Low-cost housing delivery in South Africa is largely occurring at low densities on the urban peripheries where land is cheap, but where infrastructure and transport costs are often thought to be higher. To help provide an empirical understanding of the costs of sprawl, this paper analyses evidence from eight case study areas in Johannesburg and Ethekwini on the actual costs to all parties, as well as the benefits offered by each locality to its residents. Benefits are assessed in terms of the sustainable livelihoods approach. The findings do not …