Rent: R 9000.00/month 3 bedroom house or big town house in good area.

Utilities R 1000/month

Food: R4000/month

Healthcare: R3500/Month

Recreation: R800/Month

Schools:R800/Kid/Month

Car: R4000/month

Petrol:R2000/Month

Insurance/Security:R1200/Month

Telephone/R600/Month

Internet:R400/Month

Life insurance/Pension funds:R2000/Month

Income Tax: +- 35%

1 bedroom shared with husband in security estate with private garden 2750 ZAR monthly

Mostly eat in 2 people monthly 2000 ZAR

Internet lines & computer subscirption costs R1500 p/month

Transport costs Me: 1000 ZAR for Petrol monthly
Husband 2500 ZAR for Petrol
(he communtes to Next city for work)

Car payments monthly 2000 ZAR me 6000 ZAR husband

Medical Aid 2000 ZAR for the 2 of us

Car & Household insurance R1500 2 of us

Cost of living would be low if it were not for the need to purchase cars. There is very little public transport to speak of and facilities available are considered dangerous in terms of high crime rate and unsafe driving practises of (Combi) taxis.

Good jobs are hard to come by due to strict Black Equity Policies mandated by the government. (If you don't fill a quota they are not generally interested).

Overall rampant crime and lack of state support wrt health & transport, rules out the relatively low cost of living as far as I am concerned.

Rent: Buying your own property is currently extremely expensive - R500 000 - R750 000 won't get you much. Payments on that c.a. R10 000 - R12 000 per month. Rent also expensive - batchelors flat (c.a. 45m2) R3500 per month. Depends on location, but average c.a. R3000 - R4000 per month for a apartment.

Utilities: Electricity and water c.a. R400 - R750 per month depending on how many persons sharing. Security (an absolute must in the new South Africa!) anything from R800 - R1500 per month depending on where you live (usually armed response).

Transportation: There exist very little to no public transport anymore in South Africa (just too dangerous). Traveling thus by private vehicle. Petrol/Diesel c.a. R1500 - R2000 per month depending on how far you need to travel to work.

Food: Very expensive! A loaf of bread (sliced) and 2L of fresh milk c.a. R25. Fresh meat and meat products very expensive. R65-90/Kg lamb, R40-75/Kg beef, chicken c.a. R35/Kg. Dairy products expensive. On monthly basis c.a. R1500 - 2000 per person and then you're not buying luxury items.

Other general expenses in South Africa include insurances i.e. vechile, house and household, medical (expensive), telecommunication (mobile phones, land lines, internet), school fees etc.

Average middle class salary per month c.a. 8 000 - 10 000 (after a tax reduction of 18-25%).

Monthly expenses family of four living in affluent eastern suburbs of Pretoria

Mortgage ZAR13,500

Food ZAR4500

2 vehicles ZAR7000

2x Children's schooling @ private school ZAR4400

Healthcare (we don't really spend money here)

Utilities ZAR1800

Transport Fuel ZAR800 per month

Cost of living has sky-rocketed during 2008

Rent: 3 bed, 2 Bath - R4500 to R6000 - it depends on where you are living and how modern and secure the place is.

Food: Chicken R23 to R30 per kg
Lamb R40 to R60 per kg
Milk R6 to R8 per liter
White Bread R10
2l Coke a cola R13
Pizza R50
Month of groceries: between R500 and a R1000

Movies: R35 per ticket

Eating out: R120 per person at a not so expensive restaurant

MacDonalds: 2 cheeseburger meal small R25

Health care: Medical aid from R500 to R3000 - mine costs R722 per month

Petrol: R7.50 per liter ( Our petrol cost about R500 per month, but we do a lot of driving )

Rent, 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, large living, 2 garages, 400 sq.m garden appr. R6 - 7000 pm. Eastern, well to do part.

Food 2 persons R4000 pm

Health care private - wide range of possibilities; from R700 pm for hospital plan only.

Electricity R900.00 pm; Water R400.00 pm; basic telephone connection R240.00 House servant - varies - appr. R160 per dayFuel - R8 p litre.

Rent: Eastern suburbs, security estate, 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom, R12 000 per month

Electricity: R600 pm

Rates & Taxes on morgaged porperties: R1500

Food for family of 3: R7000 pm

Health Care costs: Private medical aid for family of 3: R3800pm

Monthly costs of family of 4 in Northern Pretoria, in Rand

Mortgage: R5000 per month (pm)

Utilities R3000 pm

Food (4 people): R4000 pm

Health insurance (4 people): R5000 pm

Car and fuel R2000 pm

Education (2 children ) R1500 pm

Recreation R1500 pm

West of Pretoria City Center: Mortgage/Rent (R4500.00 ) 3 bedroom house in suburbs; Water and Electricity (R2500.00): Garden services (R470.00); Cleaning services (R120.00 per day): Food: R4000.00pm family of 3, Health Care Costs (R1600.00 adult) (R900.00 child) (Government employees fund) Primary School (not private) including after care (R850.00); Extra mural activities (R350.00) per activity; Motor vehicle (R2000.00) (cheapest); Petrol price (R10.47 ) per liter; Vehicle insurance (R600.00)