Bolt Mobility Insights
- More than 90% of all Bolt trips in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban are taken in the Standard and Wait & Save categories.
- Comfort trips increased between three and five times after Bolt expanded driver availability in April 2026.
- Comfort now represents approximately 6-7% of all trips across South Africa’s three largest metros.
- Durban has the highest Comfort adoption, with the category accounting for 6.9% of trips.
- In Johannesburg, the average Comfort trip costs approximately R63, compared with R54 for a Standard trip, just a 16% price difference.
- The data indicates that while affordability remains the dominant purchasing driver, South Africans are increasingly willing to upgrade when the additional cost remains within reach.
Affordability remains the defining factor in how South Africans move around their cities, with new Bolt data revealing that more than nine in ten rides across Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban are booked through the platform’s most affordable categories.
Despite growing demand for enhanced travel experiences, riders continue to prioritise value for money over premium offerings, reflecting the realities of a challenging economic environment where every Rand counts.
An analysis of trip data from South Africa’s three largest metropolitan areas shows that Bolt’s Standard and Wait & Save categories together account for more than 90% of all trips, reinforcing that affordable mobility remains the cornerstone of consumer behaviour.
At the same time, the data points to a notable shift in rider preferences. Since Bolt expanded driver availability in its Comfort category in April 2026, demand for Comfort rides has increased between three and five times, with the category now accounting for approximately 6–7% of all trips across Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban. Durban has emerged as the country’s strongest Comfort market, where the category now represents 6.9% of all rides.
The trend suggests that while South Africans remain highly price-conscious, they are willing to spend slightly more for a noticeably better experience when the price difference is modest.
In Johannesburg, the average Comfort trip costs approximately R63, compared with R54 for a Standard trip, a difference of just 16%. Meanwhile, Bolt’s Premium category continues to serve a niche market across the country’s largest metros.
Simo Kalajdzic, Senior Operations Manager at Bolt South Africa, said the findings highlight how consumers are redefining value in today’s economic climate.
“South Africans remain incredibly value-conscious, and that’s reflected in the fact that more than 90% of trips are still taken in our most affordable categories. What we’re seeing, however, is that affordability doesn’t necessarily mean people are unwilling to pay for a better experience. If the price difference is small enough, riders are increasingly choosing Comfort because it offers newer vehicles, additional space and an improved overall ride experience without stretching their budgets.”
Kalajdzic said Bolt’s decision to expand the number of eligible drivers in the Comfort category has enabled more riders to access the service while reducing waiting times, resulting in significant growth across all three metros.
“This is not about consumers moving towards luxury, it’s about accessible quality. The rapid growth we have seen in Comfort demonstrates that when you improve availability and keep pricing within reach, people respond. It reinforces our belief that mobility should offer both affordability and choice.”
The findings mirror broader consumer spending trends across South Africa, where households continue to seek greater value rather than higher-priced premium products. Across sectors, consumers are increasingly making considered purchasing decisions, opting for products and services that deliver meaningful improvements without a significant increase in cost.
For Bolt, the insights reaffirm its position as a value-led mobility platform that continues to evolve alongside changing consumer expectations, balancing affordability with greater choice and improved rider experiences.