Buying Advice
Originally published 4 Sep 2026 · 1 min read
What Salary Do You Need to Buy a Car in South Africa?
Here's the honest maths: keep the instalment under about 20–25% of your gross salary, then add insurance, fuel and maintenance. A worked example at R30 000 and R50 000 a month.
The guideline I use with customers
Keep your total vehicle instalment under about 20–25% of your gross monthly salary — and remember that's the instalment only, not the full cost of owning the car.
A worked example
Say you earn R30 000 a month before deductions. That gives you roughly R6 000–R7 500 to spend on an instalment. With a modest deposit and a sensible 60-month term, that puts you in something like a Chery Tiggo 4 Pro or a Lepas L4 — real, safe, well-equipped cars around the R270 000–R300 000 mark.
Earning R50 000? Your range opens up to roughly R10 000–R12 500 a month, which is where the Tiggo 8s and the Chery Q start making sense.
The costs people forget
- Insurance — budget another R1 000–R2 500 depending on the car and your profile.
- Fuel — a 1.5 SUV commuting daily will easily drink R2 000+ a month.
- Maintenance and tyres — even with a service plan, plan for the odd surprise.
A R6 500 instalment on a R30 000 salary only works if your other living costs are modest. That's the honest maths.
Three things that change everything
- Deposit. Even R20 000 down shrinks your monthly and your interest bill.
- Term. 72 months lowers the instalment but costs more overall — fine if you need the breathing room.
- Balloon payments. They make cars look affordable that aren't. If you don't fully understand how you'll settle that final payment, don't take one.
Run your own numbers on the finance calculator, then check your affordability properly. When you're ready, apply for finance and I'll help you structure it so the car stays a joy, not a burden.
Have questions about your next car?
Talk to Lesedi — real guidance on budget, finance and the right car for your life. No pressure, no fine print.
