The cheapest sport to watch live in South Africa, with tickets starting at R40
South Africa has a strong sporting culture, with several local and international events to attend – all priced differently.
The country’s sporting landscape comprises several disciplines, with rugby, soccer, and cricket among the most-watched.
All three of these sports have high-level tournaments hosted in South Africa, which feature local teams and are generally well supported.
In soccer, the country’s main tournament is the Betway Premiership (formerly the Premier Soccer League), which features 16 clubs, each representing a different area.
There are also several other shorter tournaments which feature the same teams, such as the Nedbank Cup and MTN8.
For tickets to watch Premiership games live, the price is greatly dependent on the stadium and the specific teams which are playing.
Currently, a general access ticket to watch the upcoming Premiership match at FNB Stadium in Johannesburg costs R80.
For rugby, the United Rugby Championship is the highest level of competition for several of South Africa’s domestic teams.
This competition features domestic teams from South Africa, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and Italy, and is played in stadiums in all five countries.
In South Africa, the matches are played in Durban, Cape Town, Johannesburg, and Pretoria, with ticket prices varying depending on when they are purchased.
For upcoming matches in Durban, “earlybird” tickets cost R40, while the same tickets cost R50 in Pretoria.
It is common for ticket prices to rise as an event approaches, with the highest prices often charged on the day.
This practice is seen at most of South Africa’s major sporting events, making it difficult to draw a direct comparison between ticket prices across different tournaments.
Price increases for popular teams or important matches are another common occurrence, as venues capitalise on higher demand.
In the URC, for example, knockout matches at the end of the tournament are often priced higher because they feature the best teams and carry higher stakes.
International events
Outside local competitions, South Africa hosts several international sporting events across various disciplines.
In 2026, LIV Golf hosted an event in Steyn City, Johannesburg, drawing large crowds and prompting the tournament to return to the country.
The inaugural event drew a crowd of over 100,000 people, and early tickets for 2027 sold out shortly after being released.
These early-bird tickets started at R774 for one-day general access, with higher prices for better vantage points and multi-day access.
LIV Golf has confirmed that more tickets will be sold closer to the event, but has not announced prices.
The 2026 event was touted as a major success, with Sports, Art, and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie calling it a strong display from South Africa on the global stage.
“Hosting an event of this calibre not only showcases South Africa’s world-class sporting infrastructure, but also highlights the strength of our tourism, hospitality, and creative industries,” he said.
“This is about more than golf, it’s about economic opportunity, job creation and inspiring the next generation of South African athletes.”
Another international event held in South Africa is the Kyalami 9-hour, an endurance motorsport event hosted in Gauteng.
Tickets for this international competition are far cheaper than others, starting at R100 and rising to R150 for all-access.
One of the most popular (and most expensive) live sports events is Springboks rugby, where tickets regularly sell for over R1,000.
These events are often sold out, reflecting demand for tickets and demonstrating that organisers can charge high prices.
The high ticket prices have caused public backlash, with many arguing that the cost is too high for a national sports team.
The Springboks have previously addressed the controversy and said that they would review their ticket pricing ahead of the 2027 season.
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