Johannesburg ranks 6th of 7 priced cities in South Africa on cost — $1,130 a month in essentials, 48% above East London, the cheapest. The average net salary of $1,694 covers that 1.5×. 106 men per 100 women aged 20–39, measured at local municipality level. PM2.5 averages 25.5 µg/m³ a year, 5× the WHO guideline of 5. Jul averages 10°C, Dec 20°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 | $416 |
| Rent, 1-bed city centre | $518 |
| Groceries | $121 |
| Dining out | $250 |
| Utilities | $253 |
| Local transport | $90 |
| Essentials / mo | $1,130 |
| Avg net salary | $1,694 |
| Rent, 3-bed outside centre | $897 |
| Rent, 3-bed city centre | $1,039 |
Single person, USD. Data updated July 29, 2026.
Everyday prices
What single items cost in Johannesburg, in USD. The monthly figures above are built from these.
Eating out
| Item | USD |
|---|---|
| Meal, inexpensive restaurant | $12.00 |
| Meal for 2, mid-range, three courses | $46.49 |
| McMeal at McDonald's | $7.20 |
| Cappuccino, regular | $2.34 |
| Domestic beer, 0.5 L draught | $2.25 |
| Imported beer, 0.33 L bottle | $2.70 |
| Coke/Pepsi, 0.33 L | $1.18 |
| Water, 0.33 L bottle | $0.93 |
Groceries
| Item | USD |
|---|---|
| Milk, 1 L | $1.29 |
| White bread, 500 g | $1.22 |
| White rice, 1 kg | $1.72 |
| Eggs, 12 | $2.48 |
| Local cheese, 1 kg | $8.87 |
| Chicken fillets, 1 kg | $5.62 |
| Apples, 1 kg | $2.05 |
| Bananas, 1 kg | $1.80 |
| Tomatoes, 1 kg | $1.91 |
| Potatoes, 1 kg | $1.46 |
| Onions, 1 kg | $1.60 |
| Water, 1.5 L bottle | $1.26 |
Transport & bills
| Item | USD |
|---|---|
| One-way ticket, local transport | $1.80 |
| Monthly transit pass | $89.98 |
| Taxi start | $0.84 |
| Taxi, 1 km | $0.90 |
| Gasoline, 1 L | $1.45 |
| Basic utilities, 85 m² flat | $212.64 |
| Internet, 60 Mbps+ | $40.67 |
| Mobile plan, monthly | $37.49 |
Leisure
| Item | USD |
|---|---|
| Gym, monthly | $38.27 |
| Cinema, one seat | $8.40 |
Dating-age sex ratio
Johannesburg has 106 men per 100 women aged 20–39 (local municipality level). That is the highest of the 10 South Africa cities we track. South Africa's national figure is 99.4, so Johannesburg runs 7 above 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 | 19.6°C | 19.6°C | 68% | 51% | 128 mm |
| Feb | 19.4°C | 19.4°C | 70% | 53% | 116 mm |
| Mar | 18.3°C | 17.7°C | 67% | 40% | 74 mm |
| Apr | 15.4°C | 13.9°C | 67% | 37% | 68 mm |
| May | 12.7°C | 9.9°C | 57% | 20% | 21 mm |
| Jun | 9.6°C | 5.9°C | 53% | 11% | 6 mm |
| Jul | 9.5°C | 5.6°C | 47% | 11% | 4 mm |
| Aug | 13°C | 9.1°C | 40% | 14% | 2 mm |
| Sep | 16.8°C | 13.4°C | 41% | 23% | 14 mm |
| Oct | 18.4°C | 16°C | 48% | 34% | 55 mm |
| Nov | 19.2°C | 17.6°C | 57% | 46% | 90 mm |
| Dec | 19.9°C | 19.3°C | 65% | 56% | 127 mm |
Need the full South Africa model?
Open the gated deep-dive for city shortlist, cost detail, weather, visa, tax, dating-market signals, and subregion rankings.
Unlock South Africa deep-dive