PMB records South Africa’s cheapest food basket in July

The cost of filling a grocery trolley depends heavily on where you live in South Africa, with nearly R1 000 separating the country’s cheapest and most expensive household food baskets. That’s according to the latest Household Affordability Index released by the Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice & Dignity Group (PMBEJD), which tracks the prices of 44 basic food items at supermarkets and butcheries across seven regions. Springbok in the Northern Cape recorded the country’s most expensive household food basket at R6 109.75, while Pietermaritzburg remained the cheapest at R5 173.57 — a difference of R936.18.

Durban was the second-cheapest city surveyed, with an average basket costing R5 309.02. Nationally, the average household food basket increased to R5 530.52 in July, rising by R28.11 (0.5%) from June and R87.81 (1.6%) compared with July last year. While some cities recorded increases during July, others experienced modest relief.

Food basket prices increased in Johannesburg (R50.07), Cape Town (R69.26), Springbok (R164.70) and Mtubatuba (R129.49), while they declined in Durban (-R40.31), Pietermaritzburg (-R2.56) and Mthatha (-R74.15). Springbok recorded the largest monthly increase, while Mthatha experienced the biggest monthly decrease. Pietermaritzburg remained the most affordable city in the survey for basic grocery shopping, with the average household food basket costing R5 173.57 in July. Pietermaritzburg, Durban and Mthatha were also among the few areas where food basket prices declined over the month.