KSTE

Methodology

Every KOSTE number is calculated deterministically in the browser. AI never calculates anything — it only explains results that have already been computed.

Finance and bond instalments

We use the standard amortising instalment formula:
P × r ÷ (1 − (1 + r)^−n), where P is the amount financed (price − deposit), r is the monthly interest rate (annual ÷ 12) and n is the number of months. Balloon payments, initiation and admin fees are not included.

KOSTE My Car

  • Fuel = (monthly km ÷ 100) × litres per 100km × fuel price.
  • Licence is entered annually and allocated monthly (÷ 12).
  • Insurance, maintenance, tolls and other costs are used as entered.
  • Total monthly cost = the sum of all categories.
  • Annual cost = total monthly × 12. Cost per km = total monthly ÷ monthly km.

KOSTE My Home

  • Bond payment uses the same instalment formula over the loan term in years.
  • Total housing cost = bond + rates + levies + insurance + maintenance allowance.
  • Percentage of income = total housing cost ÷ combined household income. Our comfort bands include existing debt repayments: 30% or less is Comfortable, 30–40% is Stretch, above 40% is High Stretch.
  • Transfer duty, bond registration and attorney fees are once-off and not part of the monthly figure.

KOSTE My Purchase (overseas online orders)

This calculator estimates the landed cost of an item bought from an overseas online store or marketplace and delivered into South Africa.

  • Item price and shipping are converted to Rand using the exchange rate assumption you see on the page. The exchange rate is a conversion assumption, not a fee.
  • Customs value = converted item price + converted shipping.
  • Estimated customs duty = customs value × the duty rate (your entered rate, or an illustrative category estimate).
  • Added Tax Value (ATV) = customs value + 10% uplift + estimated duty.
  • Estimated import VAT = ATV × 15% (the South African standard rate).
  • Courier / handling fees are optional and only included if you enter them. KOSTE never adds arbitrary fixed fees.
  • Estimated landed cost = customs value + duty + import VAT + courier/handling.

Category duty rates are illustrative planning assumptions, not tariff determinations. Actual customs treatment depends on the exact product, its tariff classification, the declared customs value, country of origin and your delivery provider. This is KOSTE's estimate, never an official SARS assessment. See SARS guidance on goods purchased online.

Defaults

Default values are realistic South African examples, not quotes or predictions. Always replace them with your own numbers.