The cheapest and most expensive cities to buy groceries in SA revealed
Springbok remains the most expensive place in South Africa to buy the household food basket tracked by the PMBEJD.
The cost of filling a grocery trolley depends heavily on where you live in South Africa, with nearly R770 separating the country’s cheapest and most expensive household food baskets.
The latest Household Affordability Index from the Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice & Dignity Group (PMBEJD) shows that the average household food basket across seven cities increased to R5 502,42 in June 2026, up R23,15 (0,4%) from May and R59,29 (1,1%) compared to June last year.
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While the national increase was relatively modest, the report highlights stark regional differences, with shoppers in the Northern Cape paying hundreds of rands more than those in KwaZulu-Natal for the same basket of essential groceries.
The most expensive grocery baskets
Springbok remains the most expensive place in South Africa to buy the household food basket tracked by the PMBEJD.
The June figures show:
- Springbok – R5 945,05
- Mthatha – R5 744,03
- Johannesburg – R5 713,63
Springbok’s basket is R768,93 more expensive than Pietermaritzburg’s, the cheapest city surveyed.
The cheapest grocery baskets
Pietermaritzburg recorded the lowest household food basket in the country during June.
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The three cheapest baskets were:
- Pietermaritzburg – R5 176,12
- Cape Town – R5 298,04
- Durban – R5 349,33
Pietermaritzburg was also one of the few areas to record a significant monthly decrease, with the basket dropping R122,51 (-2,3%) from May.
Which food prices changed?
Several everyday items became noticeably more expensive during June.
The biggest monthly increases included:
- Onions: up 17%
- Carrots: up 15%
- Tomatoes: up 9%
- Green peppers: up 8%
On a year-on-year basis, tomatoes were 19% more expensive, while beef liver was 17% higher than in June 2025.
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There was some relief for shoppers, however.
Items that became cheaper during the month included:
- Oranges: down 18%
- Bananas: down 7%
- Frozen chicken portions: down 3%
- Potatoes: down 2%
- Maize meal: down 2%
Compared with a year ago, maize meal, rice, potatoes and sugar beans also remained significantly cheaper.
What do some everyday groceries cost?
The June survey found average prices across the seven cities of:
- Maize meal (30kg): R295,86
- Rice (10kg): R132,55
- Cake flour (10kg): R121,60
- Sugar (10kg): R230,87
- Sugar beans (5kg): R190,45
- Cooking oil (5L): R162,16
- Potatoes (10kg): R87,24
- Onions (10kg): R151,75
- Frozen chicken portions (10kg): R431,68
- Full cream milk (6L): R95,60
- Eggs (60): R139,28
- White bread (25 loaves): R429,34
The PMBEJD said the findings show that where households live can make a substantial difference to what they spend on groceries each month, adding further pressure to families already grappling with the rising cost of living.
