Man Reveals How Much You Need to Earn for a Decent Life in South Africa in 2025

• A man’s viral TikTok breaks down South Africa’s 2025 minimum wage and shows how little it covers
• According to a reliable source, the cost of a decent life far exceeds the minimum wage due to inflation and rising expenses
• Social media reactions from netizens highlight a widening gap between earnings and actual living costs
• Briefly News asked financial expert Fulufhelani Mashapha for advice on achieving financial stability in 2025

South Africans are debating a viral TikTok that exposes how the 2025 minimum wage falls short of covering the true cost of living, with BusinessTech revealing that the gap is wider than many realise.

A TikTok video posted by user @ejv_27 has sparked a heated conversation across South Africa. In the clip, he breaks down the updated national minimum wage for 2025, R28.79 per hour, into what that actually means for ordinary workers. For someone working an eight-hour day, that’s around R230.32, or roughly R4,836.72 a month based on 21.65 working days. While this is a slight increase from last year to match inflation, many say it still isn’t enough to live on.

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According to BusinessTech, the reality is that the minimum wage doesn’t even come close to covering the true cost of a decent life. To afford essentials such as housing, food, transport, healthcare, and education without constant financial stress, workers need to earn significantly more. With inflation continuing to push prices higher, surviving on the minimum wage leaves very little room for anything beyond the basics.

The gap between minimum wage and decent living

The TikTok post has hit a nerve, with thousands commenting about the daily struggles of stretching a small paycheck across rising bills. Many shared personal stories of having to make tough choices, from skipping meals to delaying medical care, just to make it through the month. The online debate shows just how many South Africans are living right on the financial edge.

Both the viral video and the BusinessTech report highlight a growing gap between what people earn and what they truly need to get by. While annual wage adjustments are welcome, they are not keeping pace with the rapid rise in living costs. Without broader economic changes and better support systems, many households will remain stuck in a cycle of financial strain.

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Briefly News asked financial expert Fulufhelani Mashapha how to build financial stability in 2025. She explained:

"Using a framework like the 50/30/20 rule can help allocate funds wisely across investments, lifestyle needs, and safety nets.

"Consider investing in income-generating assets, such as rental property, to support your family’s long-term financial security—while carefully evaluating the risks and ongoing costs involved."

Mzansi reacted to the video

Roshady said:

"Fifteen thousand rand a month should be considered the minimum wage for anyone trying to make ends meet these days."

Miss Edible wrote:

"Twelve to fifteen thousand rand isn’t enough for a decent life; it barely covers just the basic necessities."

JC commented:

"I have earned fifteen thousand before, and I can honestly say it’s not possible to live on that amount, even if you’re single."

SamJoy said:

"Nothing under twenty thousand per household covers rent, bonds, and utilities enough to truly live; it just barely helps you survive."

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Ram wrote:

"Our household survives on one person’s income of fourteen thousand rand for three people, and with rising insurance, petrol, school fees, and debit orders, it’s just not enough."

Acidmonky commented:

"I worked security and earned what is considered the minimum wage, but that was barely surviving, not living a decent life."

Chronic said:

"How is it justified that government officials earn over a million rand while the rest of us struggle to survive on much less?"

Raeesa Randeree wrote:

"No one can realistically survive on fifteen thousand rand a month anymore, given the rising cost of living."

Check out the TikTok video below:

3 Briefly News stories about the cost of living

• Netizens shared their struggles with the high cost of living, with many expressing frustration about what R100 can buy.
• The cost of groceries at a Pick n Pay grocery store in Zimbabwe caused a massive stir on social media.
• Research has been done that estimates what the 'livable wage' should be in Mzansi, sitting at R15K per month.

Proofreading by Roxanne Dos Ramos, copy editor at Briefly.co.za.

Source: Briefly News