South Africa’s most expensive province to live in where rent went up by R1,107 in one year

• The average monthly rent in South Africa's Western Cape rose to R12,561, a record high
• The Western Cape remains South Africa's most expensive province for renters, with population growth and rising demand for residential rental stock contributing to the increase
• The proportion of tenants behind on their payments grew to 16.9% in the second quarter of 2026, highlighting the market's affordability constraints