“More Than the Average Salary in South Africa”: R28k Macarons Stun Local Man

• A South African content creator, Ismaeel Syce, saw that a box of macarons from a French patisserie in Cape Town cost R28 000
• He noted that the total cost is more than the average salary of many South Africans and claimed that the product wasn't for average South Africans either
• The public reacted with disbelief over luxury macarons deemed unaffordable for average South Africans

Local content creator Ismaeel Syce was in complete disbelief to hear that a box of 200 macarons, from the illustrious, high-end French patisserie in Cape Town, had a R28 000 price tag. While the price may be chump change for the elite, for some South Africans, the amount is life-changing.

The foodie, who took to his TikTok account on 31 March 2026, was referring to Ladurée at the V&A Waterfront, which opened its doors in December 2025. He calculated that each meringue-based sandwich cookie in the box was roughly R140 each.

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Referring to the total cost, Ismaeel said to the public:

"That's more than the average salary in South Africa.

"Let's be honest, this isn't for your average South African."

Take a look at the TikTok video below:

According to the Daily Investor, in 1862, Ladurée was founded by Louis Ernest Ladurée in Paris, France. The entrepreneur's second cousin, Pierre Desfontaines, would create the iconic macaron, which would mark "the history of pastry."

R28k macarons take South Africans by surprise

Local members of the online community ran to the comment section after seeing the steep price of the macarons.

@miz_lead wrote under the post:

"Nothing tastes THAT good."

@oliviantha1 told the online community:

"I don't even earn that much."

@chelseajanse941 stated in the comments:

"If you can't pay, it's not for you."

No stranger to the treat, @ballito.chick remarked:

"They’re delicious. It’s around R120 each in Germany, which is a normal price over there."

A portion of @paroeshka.syce's comment read:

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"I think sometimes we miss the point of what we’re actually paying for. Ladurée isn’t just another bakery; it’s a true French pâtisserie, and that comes with a certain level of craftsmanship, ingredients, and experience. It’s not just about the price, it’s about appreciating the experience behind it."

3 Other stories about expensive foods

• In another article, Briefly News reported that South Africans were in total shock when a woman spotted R10 000 prosciutto sold at Woolworths. The price highlighted concerns about rising food prices in the country.
• A content creator from Pretoria was raving about the giant Easter egg that Woolworths displayed on its shelves for R500. The giant, scrumptious dessert was filled with a white caramel mousse and sponge cake oozing with caramel.
• Entrepreneur DJ Sbu grabbed headlines when people saw his price list for his online restaurant, Mzakes' Kitchen, last year. Some people argued that his prices were too high, while others defended them as reasonable compared to other establishments.

Source: Briefly News