Home Affordability by City Calculator
Compare the salary needed to buy a home across Cape Town, Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban and 4 more South African cities
| City | Median Price | Deposit (10%) | Monthly Bond | Salary Needed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cape TownWestern Cape | R 1 800 000 | R 180 000 | R 15 903/mo | R 53 009/mo |
| JohannesburgGauteng | R 1 100 000 | R 110 000 | R 9 718/mo | R 32 394/mo |
| PretoriaGauteng | R 900 000 | R 90 000 | R 7 951/mo | R 26 504/mo |
| DurbanKwaZulu-Natal | R 1 000 000 | R 100 000 | R 8 835/mo | R 29 449/mo |
| Port ElizabethEastern Cape | R 700 000 | R 70 000 | R 6 184/mo | R 20 615/mo |
| BloemfonteinFree State | R 600 000 | R 60 000 | R 5 301/mo | R 17 670/mo |
| StellenboschWestern Cape | R 2 200 000 | R 220 000 | R 19 437/mo | R 64 788/mo |
| East LondonEastern Cape | R 650 000 | R 65 000 | R 5 743/mo | R 19 142/mo |
Median prices are March 2026 estimates. Salary required uses 30% DTI rule. Actual prices vary by suburb.
Salary Required to Buy a Home by SA City How to use • City data • Example
How to Use This Calculator
The City Affordability tab shows a side-by-side table of 8 SA cities with median property prices, deposit required, monthly bond payment, and minimum salary needed — for your chosen property type (apartment, townhouse, or house) and quality level (entry, mid, or premium).
The Your City Match tab works in reverse: enter your gross monthly salary and the calculator shows which cities and property types you can afford, ranked from most to least affordable with an affordability rating.
How City Affordability is Calculated
For each city and property type combination, the calculator uses:
Monthly Repayment = PMT(rate / 12, term × 12, bond)
Min. Salary = Monthly Repayment ÷ 30% DTI
Prices are March 2026 estimates based on Lightstone and PropStats data. Entry-level represents the 25th percentile, mid-range is the median, and premium is the 75th percentile for each city.
Worked Example
Lerato earns R35,000/month gross and is deciding between buying an entry-level apartment in Johannesburg vs Cape Town.
In Johannesburg: entry apartment ≈ R600,000 → 10% deposit = R60,000 → bond = R540,000 → at 10.25% over 20 years: R5,334/mo → salary required: R17,780/mo. Lerato can comfortably afford this — Affordable.
In Cape Town: entry apartment ≈ R900,000 → bond = R810,000 → R8,000/mo → salary required: R26,666/mo. Still within Lerato's budget — Reachable.
Frequently Asked Questions
What salary do you need to buy a house in Cape Town in 2026?
For a mid-range house in Cape Town (approximately R3,500,000 in 2026), you need a gross monthly income of approximately R120,000–R135,000 with a 10% deposit at 10.25% over 20 years. An entry-level apartment (R900,000) requires approximately R27,000/month. Cape Town is South Africa's most expensive city, with property prices roughly double those in Johannesburg for comparable homes.
Which South African city is most affordable for first-time home buyers?
Bloemfontein and East London are consistently among the most affordable cities for first-time buyers. Entry-level houses in Bloemfontein can be found for R650,000–R800,000, requiring a salary of around R17,000–R22,000/month. Port Elizabeth (Gqeberha) and Pretoria are also significantly more affordable than Johannesburg and Cape Town for comparable property types.
What salary do I need to buy a house in Johannesburg?
For an entry-level house in Johannesburg (approximately R1,200,000), you need around R32,000–R36,000/month gross with a 10% deposit at 10.25% over 20 years. A mid-range house (R2,000,000) requires approximately R55,000–R60,000/month. Prices vary significantly by suburb — Sandton and Waterfall are premium, while areas like Roodepoort and Soweto offer significantly more affordable options.
Is Pretoria cheaper than Johannesburg for buying property?
Yes, Pretoria (Tshwane) is generally 15–25% more affordable than Johannesburg for comparable property. Pretoria East (Menlyn, Garsfontein) is premium, while areas like Centurion and Wonderboom offer very affordable options. Many Gauteng residents choose Pretoria over Johannesburg for the lower property prices, especially for houses with gardens.
Why are Cape Town property prices so much higher than the rest of South Africa?
Cape Town property prices are driven by constrained supply (mountain and ocean geography limits expansion), strong foreign and domestic demand (semigration from Gauteng), a growing tech economy, and a reputation for lifestyle. The Atlantic Seaboard and Southern Suburbs are among Africa's most expensive residential areas. Despite national economic challenges, Cape Town property has shown consistent above-inflation appreciation over the past decade.