97Midrand | 47 | 37.6 | $492 | — | — | 87.4K | Medium confidence, 5 contributors |
| 98Bellville | 47 | 42.0 | — | — | — | — | Low confidence, 1 contributors |
| 99Sun City | 47 | 44.3 | — | — | — | — | Low confidence, 1 contributors |
| 100Bloubergstrand (Blaauwberg) | 47 | 44.4 | — | — | — | — | Low confidence, 2 contributors |
| 101Hermanus | 46 | 43.1 | $556 | — | — | 56.1K | Low confidence, 0 contributors |
| 102Edenvale | 45 | 42.0 | $738 | — | — | 49.3K | Medium confidence, 11 contributors |
| 103Vredenburg | 45 | 38.0 | $865 | $927 | 73.8 | 46K | Low confidence, 2 contributors |
| 104Oudtshoorn | 43 | — | — | $1,918 | — | 73.7K | Low confidence, 0 contributors |
| 105Upington | 43 | — | $309 | $803 | — | 71.4K | Low confidence, 1 contributors |