Two coastal towns where the average monthly income increased by over R100,000

·25 May 2025

The average monthly household income in coastal towns Salt Rock and Ballito has surged over the last decade, increasing from as little as R12,500 per month to R145,000.

This is according to Rainmaker Marketing’s latest Property Market Report for 2025, which noted that some areas in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) are emerging as major property powerhouses.

Since 2011, monthly household income within Salt Rock and Ballito has increased by an average of 645% and 504%, respectively, highlighting Salt Rock as the top performing town in terms of income growth.

In Salt Rock, average monthly household income rose from between R12,500 and R25,500 to an impressive R115,000–R145,000, the highest growth recorded in the region.

Ballito followed closely behind, with monthly household income increasing from similar base levels to R91,500–R124,000.

“The increase in average household income indicates consistent improvement in living standards and wealthy individuals moving into these areas,” said the report.

The data places Salt Rock and Ballito among the top performers in KwaDukuza, the larger municipal region that includes these towns along with KwaDukuza Non-Urban (NU).

Salt Rock now boasts a concentration of 70% of its households in the ‘wealthy’ and ‘super-wealthy’ brackets.

Ballito reflects a more diverse profile, with 50% of households classified in the high-income categories and the rest spread across upper-middle and middle-income groups.

According to the report, these shifts in income levels are linked to the broader development and appeal of KZN’s North Coast.

“The North Coast, spanning from Zimbali in the south to the Tugela River in the north, has seen remarkable growth over the past two decades,” sais the report.

“This gorwth has helped the area become a thriving hub of residential estates, commercial developments, and retail spaces.”

The area’s natural appeal, especially its access to pristine Blue Flag beaches along the Indian Ocean, adds to its desirability.

The report added that Ballito has developed into a well-rounded urban node, offering schools, healthcare facilities, and managed public spaces, making it ideal for families, professionals, and retirees.

Salt Rock, while smaller, has also expanded rapidly. “The town’s thriving community and increasing property values attract local and international buyers,” said the report.

Property data supports this upward trajectory. Between March 2024 and February 2025, Salt Rock accounted for 47% of all property sales in the greater KwaDukuza NU region, leading the market.

While Ballito recorded the highest year-on-year growth over the past five years at 7%, Salt Rock outperformed it in the most recent year, achieving an average sales price of R4.06 million compared to Ballito’s R3.14 million, a 30% difference.

The Atlantic Seaboard of KZN

The North Coast is now being compared to Cape Town’s elite Atlantic Seaboard, with industry players predicting continued growth in both value and demand.

“The North Coast will become the ‘Atlantic Seaboard’ of KZN in the next five to ten years as European investors discover it,” said Tyson Properties director Murray Haywood at the start of 2025.

“More international flights are already arriving, and property prices will continue to increase. We have exciting times ahead.”

The upcoming Club Med resort in Tinley Manor is a significant development driving interest, which Haywood believes will open the region to a global audience.

The lifestyle appeal and estate living options catering to young families, professionals, and retirees have fuelled semigration from other provinces.

“There is no limit, as the estates also make provision for sectional title free-standing homes and retirement units, assisting entire families to live together,” Haywood added.

Paul Stevens, CEO of Just Property, agrees that semigration continues to shape the national property market.

He noted that although the Western Cape has traditionally been the strongest performer, with property prices increasing by 39% between 2019 and 2023, KwaZulu-Natal’s North Coast is now making significant strides.

“Property prices in KwaZulu-Natal rose by 19% in the same period, and most of this was seen on the North Coast in Umhlanga, Ballito, Salt Rock, and Umdloti,” said Stevens.

Safety, lifestyle, and affordability are top priorities for buyers, fuelling a boom in security estates and sectional title developments.

“Developers are focusing heavily on gated communities, which appeal to a wide demographic,” said Stevens.

“Freehold properties still make up a large portion of the market, but the trend is fast moving toward sectional title and estates.”

Stevens also highlighted the resilience of the luxury market. “This segment continues to perform well, driven by both local and international demand,” he said.