By Rorisang Modiba
- Johannesburg is the most expensive metro for groceries for the seventh month, with Durban second and Cape Town third overall.
- People in towns like Springbok pay over one hundred rand more for the same food basket because of transport costs.
For families counting every rand, where you live still decides how much food costs.
Johannesburg in Gauteng remains the most expensive city for groceries among South Africa’s three main metros. This is the seventh month in a row that Johannesburg tops the list.
At the end of December 2025, Durban was the second most expensive city for groceries. Cape Town followed behind.
The figures come from the Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice and Dignity group, which tracks food prices across the country using real shop prices.
The group also looks beyond the big cities. When towns like Springbok in the Northern Cape, Mtubatuba in KwaZulu-Natal and Pietermaritzburg are added, the gap grows even wider.
In Springbok, shoppers pay more than R100 extra for the same basket of food compared to Johannesburg. Higher transport costs and fewer shops push prices up.
The group tracks a basket of 44 common food items most households buy every month. This basket reflects how the majority of people actually spend.
In December 2025, the average cost of this basket was R5,333.45. That was slightly cheaper than November and also lower than December 2024.
Prices moved in different directions. Nineteen items became cheaper over the year. Twenty three became more expensive. Two stayed the same.
Some increases were sharp. Beef rose by 21%. Oranges went up 20%. Butternut squash and beef liver climbed 16%. Gizzards were also higher.
There was relief in other foods. Potatoes dropped 26%. Rice fell 22%. Cabbage, eggs, onions and sugar beans also became cheaper.
The data comes out before official inflation figures. Statistics South Africa reported food inflation rising in November, mainly because of beef.
The December numbers show meat prices continue to squeeze household budgets, even when some staples cost less.
Pictured above: A family shopping.
Image source: File
