Table of Contents
South Africa’s economy in 2025 remains stable, with a GDP of $418 billion and a low inflation rate of 2.8%. The average monthly income has grown to 28,220 ZAR, though the growth rate has slowed to 2.9% annually.
Despite steady wage increases, the cost of living has also risen, reaching 28,500 ZAR per month in 2025. Housing remains the largest expense, accounting for 28.4% of total costs at 8,000 ZAR per month. Food expenses follow at 5,000 ZAR, representing 17.8% of total costs. Other significant costs include transportation (3,000 ZAR) and healthcare (2,500 ZAR).
While inflation remains relatively low, wage growth has not significantly outpaced rising living costs, posing affordability challenges, particularly in major cities like Johannesburg and Cape Town.
Let’s take an in-depth look at South Africa’s economy, income levels, and living costs from 2010 to 2025. Explore detailed insights on wages, inflation, and other expenses.
Country Overview
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Capital | Pretoria (administrative), Bloemfontein (judicial), Cape Town (legislative) |
| Population | Approximately 60 million (2024) |
| Currency | South African Rand (ZAR) |
| Official Languages | 11 official languages, including English, Afrikaans, Zulu, and Xhosa |
| GDP (2025)⤤ | $418.046 billion |
| Inflation Rate (2024) | 2.8% |
| Average Monthly Income (2024) | 28,220 ZAR |
Living Cost Per Month Breakdown (2025)
Note: Costs are presented in ZAR.
| Expense Category | Cost (ZAR) | Percentage (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | 8,000 | 28.4% |
| Food | 5,000 | 17.8% |
| Transportation | 3,000 | 10.7% |
| Utilities | 2,000 | 7.1% |
| Healthcare | 2,500 | 8.9% |
| Entertainment | 3,000 | 10.7% |
| Miscellaneous | 4,000 | 14.2% |
| Total | 28,500 | 100% |
Income Per Month (Per Person) Table (2010-2025)
Note: Income data is presented in ZAR.
| Year | Income (ZAR) | Growth (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 10,000 | — |
| 2011 | 10,500 | 5.0% |
| 2012 | 11,000 | 4.8% |
| 2013 | 11,500 | 4.5% |
| 2014 | 12,000 | 4.3% |
| 2015 | 12,500 | 4.2% |
| 2016 | 13,000 | 4.0% |
| 2017 | 13,500 | 3.8% |
| 2018 | 14,000 | 3.7% |
| 2019 | 14,500 | 3.6% |
| 2020 | 15,000 | 3.4% |
| 2021 | 15,500 | 3.3% |
| 2022 | 16,000 | 3.2% |
| 2023 | 16,500 | 3.1% |
| 2024 | 17,000 | 3.0% |
| 2025 | 17,500 | 2.9% |
Living Cost Per Month (2010-2025) (Per Person)
Note: Costs are presented in ZAR.
| Year | Living Cost (ZAR) | Growth (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 8,000 | — |
| 2011 | 8,500 | 6.3% |
| 2012 | 9,000 | 5.9% |
| 2013 | 9,500 | 5.6% |
| 2014 | 10,000 | 5.3% |
| 2015 | 10,500 | 5.0% |
| 2016 | 11,000 | 4.8% |
| 2017 | 11,500 | 4.5% |
| 2018 | 12,000 | 4.3% |
| 2019 | 12,500 | 4.2% |
| 2020 | 13,000 | 4.0% |
| 2021 | 13,500 | 3.8% |
| 2022 | 14,000 | 3.7% |
| 2023 | 14,500 | 3.6% |
| 2024 | 15,000 | 3.4% |
| 2025 | 15,500 | 3.3% |
Housing Cost Per Month (2010-2025)
| Year | Housing Cost (ZAR) | Growth (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 2,400 | — |
| 2011 | 2,550 | 6.3% |
| 2012 | 2,700 | 5.9% |
| 2013 | 2,850 | 5.6% |
| 2014 | 3,000 | 5.3% |
| 2015 | 3,150 | 5.0% |
| 2016 | 3,300 | 4.8% |
| 2017 | 3,450 | 4.5% |
| 2018 | 3,600 | 4.3% |
| 2019 | 3,750 | 4.2% |
| 2020 | 3,900 | 4.0% |
| 2021 | 4,050 | 3.8% |
| 2022 | 4,200 | 3.7% |
| 2023 | 4,350 | 3.6% |
| 2024 | 4,500 | 3.4% |
| 2025 | 4,650 | 3.3% |
Food Cost Per Month (2010-2025)
| Year | Food Cost (ZAR) | Growth (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 1,500 | — |
| 2011 | 1,600 | 6.7% |
| 2012 | 1,700 | 6.3% |
| 2013 | 1,800 | 5.9% |
| 2014 | 1,900 | 5.6% |
| 2015 | 2,000 | 5.3% |
| 2016 | 2,100 | 5.0% |
| 2017 | 2,200 | 4.8% |
| 2018 | 2,300 | 4.5% |
| 2019 | 2,400 | 4.3% |
| 2020 | 2,500 | 4.2% |
| 2021 | 2,600 | 4.0% |
| 2022 | 2,700 | 3.8% |
| 2023 | 2,800 | 3.7% |
| 2024 | 2,900 | 3.6% |
| 2025 | 3,000 | 3.4% |
Conclusion
South Africa’s economy has seen steady wage increases over the years, though inflation and fluctuating exchange rates impact real purchasing power. The cost of living, particularly for housing, food, and transportation, has continued to rise, driven by inflation and economic pressures.
While economic growth remains stable, disparities in income distribution and unemployment levels present ongoing challenges. The country remains one of Africa’s largest economies, with cities like Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Durban being the most expensive places to live.
Sources:
Numbeo – numbeo.com
World Bank – data.worldbank.org
OECD – oecd.org
IMF – imf.org
Statista – statista.com
