South African province shocks with highest alcohol price hike
Gauteng, despite its large alcohol consumer base, has managed to stay below the national average increase, showing a 4.1% rise.
South Africans planning their end-of-year celebrations face starkly different budgets depending on where they live, as new data reveals massive provincial disparities in alcohol price increases.
While the national average saw alcoholic beverages surge by 4.6% annually across all urban areas in October 2025, certain provinces were hit dramatically harder than others, according to figures released by Statistics South Africa (Stats SA).
This increase is particularly painful as it outstrips the overall annual Consumer Price Index (CPI) headline inflation rate of 3.6% for the same period.
North West hard hit by alcohol prices as per CPI
Consumers in the North West province have been hit with the worst of the inflationary shock. For those buying celebratory drinks there, prices for alcoholic beverages soared by an alarming 7.8% annually.
This is driven largely by crippling beer price increases, which spiked by 11.2% year-on-year in North West, paired with a massive 6.6% monthly increase between September and October 2025 alone.
On the flip side, residents of Mpumalanga received the most merciful news, registering the lowest annual price hike for alcoholic beverages at 3.8%. Gauteng, despite its large consumer base, also managed to stay below the national average increase, showing a 4.1% rise.
How the annual inflation for alcoholic beverages breaks down by province for October 2025:
| Province | Annual % Change (Oct 2025 vs. Oct 2024) |
|---|---|
| North West | 7.8% |
| Limpopo | 7.4% |
| Northern Cape | 5.5% |
| Western Cape | 4.9% |
| Eastern Cape | 4.9% |
| Free State | 4.5% |
| KwaZulu-Natal | 4.4% |
| Gauteng | 4.1% |
| Mpumalanga | 3.8% |
The drastic difference between the North West’s 7.8% increase and Mpumalanga’s 3.8% hike means that location, combined with the already high meat prices, is now a crucial factor into determining how much your festive budget takes a pounding.