Home ownership cost calculator

Your bond repayment is only part of what a home costs each month. Add rates, levies, insurance and upkeep to see the full figure.

A month.

A month.

Share of the property value. An assumption.

Security, garden, services.

Cost of owning the home, a month

R 20 797

Bond repayment
R 16 447
Rates, taxes and levies
R 2 200
Home insurance
R 650
Maintenance (yearly share of value)
R 1 500
Other monthly costs
R 0
Per year
R 249 561

Estimates only. Not financial advice.

Where the money goes

How the home ownership cost calculator works

Last updated 10 November 2026

The monthly cost of a home is more than the bond. Rates and taxes, levies, insurance and maintenance all add to it. Knowing the full figure before you buy avoids a surprise.

How it works

  • The bond repayment uses the standard loan formula for the price less the deposit.
  • Maintenance = price × yearly share ÷ 12.
  • Total = bond + rates and levies + insurance + maintenance + other costs.

Worked example

With the starting figures:

  1. The bond repayment is R 16 447 a month.
  2. Together with the other costs, owning the home costs R 20 797 a month.
  3. That is R 249 561 a year.

The bond is only part of the cost

The monthly cost of a home is more than the bond repayment. Rates and taxes, levies, insurance and maintenance all add to it. Knowing the full figure before you buy avoids a nasty surprise, and helps you compare buying a house with renting.

What the calculator adds up

  • The bond repayment for the price less the deposit, using the standard loan formula
  • Rates and levies, which many sectional title and estate homes pay each month
  • Home and contents insurance
  • Maintenance, set as a share of the price each year and divided by twelve
  • Other costs you add, such as security, a garden service or a pool

Reading the result

The table shows each cost per month, and the result shows the total per month and per year. A chart shows how big each part is. Compare the total with your take-home pay to see how much of your income the home would use.

Costs that do not fit a smooth month

  • Big repairs, such as a new roof, a geyser or a fresh coat of paint
  • Rates and levies rising every year
  • Interest rate changes that raise or lower the bond repayment
  • Once-off buying costs, which the home buying costs calculator covers

Related tools

See the bond repayment calculator for the loan itself and the rent versus buy calculator to compare with renting. The starting figures are examples and nothing is stored.

Things to watch

  • Rates and levies rise every year.
  • Interest rate changes alter the bond repayment.
  • Large repairs, such as a roof, are not smooth monthly costs.

Compare with renting using the rent vs buy calculator. Read the full disclaimer.

Questions people ask

What should I allow for maintenance?

It differs for every home and age of building. The calculator uses a share of the property value each year as a planning assumption. Change it to suit.

Are utilities included?

No. Electricity and water are part of living anywhere. Add them in Other monthly costs if you want to compare with renting.

Bond repayment calculatorMonthly repayments, total interest and the effect of paying extra.Home buying costs calculatorDeposit, transfer duty and fees: the cash you need before you get the keys.Rent vs buy calculatorCompare buying with renting and investing the difference, year by year.

Estimates only. Not financial advice. Read the full disclaimer.