The cost of living rose by 3,1% in the 12 months to March, according to the latest consumer price index (CPI). This is slightly up from 3,0% recorded in February. Prices increased on average by 0,6% in March 2026 compared with February 2026.

Six of the 13 categories in the CPI basket recorded higher annual rates, including restaurants & accommodation services; education; transport; housing & utilities; information & communication; and recreation, sport & culture.

Education inflation quickens in 2026

The education component in the CPI is updated once a year in March. Tuition fees increased by 5,4% in 2026, higher than the 4,5% rise recorded in 2025.

Primary & secondary education rose by 6,2% (from 5,0% in 2025), while tertiary education increased by 4,2% (from 3,7% in 2025). Private secondary schools recorded the sharpest rise in 2026, climbing by 7,5%.

Transport inflation moves higher, but remains in deflationary territory

The annual rate for the transport category increased from -2,1% in February to -1,6% in March. The negative values represent deflation, meaning that transport prices were, in general, 1,6% cheaper in March 2026 compared with March 2025. The deflation is a result of fuel prices declining by 8,7% over the 12-month period, supported by a marginal increase of 0,4% in vehicle prices.

Passenger transport fares recorded an annual rise of 0,7%. The monthly rate was 1,6%, driven by a 20,0% jump in long-distance bus fares and a 14,3% increase in airfares.

The CPI release for March covers data collected before the sharp fuel price increases that were introduced on 1 April. The impact of these higher prices on inflation will be included in the next CPI release that will be published on 20 May.

Food inflation eases for a second consecutive month

The annual rate for food & non-alcoholic beverages (NAB) slowed further to 3,6% in March from 3,7% in February and 4,4% in January. Four of the 11 food & NAB categories are in deflationary territory, including fruits & nuts; vegetables; cereal products; and milk, other dairy products & eggs.

The milk, other dairy products & eggs category recorded its 10th successive month of deflation at -0,5% in March, slightly higher than February’s -0,7%. Three products are cheaper than a year ago, namely fresh full-cream milk (currently in its 13th month of deflation at -0,4%), powdered milk (-5,5%), and eggs (-6,3%).

Prices for cereal products declined by 1,0% on average. White rice, porridge, maize meal, basmati rice, instant noodles, brown bread and bread flour are cheaper than in March 2025. The average price for a kilogram of white rice, for example, declined from R29,01 to R27,82 over the 12-month period.

Meat recorded its second monthly decrease, with beef prices moderating between February 2026 and March 2026. Declines were recorded for stewing beef (-4,2%), steak (-2,0%), mince (-1,9%) and offal (-1,5%). Biltong fans can also breathe a sigh of relief, with prices edging lower by 0,2%.

The annual rate for meat also slowed, easing to 11,6% from 12,2% in February. Beef products registered lower rates. Most notably, steak retreated from 28,6% in February to 24,1% in March and stewing beef from 26,9% to 22,6%. Pork bucked the trend, increasing from 17,3% to 19,5%. Bacon inflation was also up, from 2,2% to 4,2%.

The graph below shows the food and beverage products that recorded the sharpest price increases and decreases.

Other notable price changes

The March CPI figures include results for the latest quarterly survey of housing rents. Actual rents increased by 4,0% in the first quarter of 2026, up from the 3,7% rise recorded in the fourth quarter of 2025. In the first quarter, rents for houses increased by 3,7%, townhouses by 5,1% and flats by 4,2%.

Domestic worker wages increased by 3,7% in the first quarter of 2026. This followed an increase of 3,8% in the fourth quarter of 2025.

Accommodation services recorded a large 5,4% monthly rise to reach an annual rate of 12,2%. University boarding fees climbed by 7,2% and hotels by 6,0% between February and March.

For more information, download the March 2026 CPI statistical release and associated Excel files with indices and average prices here.

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