Retire on the West Coast: Small town where land sells for R300 000
· The South African
Holidaymakers and retirees have long loved the West Coast in the Western Cape.
But that appeal comes at a cost.
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Property prices in the region have nearly doubled since 2018.
Retirees looking for a bargain are limited.
Yet, there’s one small town where the average erven cost is R300 000.
The Affordable West Coast Town
In 2018, the average sale price along the West Coast was R620 000; in 2025, it was R1.2 million, a 93% increase.
The average cost of erven was R575 000 in 2018; this year it’s reached R1.3 million.
Finding land below R300 000 in a seaside town on the West Coast is rare.
Doringbaai in Strandfontein is one of the last remaining towns where retirees can get affordable land and property.
According to Property24, as of 2026, the average sale price in Doringbaai is R300 000.
Recent sales range from R110 862 to R1.4 million; most have been below R300 000.
Property is Rare
But finding property for sale in Doringbaai is a challenge.
There have only been 5 sales in the town since the start of the year.
Currently, only two properties are listed on Property24.
One is a commercial property on the market for R3.75 million. The other is a 532-hectare farm listed for R7.95 million.
However, in neighbouring Louis Rood, land and property aren’t as rare. The starting price for a small 200-square-metre plot is R315 000. It’s possible to get a larger plot for below R600 000.
But the average sale price in Louis Rood was just over R1 million in 2025 and is currently R1.5 million.
Bargain-hunting retirees could have other options in towns like Lamberts Bay, Hoogland in Saldanha Bay, and Saldanha Central.
TownLand – Starting PriceLand – Average PriceSaldanha CentralR320 000R1.3 millionSt Helena ViewsR330 000R482 500HooglandR355 000R402 550Lamberts BayR450 000R1 325 000Britania BayR455 000R1 285 000Life in Doringbaai
Doringbaai is a small fishing town with a tight-knit community. As of the latest census data (2011), there are 1 260 residents and 315 households.
The nearest city is Vredendal, which is 45 kilometres from the town. Cape Town is 292 kilometres away, a drive that should take less than 4 hours.
The town also has its own police station.
This may offer retirees some comfort since crime in the area is on the rise.
According to data from the South African Police Service (SAPS), there have only been 7 property-related crimes in the area.
In an area with 315 households, roughly 6% would be impacted by such crimes.
However, there have been 152 drug-related crimes recorded in the area.
This would mean nearly half the households in the area, or 12% of residents, could be affected by these crimes.
Drug-related crimes include dealing, possession, and manufacturing drugs, but can also include drug trafficking.