Pretoria - Post Report Question and Answers

What is the availability and cost of household help, and what types of help are typically employed by expatriates?

It's very cheap because the supply far outstrips the demand. I had a weekly maid that was included in my rent, but I think my landlord paid her around $20/day which seems to be the going rate. Many people hire nannies and gardners as well and sometimes have them live in. It depends on what your needs are. Get a recommendation for household help if you can. Mine was fantastic, but quality can vary. Also, explain what you want. - Apr 2023


Going rate seems to be about $20-25 per day for a housekeeper and $30-35 per day for a gardener. US Embassy personnel frequently advertise these types of services in the newsletter. - Mar 2023


House cleaners charge 300 Rand per day, which is currently about $20. I don't think they always stay ALL day so if you need childcare it may be a little more. Almost everyone hires a housecleaner 1-5 days per week; people with small children employ nannies; many people have a gardener come 1-2 days per week. A few people hire drivers to pick up kids from school. - Jun 2022


A full-time live in housekeeper/nanny will run about US$550-$700 a month with all the allowances factored in. Some of the available workforce are Zimbabwean and may need assistance in sorting out visas. Most do not cook. - Jan 2020


We use a weekly cleaning service (someone takes care of all legal requirements for the staff!) for about R1900 ($150) per month. A gardener is about R400 per day. Live-in housekeepers are plentiful (but we don't want one or have the space). Live-out housekeepers are less plentiful. - Dec 2019


We pay $400 - $700/month for full-time help, which is on the upper end. - Mar 2019


Live-out mostly. Embassy staff have elevated salaries so expect to pay a very high amount. - Jun 2018


Household help, such as a live-in housekeeper, runs about $300 per month. A gardener's wages are about $20 a week. Babysitters and drivers are also very affordable. - Jan 2018


Expats pay about US$300-$500 dollars/ month for a full-time, live in housekeeper/ nanny. - Jun 2012


Pretty inexpensive, around 100R a day for a non-live-in. - Dec 2009


There is an overabundance of 'unskilled' labor looking for housekeeper/gardener work. Be careful - the South African work ethic is not great and there have been many complaints about attitudes, trust, etc. We have had great luck with our housekeeper (we have a live-in) and not such great luck with gardeners. There is always a list of domestic workers with experience among embassy families circulating in the CLO office. - Aug 2009


Day maids go for about 120 Rand a day (US$12) while live-ins go for anywhere between 1500 and 2000 Rand a month (US$150 to 200).The Embassy folks tend to over pay their maids and any maid you consider hiring will always tell you they want over 2000 Rand a month. - Feb 2009


Cleaners and garden help costs about US$15-20/day plus food and transport for a 7 am - 3 pm work day (live out). Do not expect real housekeepers/maids - workers w/ skills are hired in private sector. Plan to teach anyone who works for you exactly what you would like him/her to do. - Oct 2008


Pool of domestics that have worked with Embassy folks and have been reviewed by RSO. We pay about US$17/day. Live-in help is different, but I do not know how much they cost. Note that most day domestics work from 8am - 3pm so that they can catch the bus back to their home before dark. - Sep 2008


Readily available US$250-$300 per month. - Jun 2008


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