Sources & methodology

7 brackets from 18% to 45%; primary rebate R17 820; tax threshold under 65 R99 000

R376/month for the main member, R376 for the first dependant, R254 for each additional dependant

27.5% of the greater of remuneration or taxable income, capped at R430 000 a year

33.3% of qualifying out-of-pocket medical expenses (plus 33.3% of scheme fees above 3× the medical credit, which GuideStation doesn't model)

1% from the employee (and 1% from the employer) on earnings up to R17 712 a month

For 2025/26, no return is needed only if all of these apply: a full year's pay from one employer with PAYE deducted, of no more than R500 000; no allowances, company-car benefit or pay for work outside South Africa; no deductions to claim; and no other income beyond small amounts SARS lists (such as limited local interest). Earning less than R500 000 on its own does not exempt you.

7 brackets from 18% to 45%; primary rebate R17 235; tax threshold under 65 R95 750

R364/month for the main member, R364 for the first dependant, R246 for each additional dependant

27.5% of the greater of remuneration or taxable income, capped at R350 000 a year

7.25%

10.75% (SARB policy rate + 3.5 percentage points)

0% up to R1 210 000, then 3% to 13% in bands

12.00%

prime + 1.25 percentage points

Banks price home loans relative to prime according to the borrower's risk. GuideStation starts the calculators slightly above prime so a first estimate is not optimistic; you can change the rate.

repayment plus existing debt up to 30% of gross monthly income

South African banks commonly limit a bond repayment to about this share of gross income. Each bank applies its own affordability assessment, including your living expenses and credit record.

about 1.2% of the bond amount + R5 000

A simplified approximation of attorney fees and Deeds Office costs for registering a bond. It is not the conveyancers' fee guideline; your attorney's quote will differ.

about 1% of the price + R8 000

A simplified approximation of the transferring attorney's fees and Deeds Office costs. Transfer duty is calculated separately from the SARS table.

5% a year after inflation by default, with cautious and growth presets

A long-run real return for a balanced retirement portfolio. Working after inflation keeps every figure in today's rands. Returns are not guaranteed; the presets show a cautious and a growth view.

4% of the pot a year

The share of a retirement pot that can be drawn each year as income without running it down, a widely used rule of thumb. It turns an income target into a capital target. Markets, fees and longevity all move the real figure.

finance repayment up to 35% of income left after expenses

A budgeting rule of thumb for how much of your disposable income a car repayment should take. Insurance is added on top of the repayment.

13% (adjustable from 9% to 18%)

A fixed starting rate for vehicle finance. It is not linked to prime, so it does not move when the SARB changes rates. Your actual rate depends on your credit profile and the lender.

prime + 2 to prime + 4 percentage points (12.75%–14.75%)

The quick estimate shown for a listing uses a band above prime rather than a single rate, because vehicle finance is priced by credit risk.

0.4%–0.8% of the vehicle's value per month

A rule-of-thumb band applied to the vehicle's price. It does not use your age, driving record, area or the vehicle's risk group, which drive real premiums. Get quotes for an actual price.

15% of value per year

A single average annual depreciation rate applied to every vehicle. Real depreciation varies widely by make, model, age and mileage.

Starting monthly fuel and maintenance figures in the total-cost calculator. They are placeholders for you to replace with your own spend, not averages for your vehicle.

From age 35: up to 5% (1–4 years without cover), 25% (5–14 years), 50% (15–24 years) or 75% (25 or more years) of the relevant contribution

Broad monthly price ranges for hospital, comprehensive and premium plan types, adjusted for income band and dependants. Not based on a scheme-by-scheme price dataset, and it does not model scheme-specific age or option pricing.

A base monthly premium adjusted by species, size, age and cover level. A rough guide to what cover might cost, not a quote from any insurer.

Illustrative cost ranges for common emergencies (fractures, tick bite fever, poisoning, surgery, cancer, road accidents), to show how an excess and co-payment affect what you pay. Real bills vary by practice and region.