East London is the cheapest of South Africa's 7 priced cities — $762 a month in essentials, 40% below Cape Town at $1,265. The average net salary of $1,640 covers that 2.2×. 95.6 men per 100 women aged 20–39, measured at local municipality level. PM2.5 averages 9.6 µg/m³ a year, 2× the WHO guideline of 5. Jul averages 16°C, Jan 23°C.
Monthly cost breakdown
Rent outside centre plus utilities, groceries, dining and local transport make up the essentials figure. Not a full lifestyle budget.
| Item | Monthly USD |
|---|---|
| Rent, 1-bed outside centre | $250 |
| Rent, 1-bed city centre | $285 |
| Groceries | $104 |
| Dining out | $196 |
| Utilities | $166 |
| Local transport | $46 |
| Essentials / mo | $762 |
| Avg net salary | $1,640 |
| Rent, 3-bed outside centre | $640 |
| Rent, 3-bed city centre | $540 |
Single person, USD. Data updated July 29, 2026.
Everyday prices
What single items cost in East London, in USD. The monthly figures above are built from these.
Eating out
| Item | USD |
|---|---|
| Meal, inexpensive restaurant | $9.30 |
| Meal for 2, mid-range, three courses | $37.49 |
| McMeal at McDonald's | $5.70 |
| Cappuccino, regular | $2.10 |
| Domestic beer, 0.5 L draught | $2.70 |
| Imported beer, 0.33 L bottle | $3.15 |
| Coke/Pepsi, 0.33 L | $1.03 |
| Water, 0.33 L bottle | $0.74 |
Groceries
| Item | USD |
|---|---|
| Milk, 1 L | $1.15 |
| White bread, 500 g | $0.91 |
| White rice, 1 kg | $1.47 |
| Eggs, 12 | $2.22 |
| Local cheese, 1 kg | $8.60 |
| Chicken fillets, 1 kg | $5.34 |
| Apples, 1 kg | $1.50 |
| Bananas, 1 kg | $1.50 |
| Tomatoes, 1 kg | $1.54 |
| Potatoes, 1 kg | $1.69 |
| Onions, 1 kg | $1.39 |
| Water, 1.5 L bottle | $0.94 |
Transport & bills
| Item | USD |
|---|---|
| One-way ticket, local transport | $1.50 |
| Monthly transit pass | $46.49 |
| Taxi start | $1.20 |
| Taxi, 1 km | $0.48 |
| Gasoline, 1 L | $1.31 |
| Basic utilities, 85 m² flat | $122.16 |
| Internet, 60 Mbps+ | $43.59 |
| Mobile plan, monthly | $32.69 |
Leisure
| Item | USD |
|---|---|
| Gym, monthly | $38.99 |
| Cinema, one seat | $4.65 |
Dating-age sex ratio
East London has 95.6 men per 100 women aged 20–39 (local municipality level). That is the 9th-highest of 10 South Africa cities we track. South Africa's national figure is 99.4, so East London runs 4 below the country as a whole.
A supply figure, 20–39. The dating-pool model is in Pro.
Climate & air
Ten-year monthly means, 2015–2024 — a climate profile, not a forecast.
| Month | Avg | Feels | Humidity | Cloud | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 23.2°C | 24.6°C | 78% | 59% | 65 mm |
| Feb | 23.2°C | 24.7°C | 78% | 56% | 78 mm |
| Mar | 22.5°C | 23.8°C | 78% | 53% | 80 mm |
| Apr | 20.2°C | 20.4°C | 77% | 52% | 74 mm |
| May | 19°C | 18.3°C | 72% | 39% | 43 mm |
| Jun | 17.3°C | 15.3°C | 63% | 32% | 35 mm |
| Jul | 16.5°C | 14.1°C | 62% | 28% | 29 mm |
| Aug | 16.7°C | 14.7°C | 66% | 34% | 24 mm |
| Sep | 17.6°C | 16.4°C | 73% | 50% | 62 mm |
| Oct | 18.9°C | 18.3°C | 75% | 52% | 65 mm |
| Nov | 20°C | 20°C | 77% | 59% | 73 mm |
| Dec | 21.8°C | 22.7°C | 78% | 62% | 61 mm |
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