Johannesburg beats London for young professionals

Political economist Frans Cronje said Johannesburg’s cost of living and access to amenities make it a better city for young people than London.

Cronje shared this view on the Common Sense podcast, where he said Johannesburg is a far more affordable place to live.

For young people in London, rent for a small apartment can take up roughly half of their monthly earnings, and buying property in the city is nearly impossible.

He compared this to Johannesburg, where he said it is far easier for a young professional to finance the purchase of a house or apartment.

The statistics tracker Numbeo can help clarify Cronje’s belief by providing average cost-of-living and property figures for the two cities.

In London, the average cost to rent a one-bedroom apartment is roughly R49,000, compared to R8,600 in Johannesburg.

The average cost of buying property in both cities is just as staggering as the difference in rental prices.

While South Africa has far higher interest rates than England, the difference comes in the average property values of each city.

In Johannesburg, the average price of an apartment is between R800,000 and R1.1 million.

In London, average apartment prices are far higher at approximately R11 million, with prices jumping considerably in central parts of the city.

Along with property prices, another major gap is in the average cost of living between the two cities.

“London to Johannesburg, it costs half as much to buy a hamburger in Johannesburg or get a Netflix account,” Cronje said.

In London, the cost of living is nearly double that of Johannesburg, with monthly expenses for a single person in England’s capital estimated at R24,000, excluding rent.

In Johannesburg, these expenses drop to roughly R13,000 for a person living alone. Milk costs approximately R21 per litre, compared with R32 in London, a 53% increase.

Basic utilities, including electricity and water, cost roughly 76% more in London than in South Africa’s economic heart.

Johannesburg is state-proof

Cronje said another major difference between the two cities is the level of dependence each one has on the government for services.

He said in Johannesburg, many residents have been able to “state-proof” themselves by finding solutions to poor government services in the private sector.

This includes households installing solar panels or buying generators to cope with intermittent power outages and load shedding.

“South Africans are taking functions that were once those of the state upon themselves, and they are starting to execute those functions,” he said.

This is happening in enclaves, communities in South Africa that find ways to support themselves without relying on the government.

These enclaves often have their own electricity supply and private security to address gaps in local service provision.

When comparing living conditions in London and Johannesburg, one major factor to consider is crime.

Crime in Johannesburg was a major drawback for many residents and was one factor undermining his belief that the city is better for young people than London.

In the past year, Johannesburg has had over 62,000 violent crimes reported to police, including murder and assault.

In London, the number of violent crimes is far lower, with only 97 murders being recorded in 2025.

Cronje said that while Johannesburg residents have taken steps to shield themselves from crime through private security, the danger remains very real.

Despite the high crime rates, the low cost of living and economic opportunities in Johannesburg attract many people.

In South Africa, there is a growing trend of people moving from other provinces, such as the Western Cape, to Johannesburg, mainly for job opportunities.