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City Profile

Centurion, Gauteng

South Africa · Comprehensive city data and intelligence

Compare Centurion Custom Comparison
69
Overall Score

Centurion is a rapidly growing commercial and residential hub situated in the Gauteng province of South Africa, historically positioned between Pretoria and Johannesburg. Originally established as Verwoerdburg before being renamed in 1995, the city has evolved into a dynamic urban center known for its modern infrastructure, security estates, and thriving business parks. People frequently move to Centurion for its strategic location along major transportation corridors, offering a more balanced suburban lifestyle while remaining closely connected to the economic pulse of South Africa's primary metropolitan areas.

About Gauteng

Gauteng, meaning "place of gold," is South Africa's smallest yet most populous and economically powerful province, serving as the country's financial and industrial heartland. Its economy is diverse, with major industries including finance, real estate, business services, manufacturing (especially metals, petroleum, food and beverages, and automotive), government services, and wholesale and retail trade. Living in Gauteng offers a bustling urban lifestyle with a generally mild climate, though costs can vary; while property can be more affordable than in some other major South African cities, a comfortable lifestyle in Johannesburg might require a budget of R12,000 – R16,000+ per month. The province provides numerous career opportunities and a wide range of entertainment and cultural activities.

365,000
Population
$17K
Avg Salary
42
Cost Index
68.5
Quality Score
How this 69/100 was calculated five components, with every reading behind them
Component Readings used Points Weight Contributes
Safety Safety score: 58 / 100 58.0 30% 17.4
Affordability Cost of living index (100 = national baseline): 42.0 100.0 25% 25.0
Economy & jobs Median household income: $22,000 Income needed to live here: $13,000 Unemployment rate: 26.8% 50.0 20% 10.0
Growth Population growth rate: 1.9% Job growth rate: 1.6% 62.3 15% 9.3
Business climate assessment Business climate assessment: 68 / 100 68.0 10% 6.8
Overall score 68.5

Provenance. These figures were produced by the research pass recorded as Tier 2 (reasoned) (q=54, partial — below threshold), last refreshed 17 October 2026. They are researched estimates drawn from public sources, not a licensed data feed.

Each component is scored against fixed published endpoints, so this number is comparable with any other city and does not move as the dataset grows. Scoring framework 2026.10 — full methodology, weights and accepted ranges.

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Performance

Quality Scores

Business
68
Livability
73
Affordability
78
Growth
71

Expenses

Cost of Living

The cost of living in Centurion is notably lower than major Western cities, aligning closely with South Africa's broader economic conditions while remaining slightly above the national average due to its affluent suburban status. Housing and property rentals drive local costs, particularly within secure lifestyle estates and modern gated communities that command premium pricing. Conversely, local services, dining, and fresh produce remain relatively affordable when converted to foreign currencies, making the area attractive for remote professionals and expatriates.

Average Rent
$550/mo
Groceries
$280/mo
Transport
$110/mo
Utilities
$130/mo
Healthcare
$120/mo
Gym membership (monthly)
$35.00
Cinema ticket
$8.00
Restaurant meal (mid-range)
$18.00
Monthly groceries
$250.00
Doctor visit (without insurance)
$55.00

Income

Salary Insights

Centurion hosts a robust and diversified economy anchored by telecommunications, aerospace, defense technology, and information technology sectors. Major corporate headquarters, tech parks, and industrial zones provide significant employment opportunities, particularly around the Highveld and Techno Park areas. While the broader national unemployment rate remains elevated, Centurion's specialized tech and corporate sectors maintain relatively strong demand for skilled professionals, alongside a growing freelance and remote work community supported by extensive fiber-optic infrastructure.

The average salary in Centurion is $16,500 per year. You would need approximately $13,000 to live comfortably.

Employment

Top Industries

Financial Services +1.90% Information & Technology +2.80% Aerospace and Defense +1.50% Retail and Commerce +1.60% Telecommunications +2.10%

Weather

Climate

🌡️
18°C
Avg Temp
☀️
19°C
Summer High
❄️
17°C
Winter Low
🌧️
42.60"
Annual Rain
💧
55.00%
Humidity
🌤️
235
Sunny Days

Mobility

Transport

Transportation in Centurion is heavily car-dependent, with major highways such as the N1, N14, and R21 facilitating regional connectivity to Pretoria, Johannesburg, and OR Tambo International Airport. The Gautrain rapid rail system provides a vital public transit link, featuring a dedicated Centurion station that connects commuters to Pretoria and Sandton in minutes. Local public minibus taxi networks serve commuter routes, though private vehicle ownership remains the primary mode of daily travel.

34 min
Avg Commute
46.00/10
Transit Score
42.00/10
Walkability
High
Car Dependency
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At a Glance

Pros & Cons

Advantages
Strategically positioned between Pretoria and Johannesburg with excellent highway and Gautrain rapid rail access.
Home to world-class private medical facilities including Netcare Unitas and Mediclinic Centurion.
Abundant secure lifestyle estates offering high-level security and family-friendly amenities.
Thriving tech and corporate employment hub with extensive fiber-optic internet infrastructure.
Favorable climate with over 230 sunny days per year supporting an active outdoor lifestyle.
Drawbacks
High level of car dependency leading to significant peak-hour traffic congestion on major arterial routes.
Crime rates in traditional open suburbs require reliance on private security and armed response services.
National economic pressures and high structural unemployment impact broader regional economic mobility.
Load shedding and municipal electricity grid instability necessitate private backup power solutions like generators or solar.
Public mass transit options are limited outside of the Gautrain rapid rail network.

Head to Head

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Centurion VS Grants Pass Centurion VS Binghamton Centurion VS Cincinnati Centurion VS Elyria

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Nearby Cities

Randburg
65
Boksburg
61
Johannesburg
60
Alberton
66

Community Q&A

Questions about Centurion

What people ask about living in and moving to Centurion, Gauteng.

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Gathering the most common questions about Centurion…

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

The consumer market basket tracks everyday necessities, including staple grocery items (such as milk, bread, eggs, and produce), residential energy bills (electricity, gas, and water), public and private transit costs, routine outpatient medical care, and standard consumer goods and services to ensure a representative monthly budget.

Even in close geographic proximity, local tax jurisdictions, municipal utility rates, zoning laws, and micro-housing markets can create wide cost discrepancies. For example, a city with strict land-use regulations or higher local sales taxes will typically exhibit elevated housing and consumer goods costs compared to an adjacent county with looser zoning and lower tax burdens.

Even in close geographic proximity, local tax jurisdictions, municipal utility rates, zoning laws, and micro-housing markets can create wide cost discrepancies. For example, a city with strict land-use regulations or higher local sales taxes will typically exhibit elevated housing and consumer goods costs compared to an adjacent county with looser zoning and lower tax burdens.

Local tax climates significantly shift a city's affordability score by directly affecting disposable income. Urblytica factors in state income tax brackets, local municipal property tax millage rates, and combined sales taxes to measure the true tax drag on median household earnings.

Core economic indexes and consumer price metrics undergo a comprehensive quarterly recalibration. This update cycle integrates the latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) releases, municipal utility rate adjustments, and regional housing data feeds to ensure all index comparisons reflect current economic conditions.

Housing is weighted as the single largest component in Urblytica's cost-of-living algorithm, typically accounting for roughly 30% to 35% of the composite score. It incorporates both median monthly gross rent and median single-family home purchase prices relative to local median income levels.

Normalization involves adjusting raw economic inputs against localized purchasing power parities (PPPs) and population-weighted density scales. This ensures fair, apples-to-apples comparisons between dense metropolitan hubs and smaller suburban or rural towns.

Utility indexing applies a rolling annual average that captures seasonal climate variations, such as increased summer air conditioning loads in southern climates or heavier winter heating demands in northern regions, providing a realistic year-round average utility expense.

Remote workers leverage the index to calculate real purchasing power parity when moving from a high-cost-of-living area to a lower-cost region. By comparing index differentials against their fixed salary, users can determine if their net savings and lifestyle quality will improve post-relocation.

While the raw Cost of Living Index measures pure expense levels, it is frequently paired with Urblytica’s local wage index and median household income benchmarks. This combined view highlights whether local salaries keep pace with local consumer goods and housing expenses.

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