The most expensive city to buy groceries in South Africa
Food prices have largely managed to stay below inflation rates this year, but one city still stands out for having the highest grocery prices in South Africa.
In September 2026, the Consumer Price Index (CPI), the standard measure of inflation, was 4.4%, down from August’s 4.5%.
Inflation has been elevated in 2026, peaking in June at 5%, and consistently being above South Africa’s 3% inflation target.
The high inflation has largely been attributed to surging fuel prices following the outbreak of conflict in the Middle East in February.
The war between the US and Iran led to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a key global shipping route for oil tankers.
This led to global oil prices soaring, consistently reaching above $100 per barrel and exceeding $112 on the morning of 30 October 2026.
While high fuel costs have driven South Africa’s overall inflation upwards, food inflation has remained largely unaffected.
In September, food and non-alcoholic beverages inflation was 1.2% year-on-year, and declined slightly by 0.1% from the previous month.
To get a clearer picture of food prices in South Africa, the Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice and Dignity (PMBEJD) household affordability index provides specific information on the prices of a grocery basket.
The index tracks the prices of several staple items to show how food prices change over time for a majority of South African households.
These items include maize, milk, potatoes, a variety of fruits and vegetables, bread, and several other common items.
According to the PMBEJD, the price of a basket of groceries increased by 0.4% from September to October, and 1.3% year-on-year.
The largest price increase came from butternut, which rose by 26%, along with onions, oranges, tomatoes, and margarine.
Soup, spinach, and cabbage were the three food items which declined in price by more than 5% month-on-month.
The most expensive city
The PMBEJD affordability index tracks prices in several cities and found that Springbok in the Northern Cape had the highest grocery basket cost.
The index tracks grocery prices across seven cities, including:
- Johannesburg
- Durban
- Cape Town
- Springbok
- Pietermaritzburg
- Mtubatuba
- Mthatha
In Springbok, the average weighted cost of a household food basket was R5,848.83, R82.12 higher than the second most expensive city, Johannesburg.
The cheapest city for groceries based on the PMBEJD’s weighted average was Pietermaritzburg, at R5,207.31.
Across all seven cities, the average cost of a household basket of groceries was R5,512.53.
PMBEJD has argued that this average price for groceries is unattainable for many South African households, especially those which earn the national minimum wage.
The group said that after transport and electricity costs are factored in, a family of four cannot survive on a single person earning the hourly minimum wage of R30.23.
“The National Minimum Wage is a poverty wage – it harms workers’ health, it reduces productivity in the workplace, and slows down economic growth,” the group said.
It said that, after transport and electricity costs, a family of four living on this wage would be approximately 44% below the national food poverty line.
Average weighted grocery price by city
| October 2026 | October 2025 | Month-on-month change % | Year-on-year change % | |
| Springbok | R 5,848.83 | R 5,688.00 | –0.7% | 2.80% |
| Johannesburg | R 5,766.71 | R 5,671.73 | 1.50% | 1.70% |
| Mthatha | R 5,513.57 | R 5,450.09 | –0.4% | 1.20% |
| Mthubatuba | R 5,431.81 | R 5,370.76 | 3.80% | 1.10% |
| Durban | R 5,416.24 | R 5,341.95 | 1% | 1.40% |
| Cape Town | R 5,370.30 | R 5,372.28 | 0.10% | 0% |
| Pietermaritzburg | R 5,207.31 | R 5,111.88 | –2.3% | 1.90% |
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