“What a Dream”: SA Small Town Where Land Sells for R300k Leaves Mzansi Stunned
- Doringbaai on the West Coast has become one of the last affordable seaside towns for retirees, with land averaging R300,000
- West Coast property prices have nearly doubled since 2018, making affordable coastal land increasingly rare across the region
- South Africans online shared alternative hidden gem towns where land is even cheaper than Doringbaai
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Source: Getty Images
A small fishing town on South Africa’s West Coast is turning heads after a report revealed that land there still sells for around R300,000, making it one of the most affordable coastal options left in the country.
Doringbaai, nestled near Strandfontein in the Western Cape, has a population of just over 1,200 people and fewer than 320 households. It sits roughly 292 kilometres from Cape Town, about a four-hour drive, with the nearest city, Vredendal, only 45 kilometres away. For retirees dreaming of a quiet seaside life without a massive price tag, the town is increasingly being spoken about as a rare find.
West Coast prices have nearly doubled
The wider West Coast property market tells a different story. According to figures from Property24, the average sale price along the West Coast was R620,000 in 2018. By 2025, that figure had climbed to R1.2 million, a jump of 93%. The average cost of vacant land followed a similar trajectory, rising from R575,000 to R1.3 million over the same period.
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Doringbaai bucks that trend significantly. Recent sales in the town have ranged from just over R110,000 to R1.4 million, with most transactions coming in below R300,000. The catch is availability. Only five properties have changed hands in the town since the start of 2026, and just two listings currently appear on Property24.
The South African, which first reported on the town’s affordability on 16 August 2026, noted that neighbouring Louis Rood and towns like Lamberts Bay, Hoogland, and Saldanha Central offer some alternatives, though prices there start higher.
Crime figures give some pause
Life in Doringbaai comes with a few trade-offs. The town has its own police station, and SAPS data shows only seven property-related crimes recorded in the area. However, 152 drug-related offences have been logged, a figure that gives some prospective buyers reason to think carefully before committing.
See the original Facebook post that sparked the conversation here.
SA shares their own hidden gems
The post drew plenty of responses from people who had their own suggestions and reservations:
@Maureen Taljaard said:
“And you haven’t even searched further, as Hondeklip Bay has vacant land for less than R200k. Lovely little place on the West Coast.”
@Pieter Nieuwoudt noted:
“The land is cheap, but you can’t buy good weather.”
@Sandra Ferreira cautioned:
“Don’t forget to look up how much rates, electricity and water that you don’t have on that plot of land cost every month.”
@Alex Daneel recalled:
“I can remember a plot being sold in 1980 in Britannia Bay at auction for R480; they could not get them sold.”
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Source: Briefly News
