ZARWiseMoney maths for South Africans
Tax year 2026/27Prime 10,75%Rates checked 2 October 2026

Bond repayment calculator

Monthly repayment, total interest and what an extra payment saves. Prime is 10,75% since 25 September 2026.

R
R

Many banks lend 100% to first-time buyers. A 10% deposit usually gets you a better rate.

%
Loan term
R

Optional. Paying a little extra is the cheapest way to cut your interest bill.

Monthly repayment

R 13 706per month

On a R 1 350 000 loan at 10,75% over 20 years. You'll pay R 1 939 342 in interest, 59% of everything you repay.

  • Capital R 1 350 000
  • Interest R 1 939 342
  • Total R 3 289 342

Capital and interest, year by year

R0kR50kR100kR150kR200k15101520 Year
  • Capital repaid
  • Interest paid

If interest rates move

RateRepaymentChange
9,75%R 12 805−R 901
10,25%R 13 252−R 453
10,5%R 13 478−R 227
10,75% (yours)R 13 706–
11%R 13 935+R 229
11,25%R 14 165+R 459
11,75%R 14 630+R 924

How your repayment is worked out

Banks use a standard amortising formula: the same payment every month, where early payments are mostly interest and later ones mostly capital. Interest is charged monthly on the balance you still owe.

Most South African home loans are linked to the prime lending rate, which moves with the Reserve Bank's repo rate. Prime is currently 10,75% (repo 7,25%). Your bank may offer you prime, or prime plus or minus a margin, depending on your credit record and deposit.

Why extra payments work so well

Every extra rand goes straight to capital, so you stop paying interest on it for the rest of the loan. On a 20-year bond, even R500 a month can take years off the term.

Most banks let you pay in extra at no cost and draw it back through an access facility, so it can double as an emergency fund.

Bond repayments at prime (10,75%)

Loan amount20 years30 yearsIncome needed (20 years)
R 500 000R 5 076R 4 667R 16 920
R 750 000R 7 614R 7 001R 25 381
R 1 000 000R 10 152R 9 335R 33 841
R 1 500 000R 15 228R 14 002R 50 761
R 2 000 000R 20 305R 18 670R 67 682
R 2 500 000R 25 381R 23 337R 84 602
R 3 000 000R 30 457R 28 004R 101 523
R 5 000 000R 50 761R 46 674R 169 205

Monthly repayment at prime, which has been 10,75% since 25 September 2026. Income needed: the gross monthly income at which the repayment is 30% of income, a common bank limit.

Quick answers

What is the prime rate in South Africa today?

10,75%, since 25 September 2026. Prime is always the Reserve Bank's repo rate (now 7,25%) plus 3,5 percentage points, and most home loans are priced at prime, or prime plus or minus a margin.

What is the repayment on a R1 million bond?

At prime (10,75%), R 10 152 a month over 20 years, or R 9 335 over 30 years. The longer term costs less each month but far more interest in total.

How much does a 1% rate rise add to my bond?

On a R 1 500 000 bond over 20 years, a rise from 10,75% to 11,75% adds R 1 027 a month (from R 15 228 to R 16 256).

How much do I save by paying extra into my bond?

Paying R1 000 extra a month on a R 1 500 000 bond at 10,75% over 20 years saves about R 451 519 in interest and pays it off 3 years 6 months sooner.