Student accommodation in Sunnyside

Original conceptual illustration: city living with jacaranda trees — **City living** · Original Pretoria-inspired editorial illustration. Not a photograph, map or actual property.

Sunnyside sits between the CBD and Hatfield and is a long-time student suburb. It is cheaper than Hatfield, and it has a lot of older blocks, shared flats and houses let by the room. Rosebank College and other private colleges are walkable from parts of it.

What it costs

Single rooms in shared flats or houses are commonly advertised from about R2,900 to R3,300 per month, often with water and electricity included. Sharing a room can come in around R2,300 per person.
Managed student residences go from about R3,100 for a room (one men's residence on a listings marketplace) up to about R5,000 for newer blocks.
Whole one-bedroom flats are listed at roughly R5,250.
Check what "includes" means. Several listings say water and lights are included, others add a separate fixed electricity charge (one listing quoted R400).

Getting around

Campus access is by Gautrain bus, minibus taxi, a short Uber or a longer walk, depending on which campus. Hatfield (UP) is a few kilometres away, so ask the landlord how residents normally get there. Check UP's bus timetable for any stops near you.
Do not assume "near UP and TUT". Confirm the actual distance on a map for the campus you attend.

Safety

This is the area with the most safety concern. Pretoria News reported TUT students raising safety worries about Sunnyside and the surrounding areas in July 2025, and a Gauteng legislature committee flagged rising crime at Sunnyside police station in early 2025. A local paper noted Sunnyside and Pretoria Central remain plagued by serious crime, though contact crime fell in a 2025 quarter.
Practical: view in daylight and at night, pick buildings with controlled access and 24-hour security, and avoid walking alone after dark.

What's nearby

Sunnyside shops and taxi routes, small supermarkets and takeaways, and the CBD to the west.

Who it suits

Budget-focused students who accept an older building and a more urban environment, and who will choose a secure block over a cheap one.

Sources:

Student living in Sunnyside.