Property Price Comparison: South Africa vs. UK

The cost of renting or owning a property can change significantly from country to country and from city to city – so how much does it cost to live in South Africa’s most prominent cities compared to Britain’s?

To give you an idea of how the two nations differ in terms of cost, we’ve compared property prices from three major cities in both the UK and South Africa. The results may surprise you.

Average monthly rent for one bedroom apartment in city centre:

Even one of South Africa’s most expensive cities is less pricey than most of Britain’s cities. The cheapest of the bunch, Durban, is significantly lower to rent in on average compared to anywhere in the UK.

Average monthly rent for one bedroom apartment outside city centre:

This data illustrates just how significantly the city centre makes to London apartment prices – almost a whopping £500. The cheapest options in South Africa don’t actually get much cheaper when you leave the city centre.

Purchase price per m² for apartment in city centre:

With Central London purchase price almost £10,000 higher than the second priciest UK city and over six times more expensive than any listed SA city, this illustrates just how expensive it is to own a small property in London’s city centre – let alone a big property. In comparison, somewhere like Durban is a tiny fraction of that price.

Purchase price per m² for apartment outside city centre:

A massive £5,000 drop outside the city centre for London, but still far above the prices to purchase an apartment even in the centres of the other cities listed here. Meanwhile, Durban’s city centre is actually cheaper than outside the city centre.

Monthly mortgage payments as % of income (on average):

Once again, London mortgages are far more expensive than the others here – but Cape Town mortgages aren’t hugely affordable either. In comparison, it seems like having a mortgage may actually be easier to handle in Cardiff or Edinburgh than on South Africa’s bustling metropolitan cape.

And across the UK and South Africa as a whole?

Average rent for one bedroom apartment in city centre:

Average rent for one bedroom apartment outside city centre:

Purchase price per m² for apartment in city centre:

Purchase price per m² for apartment outside city centre:

It’s perhaps no surprise that British cities are pricier to live in than those in South Africa – but the size of the price difference can be genuinely surprising. Putting things into perspective like this, perhaps the idea of expat life in South Africa just started to sound a lot more affordable and appealing!