Soaring living costs add over R21 000 a year to household bills

EVEN though the increase in the cost of living has slowed over the past year, declining by 2.4 percentage points year-on-year, the average monthly bills have still, in theory, increased by 2.6% between last May and now adding R21000 to bills over a year.

- NICOLA MAWSON

Statistics South Africa’s latest inflation publication, for May 2025, shows that the consumer price index was 2.8% on a yearly basis last month.

This compares well with a year ago, when it was 5.2%.

However, inflation compounds and items keep going up every month.

Based on a basket of goods the average South African may be spending their money on each month, and taking compounding into account against the base price, everyday items cost R1 808 more than a year ago.