Cost of Building a House in South Africa 2022/2023

So, you want to build a house? You’ve come to the right place. We’ll tell you everything you need to know about the cost of building a house in South Africa. Did you know? South Africa has an area of 1.221 million km2 and a population of approximately 56 million people. South Africa is one of the most diverse countries in Africa, with each province having its own unique climate and culture.

Building a house is a very important investment in your life as it is usually the largest financial decision we make. It is therefore very important that you plan properly when it comes to building a house which is why we have provided you with a list of the things that you should and shouldn’t forget to do when planning to build a house in South Africa. The list below has been divided into easy-to-follow steps that should get you started with the planning process of building a house.

The cost of building a house is a sensitive matter for most South Africans. Once upon a time, a house would cost slightly more than a car. Today, the two differ by about 500%. What can you do to make sure you get the best price? One option is to build your own house. Building your own house is a smart idea as it will cost you a fraction of the price you’d have to pay to have a house built for you. Like in Nigeria where there’s a real estate investment boom, The South African real estate market is a bit slow-paced

The exact cost of building a complete house in South Africa

The price of building a house in South Africa is determined by a few things, but the construction cost depends on a few factors. The amount of land you choose to purchase will affect the cost of building a house. The cost of building a house is based on the size of the house. This is a rough guide on how many different sized houses will cost to build in South Africa.

How much land do I need?

First, the amount of land needed depends solely on you. By this, I mean the size of the land you need should be commensurate with the size of the building except you have huge resources and good taste for abundant space. Then, you may go ahead to secure abundant land and build whatever size you desire. The sizes of land and house just like in most other parts of the world are measured in square meters or square feet.

So, for a house with four rooms, three bathrooms, and other fittings for a house, you’ll need a land space of about 2350 2700 square feet. A bedroom flat will use a land size of 850 1000 square feet. You could extrapolate how much smaller pieces of the house would be as regards the size of the land.

What permits will I need?

There is a body in South Africa responsible for regulating any type of building by anybody. That body is called The South Africa National Building Regulations (NBR). They may not be exactly termed ‘Permits’, but they are documents you should have before any building project. You’ll need approval for the building plan. The foundation also will be approved. Sometimes, materials inspection from relevant authorities and then, roofing permit.

What Materials will I need?

There are some basic building materials that cut across many continents. Many of these are fundamental in any building whatsoever. In spite of these, there are also some unique materials needed for building that are peculiar to the topography, climate, soil and some other factors of the location. To build a house in South Africa, you will definitely need the following:

• Cement
• Sand (there are different types to suit the structure of the building)
• Steel rods
• Wood
• Stones/Gravel
• Roofing Sheets

How much is labor?

Labour in South Africa is predominantly done by the locals. Even when contractors are hired, they rely heavily on labor sourced locally for execution. Cement would be made into concrete. Sand would be made into bricks and blocks depending on the type of house and design. Steel rods would be bent and fashioned into sizes fitting for the structure. All of would these would attract different amounts. These labor costs will make up 40%-45% of the entire building cost. To build a decent home could cost about, take for instance if to build a flat of about 2300 square meters is estimated at $145,000, at 40% labor, the maths become easy.

How long will it take?

On average, it is cheaper to build a storey house in South Africa when compared with the cost of acquiring another land and additional labor. You see, the timeline estimated here does not include the days used in securing permits, documentation, and drawing designs. So, if you have all of these already in the bag, a simple house could be completed in 6 months. But make sure the builder’s holiday from December 16th to Jan 15th isn’t part of your estimated month of active work.

What about Government taxes?

When you have all your permits done, you should not be afraid of taxes DURING the construction of a house in South Africa. There are minimal disturbances during the building.

Cost to build a house in Cape Town

Cape Town is a prominent city in South Africa, And just like the economic factors affecting the prices of all cities in terms of value. The value of a house in Cape Town would be considered higher. A home that costs about $159,000 in some other location could rise to about $250,000 in Cape Town. Other special designs would be higher.

Cost to build a House in Durban

Durban is the third-most populous city in South Africa, Coming fourth just behind, Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Pretoria in terms of Economic importance. The cost of building a simple house there is estimated at $200,000 – $230,000. It could go higher depending on the type of house.