The average monthly rent of residential properties in South Africa was the highest in the Western Cape province in 2023. In the second quarter of the year, renters paid on average 9,730 South African rands per month. The North West was the most affordable province, with a monthly rent of less than 6,000 South African rands. Overall, rents in South Africa have been on the rise.

The average monthly rent of residential properties in South Africa increased by nearly *** South African rands between 2020 and 2023. In the second quarter of 2023, the average monthly rent stood at ***** South African Rands. Furthermore, rents varied across different provinces, with the Western Cape, KwaZulu Natal, and Gauteng having the most expensive rents.

South Africa ZA: Price to Rent Ratio: sa data was reported at 101.234 2015=100 in 2024. This records a decrease from the previous number of 103.643 2015=100 for 2023. South Africa ZA: Price to Rent Ratio: sa data is updated yearly, averaging 98.800 2015=100 from Dec 2002 (Median) to 2024, with 23 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 117.529 2015=100 in 2007 and a record low of 46.957 2015=100 in 2002. South Africa ZA: Price to Rent Ratio: sa data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. The data is categorized under Global Database’s South Africa – Table ZA.OECD.AHPI: House Price Index: Seasonally Adjusted: Non OECD Member: Annual. Nominal house prices divided by rent price indices

The retail property sector had the highest in prime rents in Johannesburg, South Africa in 2024. The monthly cost of a prime retail space amounted to ** U.S. dollars per square meter, while offices achieved a monthly rent of ***** U.S. dollars per square meter.

About ********* of residential properties for rent in South Africa had a monthly rent ranging between ***** and ***** South African rands in the fourth quarter of 2021. Meanwhile, approximately ***** percent of residential had monthly rent exceeding ****** South African rands. During the same period, the national average rent was approximately ***** but this figure varied greatly across different provinces.

As of November 2023, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) in South Africa, an economic indicator providing information on the change of prices over time, was measured at 104.9 points regarding actual rentals for housing. This is an increase of 2.7 points from the previous year.

South Africa ZA: Forest Rents: % of GDP data was reported at 0.724 % in 2016. This records a decrease from the previous number of 0.743 % for 2015. South Africa ZA: Forest Rents: % of GDP data is updated yearly, averaging 0.841 % from Dec 1970 (Median) to 2016, with 47 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1.221 % in 2002 and a record low of 0.487 % in 2011. South Africa ZA: Forest Rents: % of GDP data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s South Africa – Table ZA.World Bank: Land Use, Protected Areas and National Wealth. Forest rents are roundwood harvest times the product of regional prices and a regional rental rate.; ; World Bank staff estimates based on sources and methods described in 'The Changing Wealth of Nations 2018: Building a Sustainable Future' (Lange et al 2018).; Weighted Average;

South Africa ZA: Coal Rents: % of GDP data was reported at 1.604 % in 2016. This records an increase from the previous number of 1.331 % for 2015. South Africa ZA: Coal Rents: % of GDP data is updated yearly, averaging 2.493 % from Dec 1971 (Median) to 2016, with 46 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 7.850 % in 2008 and a record low of 1.000 % in 1999. South Africa ZA: Coal Rents: % of GDP data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s South Africa – Table ZA.World Bank.WDI: Land Use, Protected Areas and National Wealth. Coal rents are the difference between the value of both hard and soft coal production at world prices and their total costs of production.; ; World Bank staff estimates based on sources and methods described in 'The Changing Wealth of Nations 2018: Building a Sustainable Future' (Lange et al 2018).; Weighted average;

In 2023, rents grew across all South African provinces. North West saw rents increase by over **** percent, which was more than twice the national average. Nevertheless, the KwaZulu-Natal remained the most expensive province for rental housing.

South Africa ZA: Natural Gas Rents: % of GDP data was reported at 0.012 % in 2016. This records a decrease from the previous number of 0.013 % for 2015. South Africa ZA: Natural Gas Rents: % of GDP data is updated yearly, averaging 0.007 % from Dec 1971 (Median) to 2016, with 46 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 0.028 % in 2008 and a record low of 0.000 % in 1989. South Africa ZA: Natural Gas Rents: % of GDP data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s South Africa – Table ZA.World Bank: Land Use, Protected Areas and National Wealth. Natural gas rents are the difference between the value of natural gas production at regional prices and total costs of production.; ; World Bank staff estimates based on sources and methods described in 'The Changing Wealth of Nations 2018: Building a Sustainable Future' (Lange et al 2018).; Weighted average;

The average sales price of retail real estate in South Africa increased in the Gauteng and KwaZulu Natal, nad Western Cape provinces in 2021. Gauteng, where Johannesburg is situated had the most expensive retail real estate at almost ****** South African rands per square meter in 2021.

The prices for the cheapest newly built housing in two African countries, Sudan and South Sudan, exceeded ****** U.S. dollars in 2024. In the Seychelles, the price of the most affordable housing was about ****** U.S. dollars. Nigeria, Kenya, and Egypt all had house prices under 10,000 U.S. dollars.

Addis Ababa, in Ethiopia, ranked as the most expensive city to live in Africa as of 2024, considering consumer goods prices. The Ethiopian capital obtained an index score of ****, followed by Harare, in Zimbabwe, with ****. Morocco and South Africa were the countries with the most representatives among the ** cities with the highest cost of living in Africa.