Lifestyle
South Africa — Cost of Living Overview
Stats SA reported annual consumer inflation of 4.5% in September 2026, up from 4.4% in August, with a mid-2026 population estimate of 63.52 million.
VerifiedGovernment / official sourceStatistics South Africa — consumer price index September 2026Last reviewed: 2026-10-23
Key facts
- Annual CPI inflation was 4.5% in September 2026, 4.4% in August and 4.3% in July; prices rose 0.4% between August and September.
- Transport accounted for about a third of overall inflation.
- The Stats SA mid-year population estimate for 2026 is 63.52 million; Census 2022 counted 62 million.
- Stats SA does not publish a single monthly budget for a foreign resident.