The retirement-friendly towns where land sells for R50 000
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Oviston, Dullstroom and Katberg offer plots from around R50 000, giving retirees the chance to build their dream home on a budget.
Buying land gives you the chance to build your dream home, and a handful of South African towns offer plots for as little as R50 000, according to a report by The South African. Three towns stand out as destinations worthy of your golden years.
Oviston in the Eastern Cape, next to the Gariep Dam, offers the cheapest plot at R50 000 with rates and taxes ranging from R100 to R1 000. A three-bedroom home sells for under R600 000, though property in the area has been trending downward, with the average price at R250 000 as of August 2026, down from R445 000 in 2025.
Dullstroom in Mpumalanga, a weekend getaway for many in Gauteng's metros, has a 419-square-metre plot listed for R50 600. The average home in the area sells for just over R1 million. The sticker price comes with conditions: a buyer must build according to the architectural plans and finish construction within a set period to avoid penalties. The plot also carries rates, taxes and levies of R2 226, but offers golfing, fishing, horseback riding, kayaking, hiking and a rich art scene, under three hours from Pretoria.
In Katberg in the Eastern Cape, the average plot sells for R68 450, but one active listing has a 750-square-metre plot for R50 000. Many of the available plots are on the Katberg Eco Golf Estate, with residents able to golf, fish, hike and ride, and explore neighbouring towns like Hogsback and Adelaide.
A retirement-friendly town should be affordable, close to amenities especially for medical care, and offer free outdoor activities, with a 2015 study finding that being active in retirement improves mental and physical health.