4 Best Apartments for Rent in Johannesburg (2026)

Independently ranked by our review of ratings, reviews and reputation · How we chose

By Lorian Hartfield, Real Estate and Financial Expert · ✓ Data verified July 2026 · 7 min read

Finding apartments for rent in Johannesburg means weighing security and location against each other in a city where both vary block by block. Between them, the buildings on this page carry 2,364 reviews, and the review counts swing wildly, from 119 up to 1,749, which says more about how established a building is than the stars ever could.

Short answer: Jewel City tops the list on volume, with 4.5 stars across 1,749 reviews, a secure mixed-use precinct in Johannesburg CBD with apartments starting from R3,090 a month. The Houghton - Luxury Apartments rates highest at 4.7 (250 reviews) and sits at the premium end of the market. Live Easy Anderson rounds out the shortlist at 4.5 (246 reviews), a more affordable, modern option aimed at remote workers and young professionals.

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1. Jewel City
2. The Houghton
3. Live Easy Anderson
4. The Exchange Lofts
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Comparing Johannesburg's Rental Buildings

#	Business	Rating	Reviews	Best for
1	Jewel City	4.5 ★	1,749	Security-focused CBD living	View ›
2	The Houghton - Luxury Apartments	4.7 ★	250	Top-tier luxury	View ›
3	Live Easy Anderson	4.5 ★	246	Modern, work-from-home living	View ›
4	The Exchange Lofts	4.4 ★	119	Green, low-key setting	View ›

4 Best Apartments for Rent in Johannesburg (2026)

The buildings, one by one

#1 Overall🕑 Open 7 days↩ Responds to reviews

Jewel City

4.51,749 Google reviews

Jewel City is a revitalized mixed-use precinct in Johannesburg's CBD, combining bachelor, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom apartments with retail stores, dining, a gym, and on-site education facilities. The precinct markets itself around 24/7 security and controlled access, positioning itself as the safest neighbourhood in the area. Apartments start from R3,090 per month, and residents get access to a perks program covering groceries, meals, and travel discounts.

What people praise

By far the deepest review history of any building here, at 1,749 reviews
24/7 security with patrolling personnel, repeatedly cited by reviewers as making the area feel safe
Mixed-use setup puts retail, dining, and green space inside the same precinct
Entry-level pricing starting from R3,090 a month

Worth knowing

A few reviewers flagged parking as limited given the number of residents and retail visitors
One serious safety incident was raised in a recent review, though management responded directly and pointed to camera footage limitations

Reputation scorecardrank in Johannesburg

Rating4.5 / 5

Review volume1,749 · 97th

Confidencevery high

Recency8 weeks ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown70% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: The clear volume leader, and its rating still holds at 4.5 across nearly 1,750 reviews. Worth prioritizing if affordability and CBD access matter more to you than top-tier polish.

Website +27873302005 Directions

254 Fox St, City and Suburban, Johannesburg, 2094

The Houghton - Luxury Apartments

4.7250 Google reviews

The Houghton is a luxury residential precinct in the Houghton Estate suburb, combining apartment living with a five-star hotel experience voted among Africa's best. The development includes multiple swimming pools, a spa, and a restaurant and deli on-site, with apartments priced well above the rest of this list and sold from roughly R3.89 million to R75 million. It positions itself as one of the most exclusive addresses in the country.

What people praise

Highest rating on this list at 4.7 stars
Multiple pools, spa access, and on-site dining reviewers describe as genuinely five-star
Friendly, professional staff and security mentioned across reviews
Distinctive architecture and a well-known local reputation

Worth knowing

One reviewer noted small extra charges, like a coffee surcharge during included breakfast, that felt inconsistent with the luxury positioning
Guests reported feeling restricted about where they could walk while the hotel hosted conferences

Reputation scorecardrank in Johannesburg

Rating4.7 / 5

Review volume250 · 92th

Confidencehigh

Recency3 weeks ago

Info completenesssite · phone

Rating breakdown77% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: The rating leader here, but it's a different market entirely from the rest of this list: this is premium, ownership-tier real estate rather than a budget rental. Right pick if price isn't the constraint.

Website +27861182669 Directions

Osborn Rd, Houghton Estate, Johannesburg, 2041

#3↩ Responds to reviews

Live Easy Anderson

4.5246 Google reviews

Live Easy Anderson is a modern apartment complex in Marshalltown, in the heart of Johannesburg's CBD, built around remote work with a shared workspace, common-area WiFi, and an on-site gym. It's positioned as an affordable, modern alternative to older buildings in the area, with a safe play area for residents with children and secure parking.

What people praise

Reviewers consistently describe the area as safe and quiet
On-site gym and workspace called out repeatedly as strong value
Staff, including maintenance and security, praised by name in multiple reviews
Conveniently placed near supermarkets, food, and banks

Worth knowing

Multiple reviewers flagged unreliable in-unit WiFi despite the workspace WiFi working well
One reviewer noted slower response times on maintenance requests and inconsistent hallway cleaning

Reputation scorecardrank in Johannesburg

Rating4.5 / 5

Review volume246 · 86th

Confidencemoderate

Recency3 months ago

Info completenesssite · phone

Rating breakdown80% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: A strong pick for remote workers on a budget, provided you treat the shared workspace WiFi as the reliable option rather than the in-unit connection.

Website +27102850034 Directions

20 Anderson St, Marshalltown, Johannesburg, 2001

The Exchange Lofts

4.4119 Google reviews

The Exchange Lofts is a condominium complex in Vrededorp, known among reviewers for its open green space and trees, a less common feature in Johannesburg's denser rental buildings. Units come equipped for the local climate, including gas heating, and the property emphasizes a residential, home-like feel over the amenity-heavy approach of some newer developments.

What people praise

Reviewers highlight the open, green setting as a standout feature
Units come well-equipped, including heating and home essentials
Above-average security noted by long-term residents

Worth knowing

A couple of reviewers described security response and camera coverage as inconsistent when incidents occurred
Smallest review base on this list, so the rating carries less weight than the others

Reputation scorecardrank in Johannesburg

Rating4.4 / 5

Review volume119 · 64th

Confidencemoderate

Recency8 months ago

Info completenesssite · phone

Rating breakdown66% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: Ranks fourth mainly on review volume, not because the experience is worse. If a quieter, greener setting appeals to you, it's worth a look despite the thinner track record.

Website +27793126618 Directions

20 Solomon St, Vrededorp, Johannesburg, 2141

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How we score these buildings

Rating is the live Google average for each property. Review volume measures how many tenants have actually reviewed the building, weighed against the rating so a strong average built on a handful of reviews doesn’t outrank one backed by hundreds. Confidence blends both signals. Recency checks how recently tenants have kept reviewing, so an older, quiet review history scores lower even with a good average. No business can pay to change any of these numbers.

How much does an apartment cost to rent in Johannesburg? (2026)

Rental pricing in Johannesburg swings sharply by neighbourhood and building tier. CBD precincts with strong security, like Jewel City, tend to sit at the more affordable end, while suburb-based luxury developments like The Houghton price closer to premium ownership tiers than standard rentals. Confirm current rates directly with each building, since they change with unit size and lease terms.

Job	Typical price
Bachelor / studio unit (Jewel City)	From R3,090/month

Starting price compiled July 2026 directly from Jewel City’s published listing.

Serving Johannesburg’s key rental nodes

These buildings span the CBD (Jewel City, Live Easy Anderson), the northern suburb of Houghton Estate, and Vrededorp near the city’s western edge. If you’re searching for apartments for rent near me in Johannesburg, these neighbourhoods cover a useful range of both budget and premium options.

What to ask before you sign a lease

What security measures are in place, and are they staffed 24/7?
Is parking included, and is it secure?
What’s included in the rent versus billed separately (water, electricity, WiFi)?
Is there a workspace or reliable WiFi if you work from home?
What’s the lease length and deposit requirement?
How responsive is on-site maintenance, based on current tenant reviews?

Frequently asked questions

Are these rankings paid?

No. Rankings come from public Google data. A business can pay to be a Featured Partner (badge and top placement), but that never changes another business’s score or position.

How did you choose these buildings?

We pulled the apartment buildings and rental agencies Google surfaces for Johannesburg, then ranked them by real, live Google ratings and review counts, weighted for how recently tenants have been reviewing each property.

How often is this updated?

This list was last verified in July 2026 and is refreshed periodically as ratings and review counts change.

Is Jewel City affordable compared to the other buildings?

Yes. Jewel City’s published starting price of R3,090 a month is at the lower end of this list, while The Houghton sits at the premium, ownership-tier end of the market.

Which building is best for remote workers?

Live Easy Anderson is built specifically around remote work, with a shared workspace and common-area WiFi, though reviewers note the in-unit WiFi is less reliable than the workspace connection.

The bottom line

Jewel City is the safe default: the deepest track record, solid security, and pricing that starts well below the rest of this list. If budget isn’t a factor, The Houghton’s rating and amenities are hard to match. Either way, confirm current pricing and lease terms directly with the building before you commit.

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