Cost of Living

Johannesburg, South Africa

Live cost-of-living data for Johannesburg — rent, groceries, transport, healthcare and more, sourced and cross-checked by AI and refreshed regularly.

CheapestNew York = 100
17/ 10083% cheaper than New York
+2% rent since Jul 2026
$825/mo
Median Income
20/100
Safety
19%
Income Tax
subtropical highland
Climate

Cost Breakdown by Category

Each score runs 0–100, where higher means pricier. Representative prices shown per category.

Housing
40/100
1-Bed Apartment (City Center)$560/month
1-Bed Apartment (Outside Center)$420/month
3-Bed Apartment (City Center)$1,050/month
Food & Groceries
35/100
Milk (1 liter)$1.8/liter
Bread (500g loaf)$1.2/loaf
Rice (1 kg)$1.5/kg
Transportation
30/100
Monthly Transit Pass$25/month
One-Way Ticket$0.6/trip
Taxi (1 km)$0.8/km
Utilities
35/100
Basic (Elec, Heat, Water, Garbage) 85m2$90/month
Internet (60+ Mbps)$35/month
Mobile Plan (10GB+)$20/month
Healthcare
50/100
Doctor Visit (15 min)$50/visit
Dentist Visit$60/visit
Prescription Medicine (avg)$12/course
Education
45/100
Preschool/Kindergarten (monthly)$400/month
International Primary School (yearly)$9,000/year
Language Course (12 weeks)$350/course
Entertainment
35/100
Cinema Ticket (1 seat)$7.5/ticket
Theater Ticket$25/ticket
Museum Entry$10/ticket
Clothing
40/100
Jeans (Levi's or similar)$50/pair
Summer Dress (Zara/H&M)$30/piece
Running Shoes (Nike/Adidas)$70/pair
Personal Care
30/100
Haircut (Men)$12/cut
Haircut (Women)$25/cut
Shampoo (400ml)$3.5/bottle
Dining Out
35/100
Meal at Inexpensive Restaurant$8/meal
Meal for 2 (Mid-Range)$40/meal
McMeal at McDonald's$6/meal
Childcare
40/100
Full-Day Daycare (monthly)$500/month
Babysitter (per hour)$10/hour
Pack of Diapers (60 ct)$12/pack
Fitness & Sports
35/100
Gym Membership (monthly)$35/month
Tennis Court Rent (1 hr)$15/hour
Swimming Pool (adult entry)$5/entry

Digital Nomad Profile

50 Mbps
Internet Speed
$150
Coworking/Month
good
Café WiFi
high
English Level
growing
Nomad Community
60/100
Walkability

Best neighborhoods: Rosebank, Sandton, Parkhurst

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Johannesburg cheap to live in?

Johannesburg has a cost of living index of 17/100, where New York = 100. It is 83% cheaper than New York. A single person can live comfortably for approximately $600–$840 per month.

How much does rent cost in Johannesburg?

A 1-bedroom apartment in the city center of Johannesburg costs approximately $560/month. Outside the center, expect to pay around $420/month.

Is Johannesburg good for digital nomads?

Johannesburg has a growing digital nomad community. Average internet speed is 50 Mbps, café wifi reliability is good, and coworking spaces run about $150/month. English proficiency is high.

What is the average salary in Johannesburg?

The median net monthly salary in Johannesburg is approximately $825 USD. The income tax rate is around 19%.

How does Johannesburg compare to New York for cost of living?

Johannesburg (cost index 17) is 83% cheaper than New York (cost index 100). You could save roughly $2,075/month by moving from New York to Johannesburg.

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